Cultfever

Cultfever
Cultfever
(self-released)

#8

This debut from Brooklyn electro-pop duo Cultfever resides comfortably in the center of the electronic/acoustic Venn diagram, incorporating synthy hooks and crunchy beats over acoustic and electric guitars. They also know the value of a well-placed handclap. Check out opener "Knewyouwell," a spacey, soaring ode to the unknown. - Alison Geisler - CT.Com

Mercury Lounge is famous for hosting young, emerging acts that would go on to stardom: the Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the White Stripes all have a connection to the venerable venue dating back to their humble beginnings. Playing Mercury Lounge is a right of passage in the New York City indie scene. Bands like Cultfever have used this tried-and-true method of taking a step toward those legendary bands. The Brooklyn-based pop outfit has played Mercury Lounge several times to packed houses and adoring crowds. That’s because they’re an indie group on the rise. The Hot Sardines had never played Mercury Lounge before last night, perhaps because they’re a hot jazz band.

The Hot Sardines played first, and we were instantly lifted into a scene from Boardwalk Empire. Singer Elizabeth Bougerol’s airy vocals led each song, and when band members traded solos, Bougerol danced and coaxed more trumpet, more clarinet and even more tap dancing. Jaded head nodding from concertgoers turned into wild swing-dance leg kicks. And for the band’s grand finale, they summoned Joe Durniak and Tamara Jafar of Cultfever for a spirited New Orleans second line that snaked off the stage and through the crowd—not something you see every night on the Lower East Side.

Cultfever might be a more traditional Mercury Lounge band (i.e. no tap dancer), but a lesser group would have fallen flat paired with the Hot Sardines’ endearing quirkiness. Durniak and Jafar have created a wholly unique sound, blending elements of punk and grunge into their catchy synth pop. They burned through their set, as Jafar subdued the room with her sultry voice and Durniak powered the band with bluesy crunch. For “Collector,” Cultfever brought back the Sardines—solely to add more voices to the screaming chorus of band and crowd members shouting “Earthquakes!” at a key moment in the song. It was the perfect cap to an earth-shattering night.

- See more at: http://houselist.bowerypresents.com/tag/cultfever/#sthash.JwfpmDYq.dpuf - Bowery Presents House List

Mercury Lounge is famous for hosting young, emerging acts that would go on to stardom: the Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the White Stripes all have a connection to the venerable venue dating back to their humble beginnings. Playing Mercury Lounge is a right of passage in the New York City indie scene. Bands like Cultfever have used this tried-and-true method of taking a step toward those legendary bands. The Brooklyn-based pop outfit has played Mercury Lounge several times to packed houses and adoring crowds. That’s because they’re an indie group on the rise. The Hot Sardines had never played Mercury Lounge before last night, perhaps because they’re a hot jazz band.

The Hot Sardines played first, and we were instantly lifted into a scene from Boardwalk Empire. Singer Elizabeth Bougerol’s airy vocals led each song, and when band members traded solos, Bougerol danced and coaxed more trumpet, more clarinet and even more tap dancing. Jaded head nodding from concertgoers turned into wild swing-dance leg kicks. And for the band’s grand finale, they summoned Joe Durniak and Tamara Jafar of Cultfever for a spirited New Orleans second line that snaked off the stage and through the crowd—not something you see every night on the Lower East Side.

Cultfever might be a more traditional Mercury Lounge band (i.e. no tap dancer), but a lesser group would have fallen flat paired with the Hot Sardines’ endearing quirkiness. Durniak and Jafar have created a wholly unique sound, blending elements of punk and grunge into their catchy synth pop. They burned through their set, as Jafar subdued the room with her sultry voice and Durniak powered the band with bluesy crunch. For “Collector,” Cultfever brought back the Sardines—solely to add more voices to the screaming chorus of band and crowd members shouting “Earthquakes!” at a key moment in the song. It was the perfect cap to an earth-shattering night.

- See more at: http://houselist.bowerypresents.com/tag/cultfever/#sthash.JwfpmDYq.dpuf - Bowery Presents House List

...On Tuesday, you can pretty much kill your entire afternoon at Pianos, which features a couple freebies in its respective rooms. In the Showroom, they’ve got the Portals Showcase starting at noon, which includes Levek, Young Magic, and lots more. Upstairs, the What Blog? CMJ Party kicks off at 1 p.m. with a set from Cultfever, and finishes with a 6:15 set from Dinowalrus, with six bands in between.... - Stereogum

...On Tuesday, you can pretty much kill your entire afternoon at Pianos, which features a couple freebies in its respective rooms. In the Showroom, they’ve got the Portals Showcase starting at noon, which includes Levek, Young Magic, and lots more. Upstairs, the What Blog? CMJ Party kicks off at 1 p.m. with a set from Cultfever, and finishes with a 6:15 set from Dinowalrus, with six bands in between.... - Stereogum

We can’t think of a better way to kick off the summer than this delightful new music video from Brooklyn’s Cultfever! Cartoons rock!

A collaboration between Brooklyn-based musicians Tamara Jafar (vocals) and Joe Durniak (guitar), Cultfever’s self-titled debut album exploded onto the indie pop scene in 2012, earning praise from MTV Soundtracks, Stereogum, and the Guardian. Their unique sound and captivating live show won them hometown distinction as Deli Magazine‘s #1 NYC Indie Pop band in 2012. Singles such as “Knewyouwell” and “Collector” propelled them into the CMJ Radio Top 200 charts and their song “Strangenecks” made its primetime debut on MTV’s hit series “Awkward.” The duo released their first 7’‘ (“Animals”) earlier this year, blew away the jaded crowds at SXSW, and are now in the studio preparing for the release of their second full-length album next year. Learn more about Cultfever here

The video for “Animals” was directed Rich Chapple, the animator behind Above Average Network’s Waco Valley Cartoon, along with other credits for Vulture.com, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Channel 101 NY, CNY Film and New Media Festival. See more of his work here

Don’t miss Cultfever July 13 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Get tickets here. Oh, and if you’d like to own this song, then snap up a limited-edition, orange vinyl 7” single! - The Big Takeover

We can’t think of a better way to kick off the summer than this delightful new music video from Brooklyn’s Cultfever! Cartoons rock!

