The Portuguese have a word that translates to an emotional state of great nostalgia and melancholy: saudade. In Los Angeles, we have a band called Ghost Noise, and we think they work just as well.
The trio draws from wells of sorrowful sentiment to drive their sound, reminiscent of goth-rock, post-punk, and darkwave bands in the 80’s. But beneath the pastiche of lipstick pickups and Korg patches, there’s a greater force at work. The DIY ethic that propels the group has helped them to travel and thrive from Santa Monica to San Luis Obispo. The members are heavily involved in the local music scenes, managing the music/arts collective Mountair and contributing to other homespun organizations on their spare time.
Ghost Noise’s live sets are intimate and decorative: set designs incorporate flowers, lighting, and film backdrops to immerse the audience. They perform throughout California, venturing as far north as Fresno and as far south as Murrieta to house parties and burlesque shows alongside acts like Cruelty Code, Kirilov, and Post Life. Their debut album, THIS IS THE NEXT PART OF YOUR DREAM, was recorded and produced by Josh Solomon (Young Lovers/REVERB LITE) and released on Ritual Tapes in August 2013. Ghost Noise will take up residency at the DIY venue Pehrspace through May, and play across California regions in June. Their follow-up album will be produced by Jessica Nicole Collins (BERU). Listen to their debut single “Amethyst” below. – Ryan Mo