(le) poisson rouge

The Relatives were unwittingly founded in New York City in November, 2007 by Gabriel Gall, Katie Vogel and Ian Davis. The three practically bumped into each other as they were stepping off the boat. They were coming to New York to begin their college educations – Gabriel and Ian pursuing degrees in classical composition and Katie pursuing one in music and philosophy. With pursuit heavy in their hearts and music and sweet things heavy in their minds, the three decided to spend some time shut off in a room together playing music. For some reason or another the first couple of notes to come out of the three youngsters mouths and hands were simultaneously of a folksy nature. They continued down this folk-dusted path – writing most – if not all – of their core material with this mindset. However as time progressed – and it does progress – they began to slowly integrate Gabriel and Ian’s knowledge of classical music and arranging into the mix. Once this began and people with names like Ian Chang, Matt Rosenthal, Jon Seale, Ali Jones, Molly Fletcher, Connell Thompson, Josh Henderson, Adam Schatz and so on and so forth had come into the mix, the three suddenly found themselves behind the wheel of a large musical automobile heading straight towards success, or failure… its too soon to tell. They released their first EP, They Love You Well, last summer – recorded by Jon Seale and David McTiernan – and are currently working with Adam Schatz on their first full-length album, which will be pressed, to vinyl by Museum People in summer 2010.

Listen: "Les Beaujolais"

Uncles is a collaboration between Dan Bateman and Will Schwartz, two Queens-based songwriters who grew up together in Yonkers, NY. They utilize a rotating ensemble to back their songs which includes a double bassist, violin, pianists, and drummers.

They both had unique introductions into music. As a child, Danny would go down to his family's acreage outside of Birmingham, where his Alabaman grandfather sang to him as a child (which is why he has a southern accent that is only present when he sings). He would come back to Yonkers to teach the songs to Schwartz, and by middle-school and early high-school, they started finding band members among regulars at the open-mic clubs in Manhattan.

They played their first shows as a band when they were 16 at the staff room of the bar the Yonkers Raceway, where they both worked as bar-backs. After positive reviews from coworkers, they soon took their act to New York City, where they both eventually attended college.

As time went on they drew from more sources for inspiration, like classic 90's indie rock by Pavement, Guided By Voices, and The Pixies, and C&W singers like Hank Williams, George Jones, and Townes Van Zandt.

By adulthood, they each evolved into ecclectic and unique musical and compositional voices, gaining popularity in New York indie-rock and folk shows, and at Wesleyan, Bard, and Vassar colleges.