A collaboration between Brooklyn-based musicians Tamara Jafar (vocals) and Joe Durniak (guitar), Cultfever’s self-titled debut album exploded onto the indie pop scene in 2012, earning praise from MTV Soundtracks, Stereogum, and the Guardian. Their unique sound and captivating live show won them hometown distinction as Deli Magazine‘s #1 NYC Indie Pop band in 2012. Singles such as “Knewyouwell” and “Collector” propelled them into the CMJ Radio Top 200 charts and their song “Strangenecks” made its primetime debut on MTV’s hit series “Awkward.” The duo released their first 7’‘ (“Animals”) earlier this year, blew away the jaded crowds at SXSW, and are now in the studio preparing for the release of their second full-length album next year. Learn more about Cultfever here

The video for “Animals” was directed Rich Chapple, the animator behind Above Average Network’s Waco Valley Cartoon, along with other credits for Vulture.com, Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Channel 101 NY, CNY Film and New Media Festival. See more of his work here

Don’t miss Cultfever July 13 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Get tickets here. Oh, and if you’d like to own this song, then snap up a limited-edition, orange vinyl 7” single! - The Big Takeover

This month’s episode of The Music Playground Presents features the Brooklyn-based duo Cultfever, comprised of songwriters Tamara Jafar and Joe Durniak. Their self-titled debut album is the type of record that will seep its way into your daily rotation and stay there for months. The album eludes labels from one track to the next, mixing spacy, downbeat, grooving tracks with intense and rhythmic pop songs. They write together almost everyday at their studio, conveniently located in the apartment they share as roommates. Cultfever is an exciting band, brimming with originality and instant appeal.

This was by far the biggest crowd for one of our tapings yet, and the energy is evident in the videos. The band has their own little devoted NYC following, making the “cult” in their name entirely appropriate. Cultfever’s forthcoming EP, entitled Animals, will be out in early 2013. Also, they’ll be playing at SXSW this year. We had the opportunity to sit down with Tamara and Joe following their performance to ask them a few questions.


When you guys prepare for a live performance, what is that like? Is it a total reinvention of every song?

Joe Durniak: It’s been interesting- - especially because we’ve evolved a lot along the way. There is a lot of detail in the album that we wanted to convey in the show but ended up having to ask ourselves: “how much can we get rid of in track and how much can we accomplish live?” Now we’re at a point where—with bass, guitar, keys, drums, vocals—we can strip back the track and just enjoy performing.

Let’s talk about how Cultfever formed. You guys were roommates before you started the band. How has being in such close quarters influenced your sound?

JD: We were not a band before we moved in. We had met and got along famously and were both looking for a new living situation. We started working on music almost immediately. I set up gear and then three songs in we both thought, “oh, okay, this could be something.”

Tamara Jafar: Yeah, we knew each other for a solid three or four months. But both of us have commented that it was a move of intuition and, for some reason, we thought it was easier to approach the topic of moving in to create a shared workspace before approaching the topic of actually collaborating. [laughs] So, we were both playing coy with the courting process.

What were your previous musical projects? Anything like this or totally different?

JD: At the time I was doing solo stuff and writing music for small films but not doing anything band oriented. I hadn’t done that since college so I wasn’t necessarily thinking about being in a band at the time. I was just working on music on my own.

TJ: It was similar for me. I’d just graduated when I met Joe and had been in a couple of bands in school. When I moved to the city I knew that, in some capacity, I was moving to pursue music and creative ambitions but I had no idea how that would manifest. Or at least I didn’t expect that in the first internship that I’d meet a prospective bandmate. I thought I was going to be eating Almond Joys and working late with audio engineers and just taking notes. And then this guy ended up being there.

Let’s talk about the songs you performed, “Knewyouwell” and “Collector”. “Knewyouwell” is the album starter and that beginning just hits you like a ton of bricks. Is that how you planned it?

JD: Once we we built the song we knew it would be the best thing to hit people with at the beginning of the album. I shared the chorus with Tamara and all of a sudden we were writing to it and building structure. It was the third or fourth song we worked on together and by the time we finished Knewyouwell, in particular, it kind of hit home that we were definitely going to be a band and release an album—I don’t think we even had a name at that point.

TJ: The night we finished Knewyouwell also coincided with the rare occasion of getting Joe out dancing. So we both definitely felt there was cause for celebration. “Knewyouwell” was a funny case because some of the songs on the album were redrafted eight or nine times. For better or worse, we rarely settle on the first draft. But “Knewyouwell” and maybe one or two other songs on the album ended up coming together quickly— for some reason it was just an easier song for us to fit together.

So, that’s pretty rare, where you’ll record a song and it’s kind of perfect right away?

JD: Yeah, things generally fall into place on a second or third revisit. Spill is one we are very proud of and it took about eight or nine redrafts—the evolution from start to finish is actually kind of cool to revisit. That said, “Knewyouwell” was one where we didn’t have to change much.

How about “Collector?”

TJ: “Collector” was awesome to work on. We often begin a project by starting stripped down—Joe will be on guitar and I’ll be singing—and we’ll just take cues from each other. If something hits, we’ll record it and then both listen back separa - PopMatters

This month’s episode of The Music Playground Presents features the Brooklyn-based duo Cultfever, comprised of songwriters Tamara Jafar and Joe Durniak. Their self-titled debut album is the type of record that will seep its way into your daily rotation and stay there for months. The album eludes labels from one track to the next, mixing spacy, downbeat, grooving tracks with intense and rhythmic pop songs. They write together almost everyday at their studio, conveniently located in the apartment they share as roommates. Cultfever is an exciting band, brimming with originality and instant appeal.

This was by far the biggest crowd for one of our tapings yet, and the energy is evident in the videos. The band has their own little devoted NYC following, making the “cult” in their name entirely appropriate. Cultfever’s forthcoming EP, entitled Animals, will be out in early 2013. Also, they’ll be playing at SXSW this year. We had the opportunity to sit down with Tamara and Joe following their performance to ask them a few questions.


When you guys prepare for a live performance, what is that like? Is it a total reinvention of every song?

Joe Durniak: It’s been interesting- - especially because we’ve evolved a lot along the way. There is a lot of detail in the album that we wanted to convey in the show but ended up having to ask ourselves: “how much can we get rid of in track and how much can we accomplish live?” Now we’re at a point where—with bass, guitar, keys, drums, vocals—we can strip back the track and just enjoy performing.

Let’s talk about how Cultfever formed. You guys were roommates before you started the band. How has being in such close quarters influenced your sound?

JD: We were not a band before we moved in. We had met and got along famously and were both looking for a new living situation. We started working on music almost immediately. I set up gear and then three songs in we both thought, “oh, okay, this could be something.”

Tamara Jafar: Yeah, we knew each other for a solid three or four months. But both of us have commented that it was a move of intuition and, for some reason, we thought it was easier to approach the topic of moving in to create a shared workspace before approaching the topic of actually collaborating. [laughs] So, we were both playing coy with the courting process.

What were your previous musical projects? Anything like this or totally different?

