The pulsing dance beats and wailing synth riffs that Machines Are People Too dish out are atypical to the sounds most think of when they hear music from the east Tennessee hills. Formed in Chattanooga in 2010 by Brian Sylvester (vocals) and JJ Clark (production) and quickly joined by additions Cain Lassiter (keys) and Ivan Garcia (drums), they began infecting the Southeast with a sound uniquely their own.
With synth-pop instrumentals and hauntingly distinctive vocals from Sylvester, the band has spent the last two years touring across the country playing a wide range of venues spanning local bars and clubs, to festivals such as Bonnaroo and Nocturnal Wonderland. In July of 2012, they released their first EP, Dreams, produced by Lars Stalfors, who has worked with the likes of The Mars Volta and Matt & Kim. Dreams represents the band’s eclectic range spanning five tracks. The composition begins with the trance inducing dance tune, “Freaks,” and closes with the more subtle and emotive, “Better Than This.” Dreams is available for purchase on iTunes.
While Machines Are People Too got their start in Chattanooga, several of the members grew up in Nashville, and they have not forgotten their music city roots. The band has played a number of shows around the city lending their diverse sounds to the ever-growing cultural and musical melting pot that is Nashville. Their most recent Nashville appearance was at Mercy Lounge’s 10 Year Anniversary Party, alongside other talented acts such as, Magnolia Sons, Cherub and Jeff the Brotherhood.
You can catch the next Machines Are People Too experience on February 15th at The East Room, where they will be headlining the Winter 2013 East Nashville Underground. They are also due to play at the Showercap Festival in Athens, GA on April 20th. The band recently finished recording the first track for their second EP that is set to release this spring.
– Christian Lerchenfeld
