GROVES

“Don’t live to die, live to create,” Stephen Salisbury sings on “Ender,” the first single from L.A. trio Groves. It’s a sanguine sentiment for an equally bright song, whose title references the protagonist in Orson Scott Card’s 1985 science fiction novel. While not exactly doing battle with aliens, the song, with its warm synths, twinkling guitars and lush vocals, “is a call to arms and represents the rebirth of our music,” says bassist Reid Guidry, who, along with singer-guitarist Salisbury and drummer Will Smith formed Groves from the ashes of their previous band Barely Blind. The trio take their new name from their hometown in Texas, which they departed in 2011 in favor of L.A. Groves have been fostered by the artist development/management company MDDN (helmed by Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte) and are finishing up work on their full-length debut. Oh, and that’s Joel Madden’s sweet ’67 Chevy in the Jacob Stark-directed video. - Buzzbands.LA

Who: Los Angeles-based GROVES is comprised of Stephen Salisbury (vocals/guitar), Reid Guidry (bass/synth) and Will Smith (drums)

About The Track: 'Ender' is available now via iTunes. The tracks open with warning signal/sci fi electronics but is predominately a groove based track with shimmering guitars, dark synth underpinnings, and urgent, passionate vocals. This is mature, polished, alternative indie with catchy hooks, haunting melodies and a lot of mystique about it. GROVES are worth getting excited about.

The Band Explains:
"The 'Ender' video was produced by the band along with director Jake Stark and creative direction from Josh Madden. It was filmed in two different locations. The main location being the desert of Palmdale, CA and second location being the MDDN studio in Hollywood, where the song was recorded.

I think the video showcases a darker, almost paranormal type of energy we all felt when writing this song. It being the first song we created as a newly formed band, the lyrics seemed to naturally channel a sense of inevitability, which ended up becoming the main premise of the song. By realizing your place in the universe, your problems seem incredibly small in comparison. When realizing certain things are out of your control, you learn all you can really do is look up and say "Hear me all Ender. Can you help me see the light?"

We had a lot of fun making this video but something that's worth mentioning is that we hiked over a mile into the desert to an abandoned insane asylum. I'm not a superstitious guy or anything but it was hard not to think we might be starring in a slasher movie. I remember saying a few times, "I just hope someone finds our camera and makes this video." Haha.

The majority of the ideas for this video started in the simplest of forms. Lots of conversations about what we wanted with color, texture, aesthetic and over feel. So we knew virtually right away that we wanted this shoot to take place in a desert setting. Imagery I have to credit our director Jake Stark. Some of my favorite moments in this video were never discussed and done on the whim once we felt comfortable enough with what was already captured to experiment. Lastly, we knew we needed massive landscape shots which would require a drone. Fortunately we live in LA where you can find just about anything, so shout out to Andrew Gerety for helping us out with the aerial shots.

I think the overall message of the video is really about introduction and showing that GROVES is coming. We wanted to demonstrate that we were clearly after or in search of something, but also wanted to leave it open enough for the viewer to interpret their own message. We’re very excited to show you what’s next."
- Stephen Salisbury - When The Horn Blows

Few can accuse brothers Joel and Benji Madden of not being ambitious. The Good Charlotte pair have launched various endeavors over the past few years, not the least of which is MDDN, their own label and music media company. One of the bands signed to MDDN is Groves, a group that Joel Madden enthuses is “of the raddest new bands I’ve experienced.“

Yahoo Music is excited to premiere Groves’s video for "Ender,” in order for fans to get a taste of their sound.
"Their sound is original, energetic and universal,“ adds Joel. "I can’t wait to see what these guys do next!”
The band’s Reid Guidry had this to say about the song, which was produced by Courtney Ballard (The Madden Brothers, Vindata, Tori Kelly) and directed by Jake Stark: “During a time when everything seemed uncertain, ‘Ender’ was the one thing we were sure about. This being the very first song we wrote together, it felt most natural to share it with you first. This song is a call to arms and represents the rebirth of our music.

As Benji Madden confirms, "’Ender’ is just the beginning for this band! So much talent and they’re one of those naturally cool artists that comes along every once in a while." - Yahoo Music