JD: At the time I was doing solo stuff and writing music for small films but not doing anything band oriented. I hadn’t done that since college so I wasn’t necessarily thinking about being in a band at the time. I was just working on music on my own.

TJ: It was similar for me. I’d just graduated when I met Joe and had been in a couple of bands in school. When I moved to the city I knew that, in some capacity, I was moving to pursue music and creative ambitions but I had no idea how that would manifest. Or at least I didn’t expect that in the first internship that I’d meet a prospective bandmate. I thought I was going to be eating Almond Joys and working late with audio engineers and just taking notes. And then this guy ended up being there.

Let’s talk about the songs you performed, “Knewyouwell” and “Collector”. “Knewyouwell” is the album starter and that beginning just hits you like a ton of bricks. Is that how you planned it?

JD: Once we we built the song we knew it would be the best thing to hit people with at the beginning of the album. I shared the chorus with Tamara and all of a sudden we were writing to it and building structure. It was the third or fourth song we worked on together and by the time we finished Knewyouwell, in particular, it kind of hit home that we were definitely going to be a band and release an album—I don’t think we even had a name at that point.

TJ: The night we finished Knewyouwell also coincided with the rare occasion of getting Joe out dancing. So we both definitely felt there was cause for celebration. “Knewyouwell” was a funny case because some of the songs on the album were redrafted eight or nine times. For better or worse, we rarely settle on the first draft. But “Knewyouwell” and maybe one or two other songs on the album ended up coming together quickly— for some reason it was just an easier song for us to fit together.

So, that’s pretty rare, where you’ll record a song and it’s kind of perfect right away?

JD: Yeah, things generally fall into place on a second or third revisit. Spill is one we are very proud of and it took about eight or nine redrafts—the evolution from start to finish is actually kind of cool to revisit. That said, “Knewyouwell” was one where we didn’t have to change much.

How about “Collector?”

TJ: “Collector” was awesome to work on. We often begin a project by starting stripped down—Joe will be on guitar and I’ll be singing—and we’ll just take cues from each other. If something hits, we’ll record it and then both listen back separa - PopMatters

Brooklyn natives Cultfever have mastered the art of making groovy electro-pop and with their digital release of new single "Animals," we can tell that they're here to stay.

The Brooklyn based duo comprised of Tamara Jafar and Joe Durniak has crafted it's new single to be an electrically charged pop tune with breathy vocals and a playful rhythm you can't help but tap your feet to.

"Animals" is to be digitally released February 12th, but we're excited to share the track with your first! Listen to the new track below!
- See more at: http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/media/entry/m_cultfever_reveals_new_electrically_charged_single_animals_filter_premiere/#sthash.ESkV9xA2.dpuf - Filter

Brooklyn natives Cultfever have mastered the art of making groovy electro-pop and with their digital release of new single "Animals," we can tell that they're here to stay.

The Brooklyn based duo comprised of Tamara Jafar and Joe Durniak has crafted it's new single to be an electrically charged pop tune with breathy vocals and a playful rhythm you can't help but tap your feet to.

"Animals" is to be digitally released February 12th, but we're excited to share the track with your first! Listen to the new track below!
- See more at: http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/media/entry/m_cultfever_reveals_new_electrically_charged_single_animals_filter_premiere/#sthash.ESkV9xA2.dpuf - Filter

Artist: CULTFEVER
Video: "Knewyouwell"
Highlight: "When we started discussing ideas for the "Knewyouwell" video, we knew we wanted the visuals to match the song... to have an end product that is absent of time, location, and outcome matching its ghostly enigmatic atmosphere," the band tells Spinner. "Since we wanted to end up with a low-fi feel, we decided shooting on an iPhone would suffice and we would later be adding more grain to the footage using filters in the edit. Most of the filming was us basically taking turns behind the camera shining a small LED flashlight on the other person. Additional footage includes LED lights and a digital scope from the studio. A friend had passed along Dan's work on other videos, including ones for Oberhofer and Twin Sister, and we felt confident that he'd 'get' what we were going for and be able to edit our footage into a cohesive video." - AOL Spinner

Artist: CULTFEVER
Video: "Knewyouwell"
Highlight: "When we started discussing ideas for the "Knewyouwell" video, we knew we wanted the visuals to match the song... to have an end product that is absent of time, location, and outcome matching its ghostly enigmatic atmosphere," the band tells Spinner. "Since we wanted to end up with a low-fi feel, we decided shooting on an iPhone would suffice and we would later be adding more grain to the footage using filters in the edit. Most of the filming was us basically taking turns behind the camera shining a small LED flashlight on the other person. Additional footage includes LED lights and a digital scope from the studio. A friend had passed along Dan's work on other videos, including ones for Oberhofer and Twin Sister, and we felt confident that he'd 'get' what we were going for and be able to edit our footage into a cohesive video." - AOL Spinner

Welcome to the always troublesome world of Cultfever. The Brooklyn-based duo made up from equal parts haunting vocals, (provided by singer/howler Tamara Jafar) and the warped groove sculptures of Joe Durniak. Though I'm not entirely sure what the endgame is, this is a group that clearly seems to be on a mission. From iPhone videos ('knewyouwell') to their rampaging self-titled debut, the band attacks with an emotional blast in tracks like my favorite 'Collector.' They won't be gentle with you, but that's probably not what you wanted from a band anyway. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) - The Deli Magazine

Welcome to the always troublesome world of Cultfever. The Brooklyn-based duo made up from equal parts haunting vocals, (provided by singer/howler Tamara Jafar) and the warped groove sculptures of Joe Durniak. Though I'm not entirely sure what the endgame is, this is a group that clearly seems to be on a mission. From iPhone videos ('knewyouwell') to their rampaging self-titled debut, the band attacks with an emotional blast in tracks like my favorite 'Collector.' They won't be gentle with you, but that's probably not what you wanted from a band anyway. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) - The Deli Magazine

Brooklyn-based electro-pop duo CULTFEVER recently released their self-titled and self-produced debut album to exclusively glowing reviews. Music veteran Lorraine Ali (SPIN, LA Times, Rolling Stone) commends the album for being “cool and cohesive” and “as sublime as it is dynamic,” while The Sound of Pop raves, “The influence in their sound is varied as each track progresses… Each track is unique.”

On August 23, the second single from the album, “STRANGENECKS,” was prominently featured in an episode of MTV’s Awkward and is currently available to stream or download over at MTV.

CULTFEVER, made up of TAMARA JAFAR and JOE DURNIAK, have several upcoming live performances scheduled in NYC, including a performance at Mercury Lounge with Emanuel and the Fear on September 28th at 10:30pm. Before that, on Friday August 31st , CULTFEVER will be the featured artist at the Anti/Anti Survive Fashion Week Party hosted by Bon Duke.

