INDIE ROCK TRIO CMON CMON RELEASE DEBUT EP
FIRST LONDON HEADLINE SHOW ON NOVEMBER 16th 2022 AT PAPERDRESS VINTAGE
“Blissed out, bitter sweet and very delightful”
– Classic Rock Magazine
PURCHASE TICKETS TO PAPERDRESS VINTAGE ON NOVEMBER 16th
WATCH THE ‘WAITING’ VISUALISER
Belgian indie-rock trio CMON CMON have released their debut EP. The eponymous release features three tracks, including previous singles ‘Say What It Means’ and ‘The Summers We Missed’, plus the new song ‘Waiting’ which is released alongside a lyric visualiser on YouTube. The band is also due to visit UK shores for the first time, with a headline show on November 16th 2022 at London’s Paperdress Vintage.
“Emphatic, invigorating energy, roaring beats, and warm harmonies
that add just the right touch at just the right time”
– Atwood Magazine
Recorded locally in Brussels and at Trypoul Studios in the Netherlands (on rare vintage equipment), the trio linked remotely to Future Shock Studio in L.A. so that producer Alex Newport (City and Colour, Bloc Party, At The Drive In) could polish the songs, which were then mixed and mastered by Carl Saff (Bambara, Algiers, Public Practice) in Chicago. Following this, the band decided they might need a manager, so chanced their arm with Steve Budd (Tony Visconti, Gang Of Four, Heaven 17, The Magic Numbers), whose illustrious career they had long admired. With a team of top industry heads assembled, the stage was set for the arrival of one of 2022’s most unusual ensembles; a band that didn’t intend to make an album, never mind release it.
Why? Because the trio have been here before, two decades ago as college students. Reformed for fun rather than fame, with a new name and different aims, but as much love of harmony-soaked, melodic rock as ever, their plan to put the music first is already paying dividends.
It was guitarist and vocalist Jorrit who contacted his fellow band members – bassist Steven Omblets and drummer Michel Becx – in 2019 after 20 years apart. Now in their 40s, but still living near each other in northeast Belgium, they had lost touch while establishing diverse careers – Jorrit in advertising, Steven as a sociology lecturer and Michel as an estate agent. “I’d started writing songs again and remembered how much fun it was when the three of us used to craft them together,” says Jorrit. “I called them and asked if they would like to get in a rehearsal room to see how it went. Immediately, the chemistry between us was back.”
When lockdown came along, they had already decided to do a demo, maybe even release an EP. But before they knew it, an album’s worth of songs was written and a list of fantasy producers compiled to contact. In truth, they expected to hear nothing back from Alex Newport, whose work with Death Cab For Cutie they all admired. But immediately he mailed back, saying he loved the songs and signed on to produce. His passion for the band and the first single in particular was emphatic, saying “The Summers We Missed” is an instant powerpop classic with those wonderfully bittersweet lyrics that CMON CMON excel at. Love the driving guitars and vocal harmonies on this one!”
Joyous, jangly lead single ‘The Summers We Missed’, with its sumptuous harmonies and debt to early Lemonheads, captures both the laid-back spirit of CMON CMON and their tales of life experience as opposed to first love whilst ‘Say What It Means’, an R.E.M.-meets- Teenage Fanclub rocker, is about Jorrit’s experience of phoneys in the advertising industry. ‘Waiting’, a boisterous beauty and the first song that CMON CMON worked on when they got back together, is described by Jorrit as applying to many situations, “It’s about waiting to finally get the courage to do what you want to do. ln one sense, it’s about being able to judge relationships, analyse them. Why aren’t we moving forwards, saying what needs to be said and being brutally honest?
“What growing older gives you is the sense that you should never wait for anything – just go for it. That’s not something I could have expressed when I was younger because I wouldn’t have understood it. I can only write about my life, what I have actually experienced.
“For the three of us now, Waiting is about having the courage to be in a band again, never mind what age we are. I’m a better songwriter than I’ve ever been. We’re having more fun that we did the first time. Other people love the songs as much as we do.”
Also announced is the band’s debut UK show, taking place at London’s Paperdress Vintage on November 16th 2022. Initially, CMON CMON thought that they may not perform live, “These songs were written to capture us in this moment, not to make us rock stars posing on stage,” says Steven. “But the reaction we’ve had has convinced us otherwise. To our own amazement, we’re going to tour.” Tickets to the concert are on sale October 16th 2022.