Tantric (band)
Tantric | |
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Background information | |
Also known as | C-14 |
Origin | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels |
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Spinoff of | Days of the New |
Members |
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Past members |
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Website | tantricofficial |
Tantric is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky. The group was founded in 1998 by Todd Whitener, Jesse Vest and Mat Taul after they left Days of the New, and joined forces with vocalist Hugo Ferreira. Ferreira is the only remaining member of the band from the original lineup.
The band's most recent release, their eighth full-length album The Sum of All Things, was released in 2021 via Cleopatra Records.
History
Formation
After leaving
During an interview Ferreira commented on the band's formation, saying: "We were managed by the same company at one point when I was in a band called Merge and they were in Days of the New. We knew each other and actually toured together a little bit. I was ready for a change, and they got fired from the Days of the New gig and were looking for a new gig, too. I came down and sang with them, and it was real natural. Everybody got along really well, so we were like, 'Hey, we should probably call this something.' We called it C-14, which was the original name of the band. After that we decided to come up with a better name."[1]
Tantric (2000–2003)
By late 2000, Tantric's demo caught the attention of
In June 2002, the band contributed the song "Cross the Line" for the NASCAR: Crank It Up compilation album.[2]
After We Go (2003–2005)
Following settlement of a lawsuit filed by the label against the subsidiary's parent company that same year,
After We Go would be Tantric's final release for
Tantric III (2005–2007)
In 2005, bassist Jesse Vest left the group, wishing to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by
On May 8, 2007, the release of three songs from Tantric III on the band's
The End Begins (2007–2008)
In late 2007 Hugo Ferreira began searching for new bandmates. He enlisted former Fuel drummer Kevin Miller, and DramaGods guitarist Joe Pessia. Erik Leonhardt became Tantric's bassist and electric violinist Marcus Ratzenboeck was recruited. Shortly thereafter, the band announced their deal with the independent label Silent Majority Group and their new management company JHMP.[5]
The newly assembled second lineup of Tantric recorded ten new songs and a revamped version of "
Mind Control (2009–2013)
After touring in support of
Tantric embarked on a Fall 2009 tour supporting Shinedown, which lasted September through November.
On November 23, 2010, Hugo Ferreira released a cover of the Christmas song "Carol of the Bells" digitally in the iTunes Store, making it the first and only time to date that Ferreira released music under his name and not Tantric's.[8]
Tantric remained relatively quiet from the fall of 2010 throughout the first half of 2013, Ferreira announced in late 2010 that he had started gearing to start writing and recording for a new album. The lineup changed consistently throughout that timeframe, but Ferreira did recruit members to play with him to keep Tantric touring.
37 Channels (2013–2014)
On July 17, 2013, record label Pavement Entertainment announced it had signed Tantric and would be releasing the band's fifth album, 37 Channels, on September 17.[9] Ferreira, the only original member still in the band at the time of the record's recording and release, played rhythm guitar, bass and piano. The album was recorded with guitarists Kevin McCreery, Scott Bartlett, Johnny K., and Kenny Olson, bassist John Abel, drummer Emanuel Cole, and pedal steel guitarist Gary Morse.
Ferreira did almost all songwriting and production on the album, which took over three years to record.[10] He later said he had to choose the album's 19 songs from 116 he'd written.