For a sneak peak at CULTFEVER's live show, fans can catch a streamed live performance on StageIt tonight at 9:00pm, or watch their recent live performance and interview on Break Thru. - Alt Sounds

J. Peter Durniak and Tamara Jafar recently turned their small Manhattan apartment in to a recording studio and in doing so cranked out this little gem of a electro-rock synth ridden debut.

If you like what you hear then tune into our Google Hangout this evening at 6:30 pm and watch Cultfever play a mini concert in our office. - Ex.Fm

Brooklyn duo Cultfever created a world of their own for the songs on their self-titled debut album. Drawing on elements of classic indie rock and pop, their genre-jumping style makes for a satisfying mix of dynamic story songs and unconventional soundscapes. Stopping by to chat with Maia for this episode of Live Studio, Cultfever — performing here as a four-piece — shares some songs and a little about the making of their moody music video for “Knewyouwell.”

Featured song: “Knewyouwell”

Cultfever’s self-titled debut album is available now through their website.

Complete radio broadcast and playlist: http://b-t-r.co/Ndsf6N

Official website: http://www.cultfever.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cultfever
Twitter: @cultfever - BreakThru Radio

SUNDAY VIEWING: Knewyouwell by Cultfever
Brooklyn’s Cultfever put together a wonderful video for a wonderful song. Be sure to check out more great stuff on their site. - Ex.Fm

Recently nominated for our Artist of the Month Poll, Cultfever is an electronic duo with both industrial and pop inclinations, as this cool new video for the song "Collector" can prove. The band is currently in the studio preparing their debut "physical" album, but they already have a bunch of songs released digitally through Bandcamp. The new single, with its complex arrangements and intricate percussion patterns, signals obvious signs of growth, which make us look forward to the upcoming release. While waiting, you can see them at The Mercury Lounge on Tuesday March 13. - Deli Magazine

Grab your flashlight for this video from Brooklyn duo Cultfever. The black and white shots mixed with some heavy static make it hard to discern much at all. But then again, sometimes a little mystery can be a good thing. - Consequence of Sound

What: Cultfever, the Brooklyn-based duo of Tamara Jafar and Joe Durniak, give new visual representation to the lyrics “electromagnetic aesthetics” and “textured chaos” with the choppy, static-laced video for “Knewyouwell”.

Cultfever’s self-released, self-titled debut is available now through iTunes.

Edited by: Dan Devine - Consequence of Sound

"Cultfever’s debut is an inventive and unpredictable set of songs conceived and created by Manhattan couple J. Peter Durniak and Tamara Jafar. Having turned their humble abode into a late night think tank and recording studio the pair got to work, writing one hell of a debut. It starts with the layered tones of knewyouwell, drops by the atmospherics on Devil in the Drum, and closes with the jagged-edged pop of Collector. And there’s a whole lot more inbetween. We managed to corner the couple and get some answers [...]." - Bowlegs Music Review

"Cultfever’s debut is an inventive and unpredictable set of songs conceived and created by Manhattan couple J. Peter Durniak and Tamara Jafar. Having turned their humble abode into a late night think tank and recording studio the pair got to work, writing one hell of a debut. It starts with the layered tones of knewyouwell, drops by the atmospherics on Devil in the Drum, and closes with the jagged-edged pop of Collector. And there’s a whole lot more inbetween. We managed to corner the couple and get some answers [...]." - Bowlegs Music Review

A previously featured and well-loved group here at MP3 Medication has some exciting news: Cult Fever has officially released their debut album.

This excitingly fresh and formidably talented group is putting forth a remarkably strong debut; the album is a rich landscape of sound, with each song being texturally diverse as well as comfortingly unique. Cult Fever’s self-titled debut is a mesmerizing blend of indie rock and electro pop that I’m betting will be making ample waves in the very near future. It’s sensitive yet aggressive, with driving and danceable synths.

“Strangenecks” “The Collector” & “Knew You Well” are amongst many other fantastic songs that grabbed immediate attention. Tamara Jafar’s voice is a alluring like a siren yet soft as a whisper, and Joseph Durniak creates the most hypnotic synths that steer the ship right into Tamara’s path.

Expect to hear more about Cult Fever soon, they are already making a well-received coming out in the blogosphere. Check out the rest of the tracks and download the album via Amazon, iTunes & Spotify. For hard copies, get at them via their website. - Mp3 Medication

"The band is on the verge of something, and on the strength of this early material, they’re poised to become a very big deal indeed [...]

Listeners might be skeptical of yet another New York-based indie-pop band, but Cultfever’s focus, post-punk vibe, and Jafar’s distinctive vocal performance suggest a band ready to break apart from a saturated genre.

Their influences might be easily traceable—as Durniak readily admits his influences—but his description of every song as a melting pot is apt. You can detect the currently in-vogue ’80s British New Wave, but this now popular sound is nuanced by slivers of trip-hop, shoegaze, and weirder post-punk influences from bands such as The Chameleons and Echo & the Bunnymen. All of this adds up to a surprisingly fresh package: an appropriate adherence to traditional pop hooks and structures refracted through a self-awareness that steers clear of navel gazing. Blessedly, the band have also managed to avoid the po-faced portentousness that other modern groups of this type seem unable to shake—think Interpol and The Killers. As Jafar says, “we want you to feel a sense of sincerity, but maybe also a sense of humor.”

The band’s commitment to live performance is also encouraging. They relate their experience of working together, and the bond they feel writing music, to the connection between themselves and their audience when onstage. “We interact in a way that feels good, and we get to do it live,” Jafar says. The relationship between the two of them is also crucial to their success: you can feel it in the way guitar and voice seem almost fused as they kick in simultaneously on “Strangenecks,” or in the space Jafar leaves for a synth solo on “Duress.” “We think a lot of the same things on the same song,” Durniak confides. “The style emerged while we were working together organically.” - Harvard Crimson

"The band is on the verge of something, and on the strength of this early material, they’re poised to become a very big deal indeed [...]

Listeners might be skeptical of yet another New York-based indie-pop band, but Cultfever’s focus, post-punk vibe, and Jafar’s distinctive vocal performance suggest a band ready to break apart from a saturated genre.

