Darling Parade
Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | INDIE
Music
Press
This week, the 615 takes somewhat of a detour to introduce to you to one of the other styles of music that you can find perfecting their craft in Music City – alternative band Darling Parade. Their new album, "Battle Scars and Broken Hearts," hits stores this week, and according to the band's Nate McCoy, they can't wait for fans to be able to hold the album in their hands.
"We've had these songs ready to go, and I think it's the best stuff we've ever done," he tells Billboard.
Darling Parade – who have released a trio of well-received EP's in the past, came together in Southern Illinois. Lead vocalist Kristin Kearns asked McCoy to play behind her at a local show, and after adding bassist Dustin McCoy and drummer Casey Conrad – the latter through an ad on Craigslist – the band was complete.
How would one describe the group's sound? According to Conrad, there's not one clear-cut definition. "We had a hard time picking what genre we are," he stated. "We even tried to make up a genre because we felt there wasn't one that fit us. We all listen to different styles of music. The three guys listen to hardcore and metal music while Kristin listens to Sheryl Crow and all that, so that all comes across in our music."
The success of their third EP, 2011's "Until We Say It's Over" (a Top-10 entry on the Next Big Sound chart) led to them being invited to tour with Cassadee Pope from "The Voice." After that, the group decided to shift their energies to making a full-length album – enlisting their fans through the Kickstarter program.
Raising $16,000 from their fans, they were able to complete the album. The band's Nate McCoy admits that "It was kind of scary at first, but we were blown away. We weren't expecting to hit our goal, because that is a lot of money from fans. It's a scary thing because we had already started working on the record, and we didn't have the money. Our producer knew we didn't have it at the time. It was scary because we had never tried to ask for money from people that we didn't know. Would we raise $ 300, or hit our goal? We actually went over it, so we were all very appreciative."
Along the way, Darling Parade has also seen their music featured on such television series as "Stargate Universe." Kearns said that was a coup, and made them a hit with their family. "For your parents, they squeal out, run up to you, and hug you real big. They think you're the most famous person ever, and you believe it for a second."
The lead single from "Battle Scars" is "Ghost." In describing the song, Kearns says "For me, it's about having something, losing it, and longing for it. Whether it's a person or something that you had that got ripped away from you basically. I wrote the song as if it was a person I had lost, but I never actually lost any family members."
As far as the future goes, Darling Parade wants to put their music in front of as many people as possible. "We want to tour as much as possible, and get in front of people, and sell the album," said McCoy.
Kearns echoes his thoughts, as her enthusiasm is quite apparent. "We want to be a thriving business. We've spent so much time recording, and we're in the process of ordering merch. I want to get out on the road!"
- Billboard
This week, the 615 takes somewhat of a detour to introduce to you to one of the other styles of music that you can find perfecting their craft in Music City – alternative band Darling Parade. Their new album, "Battle Scars and Broken Hearts," hits stores this week, and according to the band's Nate McCoy, they can't wait for fans to be able to hold the album in their hands.
"We've had these songs ready to go, and I think it's the best stuff we've ever done," he tells Billboard.
Darling Parade – who have released a trio of well-received EP's in the past, came together in Southern Illinois. Lead vocalist Kristin Kearns asked McCoy to play behind her at a local show, and after adding bassist Dustin McCoy and drummer Casey Conrad – the latter through an ad on Craigslist – the band was complete.
How would one describe the group's sound? According to Conrad, there's not one clear-cut definition. "We had a hard time picking what genre we are," he stated. "We even tried to make up a genre because we felt there wasn't one that fit us. We all listen to different styles of music. The three guys listen to hardcore and metal music while Kristin listens to Sheryl Crow and all that, so that all comes across in our music."
The success of their third EP, 2011's "Until We Say It's Over" (a Top-10 entry on the Next Big Sound chart) led to them being invited to tour with Cassadee Pope from "The Voice." After that, the group decided to shift their energies to making a full-length album – enlisting their fans through the Kickstarter program.
Raising $16,000 from their fans, they were able to complete the album. The band's Nate McCoy admits that "It was kind of scary at first, but we were blown away. We weren't expecting to hit our goal, because that is a lot of money from fans. It's a scary thing because we had already started working on the record, and we didn't have the money. Our producer knew we didn't have it at the time. It was scary because we had never tried to ask for money from people that we didn't know. Would we raise $ 300, or hit our goal? We actually went over it, so we were all very appreciative."
Along the way, Darling Parade has also seen their music featured on such television series as "Stargate Universe." Kearns said that was a coup, and made them a hit with their family. "For your parents, they squeal out, run up to you, and hug you real big. They think you're the most famous person ever, and you believe it for a second."
The lead single from "Battle Scars" is "Ghost." In describing the song, Kearns says "For me, it's about having something, losing it, and longing for it. Whether it's a person or something that you had that got ripped away from you basically. I wrote the song as if it was a person I had lost, but I never actually lost any family members."
As far as the future goes, Darling Parade wants to put their music in front of as many people as possible. "We want to tour as much as possible, and get in front of people, and sell the album," said McCoy.
Kearns echoes his thoughts, as her enthusiasm is quite apparent. "We want to be a thriving business. We've spent so much time recording, and we're in the process of ordering merch. I want to get out on the road!"
- Billboard
Darling Parade - Battle Scars and Broken Hearts
by Kevin Wierzbicki
.
This modern alt-rock foursome from Nashville has had measured success in the recent past including with their 2011 E.P. Until We Say It's Over, an effort that landed them in the Top 10 on Billboard's "Next Big Sound" chart. Now with their debut full-length album Battle Scars and Broken Hearts Darling Parade is poised to fulfill Billboard's prediction.