37 Channels received moderately positive reviews, debuting at No. 24 on Billboard's Hard Rock Albums chart. Soon after the release of the album, Ferreira recruited drummer TJ Taylor, bassist Scott Wilson, and guitarist Derek Isaacs as touring members; all three later became official members.[11]
Blue Room Archives (2014–2015)
On August 1, 2014, the band announced on their official Facebook page that they would be releasing a new album called
The band revealed the title of the album came from the band's home studio that they named "The Blue Room".[12]
Lead vocalist and front man Hugo Ferreira comments: "This isn't so much a premeditated album, but a collection of music I have done that I always loved extremely but never found a place for. It's songs in their purest form, no flashy production or elaborate theme. Imagine it as a mix tape of songs I wrote or co-wrote that stand alone uniquely. An inside view of the other side of a tantric state of mind."[13]
On August 28, 2014, the band released the first single off the album titled "
Blue Room Archives was released on September 30, 2014, as planned, making it the release of their sixth studio album.[14]
Tantric announced "The Blue Room Archives" tour shortly after the album's release,[15] the band will be playing many shows headlining and supporting throughout late 2014 and 2015 in support of the album.[16]
Studio sessions, lineup changes and Mercury Retrograde (2015–2020)
On April 29, 2015, Tantric posted on their official Facebook page that they "hoped" to be releasing a new album later this year in 2015, the album will be the band's seventh studio album and second album under the new Tantric era.[17]
On June 2 and 3, 2015, Tantric posted two new songs on their ReverbNation page. The first song was titled "I Can't Feel" and the second song was titled "Fool".[18]
On June 16, 2015, lead guitarist Derek Isaacs announced his departure from Tantric after a year and a half with the band.
Tantric released another new song titled "Nowhere" via ReverbNation on July 12, 2015. The song is a departure from the new Tantric sound they have had on their previous three studio albums and more of an original Tantric sound.[19]
On July 28, 2015, Tantric announced via Facebook that Arizona-based guitarist Tommy Gibbons has joined the band to fill the lead guitarist role. Gibbons was introduced to Tantric by the band While-She-Waits.
On November 12, 2015, Tantric announced on Facebook that Mike Smith will be joining them on their up-and-coming tour as their drummer to replace TJ Taylor. According to Tantric, Taylor left the band a few months before like Derek Isaacs. There is so far no confirmation if he will be a permanent member of Tantric.
Tantric announced their "Views from Above" tour on March 24, 2016. The tour started on May 6 and ran all summer.[20][21]
Lead vocalist Hugo Ferreira shared a ten-second audio clip of songs from the new album via his Facebook page on May 3, 2016. In the video it was also announced that the new album would be called Teather[22]
On May 17, 2016, the band announced that they will be taking part in the Make America Rock Again tour throughout in mid to late 2016.[citation needed]
On September 9, 2016, the band announced that it had parted ways with guitarist, Tommy Gibbons. The band in the middle of the Make America Rock Again tour decided to ask Ty Fury from the band Trapt to fill in.
On June 3, 2017, Scott Wilson announced on his official Facebook that he left Tantric to join the band Saving Abel.[23] Also appears that Ty Fury is a permanent member of the band now.
On November 5, 2017, the band released a song from their upcoming record via the band's official Facebook page titled "Against My Forever".[24]
During a May 2018 interview, lead vocalist Hugo Ferreira announced that Tantric would be joining Puddle of Mudd on their 2018 Resurrection tour, and also that Tantric was putting finishing touches on the new album now being titled Mercury Retrograde.[25]
The band's record label Pavement Entertainment started taking out ads in Billboard magazine promoting the new Tantric record in July 2018 . The album was released on October 5, 2018.[25]
The Sum of All Things (2021–present)
"Living Here Without You" was released on June 23, 2021, as a single off the band's eighth studio album The Sum of All Things which was released July 23, 2021, via Cleopatra Records.
Musical style
Tantric is often categorized as post-grunge and is known for its emphasis on acoustic guitar, distorted electric guitar, and multi-layered vocal harmonies. However, due to their heaviness, the band also fit in well during the early 2000s peak of alternative and nu metal. In their early career, Tantric was frequently compared to Days of the New, from which its original guitarist, bassist, and drummer derived. However, the group also gained strong comparison—and in some cases, criticism—to grunge forerunners Alice in Chains. This is by no means coincidence; famed record producer Toby Wright, who handled Tantric's first three albums, also produced two Alice in Chains albums as well as the solo debut of their principal songwriter, Jerry Cantrell. Wright is known for emphasizing multi-tracked quartal and quintal vocal harmonies and other characteristics demonstrated in both bands.
However, since the departure of all but Tantric's vocalist from the original lineup, as well as the inclusion of electric violinist Marcus Ratzenboeck, the band's musical approach has evolved. Songs predating Ratzenboeck's inclusion in Tantric have since been performed live with violin, and the altered backing band has provided a shift in musical direction.