Their influences might be easily traceable—as Durniak readily admits his influences—but his description of every song as a melting pot is apt. You can detect the currently in-vogue ’80s British New Wave, but this now popular sound is nuanced by slivers of trip-hop, shoegaze, and weirder post-punk influences from bands such as The Chameleons and Echo & the Bunnymen. All of this adds up to a surprisingly fresh package: an appropriate adherence to traditional pop hooks and structures refracted through a self-awareness that steers clear of navel gazing. Blessedly, the band have also managed to avoid the po-faced portentousness that other modern groups of this type seem unable to shake—think Interpol and The Killers. As Jafar says, “we want you to feel a sense of sincerity, but maybe also a sense of humor.”

The band’s commitment to live performance is also encouraging. They relate their experience of working together, and the bond they feel writing music, to the connection between themselves and their audience when onstage. “We interact in a way that feels good, and we get to do it live,” Jafar says. The relationship between the two of them is also crucial to their success: you can feel it in the way guitar and voice seem almost fused as they kick in simultaneously on “Strangenecks,” or in the space Jafar leaves for a synth solo on “Duress.” “We think a lot of the same things on the same song,” Durniak confides. “The style emerged while we were working together organically.” - Harvard Crimson

“[Cultfever] has the sheen of the now, but the grit of the 80's, yet all without sounding like it's intentionally retro.” - SYFFAL

“[Cultfever] has the sheen of the now, but the grit of the 80's, yet all without sounding like it's intentionally retro.” - SYFFAL

“Unique and addicting, reminding me of everyone from Yacht to Young Galaxy to Cults but still maintaining a style all their own.” - Indie Kollection

“Unique and addicting, reminding me of everyone from Yacht to Young Galaxy to Cults but still maintaining a style all their own.” - Indie Kollection

“The depth of the music on this album is impressive – with meticulously constructed recordings and consistently exceptional songwriting, Cultfever have confidently developed a unique sound, and they execute it with perfection on their debut. “ - BuzzChips

After spending the last four days in San Francisco (and seeing Star Slinger live!) I have a confession to make: Cultfever was the band ruling my headphones all weekend. Bringing a very full and fresh sound to the table, the Brooklyn based duo have definitely won me over. I’m feeling slightly guilty about one thing though; I’ve barely been able to make it past “KnewYouWell” on the album! Take a listen, and if you would like to know more about the duo, check the link below. - The Burning Ear

After spending the last four days in San Francisco (and seeing Star Slinger live!) I have a confession to make: Cultfever was the band ruling my headphones all weekend. Bringing a very full and fresh sound to the table, the Brooklyn based duo have definitely won me over. I’m feeling slightly guilty about one thing though; I’ve barely been able to make it past “KnewYouWell” on the album! Take a listen, and if you would like to know more about the duo, check the link below. - The Burning Ear

Brooklyn synth pop duo Joseph Durniak,and Tamara Jafar of Cultfever sent me over this really wonderful hypnotic, synth track that I was totally blown away by. The synth, guitars, and vocals compliment each other very well and shows huge promise of some really fun music.

Debut LP, Cultfever, to be released on 1 November 2011 - Music Savage

Brooklyn synth pop duo Joseph Durniak,and Tamara Jafar of Cultfever sent me over this really wonderful hypnotic, synth track that I was totally blown away by. The synth, guitars, and vocals compliment each other very well and shows huge promise of some really fun music.

Debut LP, Cultfever, to be released on 1 November 2011 - Music Savage

Brooklyn duo Cultfever are still relatively unknown, but the blogosphere is picking up on their gorgeous brand of dreamy electro-pop. Vocalist Tamara Jafar’s soft vocals glide over J. Peter Durniak’s synthy experimentalism on ‘Knewyouwell’, creating something of a delirious high for the listener. A definite one-to-watch, Cultfever’s self-titled debut album will be released on November 1. - Music Ninja

Brooklyn duo Cultfever are still relatively unknown, but the blogosphere is picking up on their gorgeous brand of dreamy electro-pop. Vocalist Tamara Jafar’s soft vocals glide over J. Peter Durniak’s synthy experimentalism on ‘Knewyouwell’, creating something of a delirious high for the listener. A definite one-to-watch, Cultfever’s self-titled debut album will be released on November 1. - Music Ninja

Brooklyn duo Cultfever are still relatively unknown, but the blogosphere is picking up on their gorgeous brand of dreamy electro-pop. Vocalist Tamara Jafar’s soft vocals glide over J. Peter Durniak’s synthy experimentalism on ‘Knewyouwell’, creating something of a delirious high for the listener. A definite one-to-watch, Cultfever’s self-titled debut album will be released on November 1. - Music Ninja

Brooklyn duo Cultfever are still relatively unknown, but the blogosphere is picking up on their gorgeous brand of dreamy electro-pop. Vocalist Tamara Jafar’s soft vocals glide over J. Peter Durniak’s synthy experimentalism on ‘Knewyouwell’, creating something of a delirious high for the listener. A definite one-to-watch, Cultfever’s self-titled debut album will be released on November 1. - Music Ninja

In my last Sonic Medley Playlist I included a track that I instantly fell in love with — Knewyouwell by NYC based duo Cultfever; and with great fortune I was recently able to preview their self-titled debut album in its entirety.

‘Cultfever’ features 9 stellar tracks with an anomalous blend of Joseph Durniak’s mellifluous synths and the celestial voice of Tamara Jafar, and not a single song on the album is skip-worthy. — A delightful surprise in a music world that is so commonly polluted with albums featuring tracks that don’t offer much more than added duration to the length of an album.

‘Cultfever’, is set to drop on November 1st and will be available via iTunes, Amazon MP3, and Spotify. You’d be a fool not to get yourself a copy! - Enthuzed Magazine

In my last Sonic Medley Playlist I included a track that I instantly fell in love with — Knewyouwell by NYC based duo Cultfever; and with great fortune I was recently able to preview their self-titled debut album in its entirety.

‘Cultfever’ features 9 stellar tracks with an anomalous blend of Joseph Durniak’s mellifluous synths and the celestial voice of Tamara Jafar, and not a single song on the album is skip-worthy. — A delightful surprise in a music world that is so commonly polluted with albums featuring tracks that don’t offer much more than added duration to the length of an album.