Kristin Kearns is the voice of Darling Parade and true to the album's title she's singing here mostly about love gone wrong and relationships hanging on by a thread. Leave it to the weepy singer/songwriters though to look for a shoulder to sob on; Darling Parade crank up the guitars for the radio-ready Foo Fighters/Joan Jett mash-up "Messin' With Me," the pithy kiss-off of "Just Another" and the Pat Benatar-recalling "Coming Undone," all of which have hit single potential.
Those songs will have to wait their turn though; with a hooky sing-along chorus and tons of melodic guitar "Ghost" is the pop perfection that'll be haunting the charts for awhile.
Kearns' vocals project strength throughout; the women she portrays in these songs are damaged but not done, and only on album closer "With You" does she sound truly hurt.
Otherwise, despite the heartbreak theme, Battle Scars and Broken Hearts has been carefully crafted for windows-down-play-it-loud fun. Don't leave the room or mute the TV when a Supercuts commercial comes on later this year; that's Darling Parade on screen rocking to their song "Summer."
Battle Scars and Broken Hearts is available now digitally at iTunes here and on CD at Amazon. - Anti-Music.Com
Darling Parade - Battle Scars and Broken Hearts
by Kevin Wierzbicki
.
This modern alt-rock foursome from Nashville has had measured success in the recent past including with their 2011 E.P. Until We Say It's Over, an effort that landed them in the Top 10 on Billboard's "Next Big Sound" chart. Now with their debut full-length album Battle Scars and Broken Hearts Darling Parade is poised to fulfill Billboard's prediction.
Kristin Kearns is the voice of Darling Parade and true to the album's title she's singing here mostly about love gone wrong and relationships hanging on by a thread. Leave it to the weepy singer/songwriters though to look for a shoulder to sob on; Darling Parade crank up the guitars for the radio-ready Foo Fighters/Joan Jett mash-up "Messin' With Me," the pithy kiss-off of "Just Another" and the Pat Benatar-recalling "Coming Undone," all of which have hit single potential.
Those songs will have to wait their turn though; with a hooky sing-along chorus and tons of melodic guitar "Ghost" is the pop perfection that'll be haunting the charts for awhile.
Kearns' vocals project strength throughout; the women she portrays in these songs are damaged but not done, and only on album closer "With You" does she sound truly hurt.
Otherwise, despite the heartbreak theme, Battle Scars and Broken Hearts has been carefully crafted for windows-down-play-it-loud fun. Don't leave the room or mute the TV when a Supercuts commercial comes on later this year; that's Darling Parade on screen rocking to their song "Summer."
Battle Scars and Broken Hearts is available now digitally at iTunes here and on CD at Amazon. - Anti-Music.Com
"Three guys, one stunning female up front and catchy pop rock songs."
- Tempolores
- Tempolores
"Three guys, one stunning female up front and catchy pop rock songs."
- Tempolores
- Tempolores
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Nashville, TN based alternative buzz band, Darling Parade, hasn’t made it anywhere without a fight, and 2012 was no exception.
Formed in early 2007 against the humble backdrop of fields and farmhouses, Darling Parade came to fruition after lead vocalist Kristin Kearns' asked Nate McCoy and his previous group to play a local show in Southern Illinois. She was only 15 at the time, but even then, had a way of captivating an audience. After adding drummer Casey Conrad via Craigslist, and bassist Dustin McCoy ,the group was complete.
After a self-titled EP, and 2010's What You Want, 2011 brought the release of the band's 3rd EP, Until We Say It’s Over, and landed the band the #8 spot on Billboard’s Next Big Sound chart. The first single “Never Wrong” received airplay on both MTVu and VH1. It also included, “Remember”, featuring guest vocals by Anberlin frontman, Stephen Christian.
Riding on the success of Until We Say It’s Over in the spring of 2012, Darling Parade landed their first national tour with Cassadee Pope (Hey Monday, NBC's The Voice), and set out to make their mark across the country. The band quickly followed up with a national headlining tour, and then headed home to regroup.
Shortly after returning home, they knew it was time to do something they had not yet attempted; record a full-length album. Lacking the funds to embark on such an endeavor, the fans stepped up in a huge way; fully backing a Kickstarter effort to raise $16,000 and funding the recording of the new album.
Darling Parade went through several life changing situations throughout the course of a few years, as bands do from time to time. The group, along with their long time Producer and friend, Jon King (Augustana, Throwing Gravity, 3 Pill Morning), retreated to a remote cabin in Western KY, to clear their minds and make sense of the chaos. Out of that adversity, Battle Scars & Broken Hearts was born. Written entirely over a period of only a few weeks, it represents a snapshot in time of the band coming to terms with some of their weakest moments, and finding the will to rise above them.
“The whole album has a common theme of overcoming struggle,” says Kearns.
“It’s really about realizing that no one has control over your life but you, and moving past negativity.”
The next four months were spent working day in and day out in the studio. “We really took a different approach with this album, we took the time to explore every tone, and took a lot of chances” says McCoy.
The band made huge strides forward musically as well, melding all of their influences to create a sound that’s infectious, refreshing, and all their own. In-your-face guitars and relentless drumming dominate the album, while Kristin’s thunder in a bottle voice can only be described as a beautifully controlled chaos.
Partnering with King’s Nashville based label, Page 2 Music, Battle Scars & Broken Hearts will be released world-wide April 2nd, 2013.
Darling Parade’s music has been featured extensively on ABC Family’s “The Lying Game”, The CW’s Flygirls, Syfy’s Stargate Universe, and Showtime’s Shameless. They’ve shared the stage with Cassadee Pope, Chevelle, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Stephen Jerzak, Plumb, The Ataris, and more.
Band Members
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