Band members
Current members
- Hugo Ferreira – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1999–present), bass, keyboards (2013 session only)
- Jon Loree – drums (2020–present)
- Chris Loree – lead guitar, backing vocals (2023–present)
- Eric Warner – bass, backing vocals (2023–present)
Former members
- Jesse Vest – bass (1998–2005)
- Todd Whitener – lead guitar, backing vocals (1998–2007)
- Mat Taul – drums (1998–2007)
- Bruce LaFrance – bass (2005–2007)
- Kevin Miller – drums (2007–2009)
- Joe Pessia – lead guitar (2007–2012)
- Erik Leonhardt – bass, backing vocals (2007–2012)
- Richie Monica – drums (2009–2012)
- Marcus Ratzenboeck – electric violin (2007–2013)
- Derek Isaac – lead guitar, backing vocals (2014–2015)
- TJ Taylor – drums (2014–2015)
- Tommy Gibbons – lead guitar, backing vocals (2015–2016)
- Scott Wilson – bass, backing vocals (2014–2017); lead guitar (2013)
- Ty Fury – lead guitar, backing vocals (2016–2017)
- Mike Smith – drums (2015–2017)
- Troy Patrick Farrell – drums (2017–2019)
- Ian Corabi – drums (2019–2020)
- Jaron Gulino – bass, backing vocals (2017–2022, 2023)
- Sebastian LaBar – lead guitar, backing vocals (2017–2023)
- Rick Reynolds – bass, backing vocals (2023)
Former session and touring members
- Kevin McCreery – lead guitar (2013)
- Johnny K. – lead guitar (2013)
- Kenny Olson – lead guitar (2013)
- John Able – bass (2013)
- Emanuel Cole – drums (2013)
- Gary Morse – pedal steel guitar (2013)
Timeline
Discography
- Tantric (2001)
- After We Go (2004)
- The End Begins(2008)
- Mind Control (2009)
- 37 Channels (2013)
- Blue Room Archives (2014)
- Mercury Retrograde (2018)
- The Sum of All Things (2021)
See also
- Live in the X Lounge - a charity album to which Tantric contributed live performances.
References
- ^ a b c d "Tantric Biography - Profile of Rock Band Tantric". Rock.about.com. August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "NASCAR on Fox Crank It Up @ARTISTdirect". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Tantric : End Begins". Be Independent!. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Kevin Miller of Tantric". All Access Magazine. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Tantric's Biography – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. November 26, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ Anthony Tognazzini (April 22, 2008). "The End Begins - Tantric | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Tantric: Interview with Hugo Ferreira by Lori Kerr". UnRated Music Magazine. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Carol of The Bells: Hugo Ferreira: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Pavement Entertainment Signs Tantric". Pavement Music. July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "An Interview with Hugo Ferreira as we discuss Tantric new album "37 Channels"". Music Junkie Press. August 27, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "TANTRIC ANNOUNCES THE 37 CHANNELS TOUR; DATES WITH SOIL AND SOCIAL 66 TO FOLLOW". Pavement Music. February 19, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "TANTRIC RELEASES "BLUE ROOM ARCHIVES" ON SEPTEMBER 30TH". Shockwavemagazine.com. August 28, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Tantric set to release Blue Room Archives on September 30th". Music Junkie Press. August 31, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Tantric: Blue Room Archives: Music". Amazon. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "TANTRIC Blue Room Archives Tour". First Avenue. November 18, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Tantric- Blue Room Archives Tour — Dividing Eden". Dividingeden.com. May 22, 2015. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ "Tantric - Mobile Uploads". Facebook. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Tantric". ReverbNation. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ eMinor. "Tantric - Rock from Southborough, MA". ReverbNation. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- ^ "Schecter Guitars". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- ^ "Elisium". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- ^ "Search". Facebook.com. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- ^ "Scott Wilson - Official". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- ^ "Against My Forever Album Premaster.mp3". Dropbox.com. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- ^ a b [1] [dead link]
External links
- Tantric at AllMusic