‘Cultfever’, is set to drop on November 1st and will be available via iTunes, Amazon MP3, and Spotify. You’d be a fool not to get yourself a copy! - Enthuzed Magazine

It’s time for another musical baby. This time, the happy parents are M83, CocoRosie, and Metric (only two parents is so two thousand and late), and the bundle of joy is Brooklyn’s Cultfever. “Knewyouwell” was my first encounter with Cultfever, and I think I might be in love. With less than two hundred facebook fans, this duo is still relatively unknown, but I expect their dreamy, synthy, beat-driven sound to gain them significant press over the next few months, especially with the release of their debut album on Nov. 1. You can also download the first three tracks from the album for free, all of which deserve spots in your Indie Kollection, on Cultfever’s website. Kollect on! - Indie.Kollection

It’s time for another musical baby. This time, the happy parents are M83, CocoRosie, and Metric (only two parents is so two thousand and late), and the bundle of joy is Brooklyn’s Cultfever. “Knewyouwell” was my first encounter with Cultfever, and I think I might be in love. With less than two hundred facebook fans, this duo is still relatively unknown, but I expect their dreamy, synthy, beat-driven sound to gain them significant press over the next few months, especially with the release of their debut album on Nov. 1. You can also download the first three tracks from the album for free, all of which deserve spots in your Indie Kollection, on Cultfever’s website. Kollect on! - Indie.Kollection

“Pure electro pop perfection” - The Sound of Pop

"Lead singer Tamara Jafar is incredibly engaging, and her ethereal vocals over guitarist Joe Durniak’s driving riffs make for a gorgeous textural experience."

"Their music is catchy, intriguing, invigorating, and above all it makes you want to bounce." - Mp3 Medication

On the tail end of their TSI Music Award for NYC Metro Band of the Year, and their east coast tour, #TSIApproved band Cultfever took a second out of the madness of SXSW 2014 to chat. They talk about their new record & tunes, what it takes being a duo, stage dives, and more! Check it below and click over to read the re recap and photos from their set HERE.

[click link for video interview] - Tri State Indie

At Baby’s All Right, Cultfever played an energetic set for an enthusiastic hometown crowd before setting off to SXSW. The Williamsburg venue’s backdrop, a mosaic of lit-up glass bottles, cut cheerful silhouettes of the band members. Lead singer Tamara Jafar leaned over the lip of the stage, looked at the people ten feet away and crooked a finger; on demand, everyone moved up.

A week later, Cultfever took the stage in the concrete back courtyard of Rusty’s, the sun washing the crowd as they slowly filtered outside to listen. Jafar prowled from one side of the stage to the other in chic flowy black and then stepped into the patio and crouched on top of a sub, leaning into the crowd. There were a lot smiles, and people tapped their feet, nodded, and hinted at wanting to dance.

Jafar announced that she had “left her voice” in Philadelphia, where the band had performed on their way to Austin. Then, proving her abandon, she launched into “Collector,” howling the refrain “I don’t care what state you’re in.” The band presented a song from their unfinished album, and a couple of die-hard fans shouted along to the singles “Knewyouwell” and “Animals.”

Before SXSW (they play Maggie Mae’s this Friday at 12:30 p.m.), we talked to Jafar (keys, vocals) and Joe Durniak (guitar, vocals) over coffee and found out that they were looking forward to “street curb taco eating” in Austin.

You recently put out a single, Animals, and you’re moving towards doing the whole album on wax?

BB_A(1) Tamara: There’s a trend towards or a resurgence of vinyl right now. And it’s interesting that we can gauge a nostalgia for these moments when digital media is pushing us towards an mp3. It’s a great way of experiencing a sound.

Joe: We record digitally… but there’s something to the sound. We’ve played the two things next to each other—the wav file of the mastered song and on vinyl. There’s something to the way the needle interprets the groove on a piece of plastic sounds. It may be noisier. But it has a feel to it that’s very enjoyable. And growing up with vinyl… seeing your music on a piece of vinyl–it’s one of those moments. This actually happened. I can hold this now.

Tamara: It’s the privilege of a complete experience with the music.

You’re very much a rock band live, but in your recorded music, some of it is very danceable.

BB_A(1) Tamara: I think both of us have an admiration for the iconoclast. We see rock performances as something visceral that happens. We recognize that we like to exercise our drama on stage, and get a little manic.

Joe: That’s easier to do as a rock vibe. And let the record be a record. It was a recording of a nuanced thing with many different textures, and you’re not gonna be able to get that on a PA system sometimes.

Tamara: The record is an approximation of a song always, and our live performance is living, breathing.

Joe: We like it a little more aggressive. We like staring people down and going after them. [In recording,] we’re not setting out to make dance songs, that’s not our mission statement. We use it if it means song is going that way, and we need a four-to-the-floor kick.

Tamara: It really is asking, how do you convey an idea best?

Joe: Most of everything we do [when recording], if it’s a vocal embellishment that’s put in, it gets distorted—not actual distortion, but the word, “distorted,” from how it was originally put in. Recently in a song we’re working on, there’s a fuzzed out guitar that I made sound like a baritone sax. I wouldn’t have gone to that directly, but you think, “that sounds like that,” and then you manipulate it further.

Tamara: We’re good bullshit detectors with each other. If something doesn’t sit right with one of us, we flag it. I much as it can mean having to redo something that one of us might have believed in.

You’re doing the SXSW official Jansport Sonic Bids showcase, but you had planned to go to SXSW anyway and already booked another show.

Joe: We wanted to get back down there. We have friends playing. It’s a great meet up.

Tamara: We’re collaborating with the producer [and legendary DJ] Mike Realm. On some visuals for our live show, and website, and music videos. For the next album we very much want to thread all of the visuals with the music.

BB_Q(1) You can be very playful on stage. Do you think about your performance a lot or is it pretty natural?

BB_A(1) Tamara: I think we both think about the live performance a lot. In the live show, we do want to incorporate an element of play. We don’t want to be self serious. At the same time we want the music to be taken seriously. They’re the moments at which we can connect to people. And also, we are in the same room as the audience. We’re experience the music at the same moment they are. When we are playful onstage, when we engage. When Joe hops onto an amp, or when I climb a PA, or do something stupid like try to get the audience to hold the mike stand. Those moments are moments where we’re looking at the audience and saying, “We’re all in the same room together.”

A live show is a just a fantastic love affair. You spend hours and hours preparing for it… [and then] it’s all for a bunch of strangers who can receive or reject it. It changes the minute you’re in a room with other people. It ends up being this really lovely courting ritual.

Sometimes the dude with the crossed arms in the front row giving you Sally Stinkeye is actually the guy after the show that says, “I loved it.” - NY Magazine's Bedford and Bowery

When Locally Amped ventured down to Brooklyn two years ago, the driving force was the borough’s flourishing indie rock scene. We found what we asked for.

If you’re just tuning in, here’s a short primer on the scene: as Brooklyn grew in popularity — and gentrified — in the mid-2000s, the music scene followed suit. Bands like TV on the Radio, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dirty Projectors and more recently Parquet Courts, DIIV and The So So Glos broke out of this post-industrial breeding ground. DIY venue spaces (and the surrounding music scenes) helped develop this scene, including the 285 Kent warehouse (which became the space to see local and touring acts right as they jumped onto the national scene), Market Hotel, Shea Stadium, Death By Audio, Silent Barn and Monster Island Basement. (To give you a sense of how fleeting these mostly illegal spaces are, the first three mentioned above are now closed — and the news just broke that Death By Audio is on its way out.)

Bands, musical styles and growth comes out of spaces like these, and while Brooklyn’s indie rock scene is in constant flux, it’s worth noting that there still is a thriving local music scene. Yes, “local” is a fuzzy word when talking about the city of transplants. Regardless, these are bands that pour their sweat in the basements, practice spaces and dingy venues of the ever-gentrifying borough. (There’s also an entire discussion about the good-and-bad of the “Brooklyn-ization” of indie rock. But, that’s neither here nor there.)

There’s a lot of bands in Brooklyn. Some of them are better than others. Here are Locally Amped‘s best rising local Brooklyn bands of 2014.

Cultfever

Sometimes you just need some electropop in your life, and Greenpoint, Brooklyn-based duo Cultfever sure do the trick (although we did just find out that lead singer Tamara Jafar recently moved to Boston). About a year ago, we spoke with the two-piece on building a studio in their New York apartment and performing their high energy set live at rooms big and small. Since, they’ve done SXSW big, played higher profile NYC shows here and there, and are in the midst of recording a second album. If it’s anything like the dance party full of lead singer Tamara Jafar’s sultry voice, infectious beats, and radio-friendly synth gold, we’re excited for more electro indie rock. For fans of: MGMT, Two Door Cinema Club, Friendly Fires

- See more at: http://www.metro.us/newyork/entertainment/2014/09/10/locally-ampeds-five-best-local-brooklyn-indie-rock-bands/#sthash.FYdFwYJR.dpuf - Metro.us

At Baby’s All Right, Cultfever played an energetic set for an enthusiastic hometown crowd before setting off to SXSW. The Williamsburg venue’s backdrop, a mosaic of lit-up glass bottles, cut cheerful silhouettes of the band members. Lead singer Tamara Jafar leaned over the lip of the stage, looked at the people ten feet away and crooked a finger; on demand, everyone moved up.

A week later, Cultfever took the stage in the concrete back courtyard of Rusty’s, the sun washing the crowd as they slowly filtered outside to listen. Jafar prowled from one side of the stage to the other in chic flowy black and then stepped into the patio and crouched on top of a sub, leaning into the crowd. There were a lot smiles, and people tapped their feet, nodded, and hinted at wanting to dance.

Jafar announced that she had “left her voice” in Philadelphia, where the band had performed on their way to Austin. Then, proving her abandon, she launched into “Collector,” howling the refrain “I don’t care what state you’re in.” The band presented a song from their unfinished album, and a couple of die-hard fans shouted along to the singles “Knewyouwell” and “Animals.”

Before SXSW (they play Maggie Mae’s this Friday at 12:30 p.m.), we talked to Jafar (keys, vocals) and Joe Durniak (guitar, vocals) over coffee and found out that they were looking forward to “street curb taco eating” in Austin.

BB_Q(1) You recently put out a single, Animals, and you’re moving towards doing the whole album on wax?

BB_A(1) Tamara: There’s a trend towards or a resurgence of vinyl right now. And it’s interesting that we can gauge a nostalgia for these moments when digital media is pushing us towards an mp3. It’s a great way of experiencing a sound.

Joe: We record digitally… but there’s something to the sound. We’ve played the two things next to each other—the wav file of the mastered song and on vinyl. There’s something to the way the needle interprets the groove on a piece of plastic sounds. It may be noisier. But it has a feel to it that’s very enjoyable. And growing up with vinyl… seeing your music on a piece of vinyl–it’s one of those moments. This actually happened. I can hold this now.

Tamara: It’s the privilege of a complete experience with the music.

BB_Q(1) You’re very much a rock band live, but in your recorded music, some of it is very danceable.

BB_A(1) Tamara: I think both of us have an admiration for the iconoclast. We see rock performances as something visceral that happens. We recognize that we like to exercise our drama on stage, and get a little manic.

Joe: That’s easier to do as a rock vibe. And let the record be a record. It was a recording of a nuanced thing with many different textures, and you’re not gonna be able to get that on a PA system sometimes.

Tamara: The record is an approximation of a song always, and our live performance is living, breathing.

Joe: We like it a little more aggressive. We like staring people down and going after them. [In recording,] we’re not setting out to make dance songs, that’s not our mission statement. We use it if it means song is going that way, and we need a four-to-the-floor kick.

Tamara: It really is asking, how do you convey an idea best?

Joe: Most of everything we do [when recording], if it’s a vocal embellishment that’s put in, it gets distorted—not actual distortion, but the word, “distorted,” from how it was originally put in. Recently in a song we’re working on, there’s a fuzzed out guitar that I made sound like a baritone sax. I wouldn’t have gone to that directly, but you think, “that sounds like that,” and then you manipulate it further.

Tamara: We’re good bullshit detectors with each other. If something doesn’t sit right with one of us, we flag it. I much as it can mean having to redo something that one of us might have believed in.

BB_Q(1) You’re doing the SXSW official Jansport Sonic Bids showcase, but you had planned to go to SXSW anyway and already booked another show.

Joe: We wanted to get back down there. We have friends playing. It’s a great meet up.

Tamara: We’re collaborating with the producer [and legendary DJ] Mike Realm. On some visuals for our live show, and website, and music videos. For the next album we very much want to thread all of the visuals with the music.

BB_Q(1) You can be very playful on stage. Do you think about your performance a lot or is it pretty natural?

BB_A(1) Tamara: I think we both think about the live performance a lot. In the live show, we do want to incorporate an element of play. We don’t want to be self serious. At the same time we want the music to be taken seriously. They’re the moments at which we can connect to people. And also, we are in the same room as the audience. We’re experience the music at the same moment they are. When we are playful onstage, when we engage. When Joe hops onto an amp, or when I climb a PA, or do something stupid like try to get the audience to hold the mike stand. Those moments are moments where we’re looking at the audience and saying, “We’re all in the same room together.”

A live show is a just a fantastic love affair. You spend hours and hours preparing for it… [and then] it’s all for a bunch of strangers who can receive or reject it. It changes the minute you’re in a room with other people. It ends up being this really lovely courting ritual.

Sometimes the dude with the crossed arms in the front row giving you Sally Stinkeye is actually the guy after the show that says, “I loved it.”

Bradley (@13_Spinelli) Spinelli is the author of “Killing Williamsburg.” - Bedford and Bowery

My weekend truly began upon entering Rough Trade in Williamsburg on Friday evening. I was overly excited to see the record store based venue, and even more excited to see and hear some great music. Do you ever go to a show expecting one thing and end up experiencing something completely different? That’s probably the most accurate description of my evening, as I was totally taken by surprise in the greatest way possible. I knew a few of Cultfever’s songs beforehand and I admired their craft; the way they infuse electronics into their music to create sounds that you’ve probably never heard before, and using those sounds to propel their melodies. The melodies are incredibly well thought-out and from a technical standpoint, you can hear, very obviously, that they have great musical minds. Knowing this, alone, had me looking forward to the evening, but they proved to be so much more than their recordings in a live setting. Cultfever’s Tamara Jafar and Joe Durniak know how to deliver an upbeat and lively set, while keeping the music genuine and on point.

Cultfever took on a high-energy, slightly Americana, rock ‘n’ roll vibe on stage with Joe’s guitar playing being pronounced and energized, accompanied by Tamara’s charismatic excellence. One of the highlights from their set was “Chicken”, which was playful and fun. Joe played a funky riff that made you want to dance; it was so tight, adding to the sheer quality of the sound in the room. At one point, Tamara crouched to the floor as she sang the more subdued verse. She used these dramatic moments to keep the suspense high and to fuel the energy of the booming chorus. As the set went on, it was clear that these guys could write and deliver great hooks. I found myself wanting to sing along to the tracks I have never heard. There were moments in the songs that were anthem-like – where the builds were so beautifully done, and the releases of the hooks were absolutely satisfying. Another highlight from the set would definitely be “Knewyouwell.” The beginning of the song was met with thunderous cheers from the audience. Tamara and Joe’s vocal harmonies, along with the synthesizer, created a rather airy feel. Tamara used the entire stage in a multitude of ways as she kept the audience engaged and feeling like a part of the community experience. Joe was absolutely tearing it up in his guitar solo, as they constantly added various elements to their set, keeping us wanting more. Their use of stripped down moments interwoven with their bigger, more upbeat moments kept things extremely dynamic and entertaining.

A cool moment of the evening was when Cultfever played a brand new song for us. The track is called “Youth,” and its upbeat nature continued to energize the room. For the first time of the evening, Joe temporarily took the vocal lead, which was a cool change of pace. His vibrato was a great addition to the complete sound. The drums added to the driving force of the rhythm as they played. The vocal harmonies were, once again spot on, and the electronics from the synthesizer allowed the melody to soar. This was a really enjoyable song to hear for the first time, live in concert. I am very excited that we are actually premiering “Youth,” here at Pancakes and Whiskey today! The song reflects a nostalgic feeling for our youthful days, when things were simpler, and how now we are faced with an all-encompassing worry. The lyrics “Sweet smell of the summer/When we were younger/And all we had to do was run with each other” really say it all. We yearn for that simplicity, and Cultfever brings that notion to life in “Youth.” I hope you enjoy the track as much as I do!

One of the best parts about Cultfever is that not only have they proved to be great musicians who put on a great show, but they also proved to be epic human beings, as I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down for an interview with the duo. After meeting here in New York, Tamara and Joe began an immediate friendship. They ended up becoming roommates, relatively quickly with an agreement that the living room would be studio space. As often happens when musicians are in close quarters, the duo started making music together. What was a little more atypical was the ease at which it all happened. It’s almost as if they found their musical counterparts in each other. Joe calls it “effortless.” Tamara says, “now that we can speak from the glory of retrospect, I think we both intuitively felt that something was right, we went with it, and it just kind of worked out.”

Besides joking around and having an excellent time getting to know Tamara and Joe, I was curious about the differences between their recorded music and their live show. I knew a few songs going into Friday night’s show, and as I mentioned earlier, was surprised how much more rock ‘n’ roll-esque they sounded as opposed to the more electronic based recordings. Joe spoke about the recordings and how he composes much of the overall soundscape. I really enjoyed listening to the two of them speak about their music as a soundscape because it’s more than just a formalized song structure; it’s about the listening experience and appreciating what you hear. He elaborated by talking about how he hears sounds anywhere and everywhere, and he thinks about how he can create that sound to use with their melodies. They both take on several roles when they create music together. When they record and collaborate, Tamara says, “it feels more than a space with roles. It’s more like a space where we both use the tools we have to imagine a collective vision or picture.” Joe adds that he has “never written so well with somebody before, and that’s our strongest suit.” He loves working with Tamara’s voice because that’s an instrument he doesn’t play. After that comment, Tamara might have come up with the best metaphor of all time by saying, “it’s kind of like the relationship between Ursula and Ariel in the Little Mermaid (where she takes Ariel’s voice), but in this case, it’s consensual.” In regards to the way the recorded music translates to the stage, Joe talks about the conscious decision to keep the guitar sound up with the drums. Tamara mentioned that while they love a good show where you can totally trance out, that’s not their style as live performers. They want to bring energy to the stage. Tamara says they prefer sitting in the rock vein because “there’s a dynamic spectrum of emotion that we want to go through, and that we want the audience to go through with us during a show. If we can succeed in creating that range in a show, we feel good at the end of it.”

Joe sets up the synth to be triggered by the drummer and the sound engineer, enhancing the quality of the sound by bringing some of the original album sounds into the set. This allows each song to have different synth sounds. It’s also programmed so the synth sounds can automatically change within songs as well. Joe takes complete control of the soundscape in the studio and on the stage. He says it comes down to the question of: “where’s your voice, where’s my voice, and how do they work the best together?” There are moments on the upcoming album when their voices combine and Joe says, “It moves me.” Tamara says there are moments when she hears a recording of them singing together in the alto and tenor ranges when she can’t tell who, between them, is actually singing. She says, “I think we’re both curious to explore that kind of androgyny with singing.” We discussed the builds in many of the songs, which are gorgeously done. Tamara relates this idea to “writing a convincing story.” If the story calls for a big moment, they will adequately build the sound up to reach that point. Joe adds that it shouldn’t feel forced. They want to serve the overall piece.

When I commented on their songs being somewhat anthem-like as performed live, Tamara said, “Go big or go home,” and that’s exactly how Cultfever lives it up. Lastly, Cultefever has just set up a hotline! They want you to call and leave them voicemails; anonymously telling them secrets, stories, memories, or whatever else comes to mind. Joe says, “We want anyone to call us!” If you leave a number, they might even call you back. Tamara says if you tell them something good, they might use it in a song. So feel free to call Cultfever’s hotline at 818 YOCULT1; or for those of you who no longer have letters on your keypads, it’s 818-962-8581. Call away! - Pancakes and Whiskey