MIEN Unveils ‘MIIEN’: A Visionary Psychedelic Soundscape
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Emerging from the standardized connotations of psych music, MIEN, the innovative band transcends the genre with their unique dialect of vibrant sonic exploration. The second album ‘MIEN’ from this Austin TX, via Montreal supergroup, proficiently carves out an unpredictable yet thrilling chapter. Scheduled to release on April 18, 2025, via their new label Fuzz Club, MIEN’s sophomore album encapsulates the group’s audacious experimentation from the quartet’s diverse artists.
Born out of shared musical interests and serendipitous encounters, MIEN originated from the chord that struck between Rishi Dhir of Elephant Stone and Alex Maas from The Black Angels, during the 2004 SXSW event. Instrumental in the band’s formation were John Mark Lapham, known for his proficiency in electronic music from The Earlies, and drummer Robb Kidd, associated with Alex Maas and Golden Dawn Arkestra, which led to the fusion of this groundbreaking psych-fusion band.
“MIIEN: A Confluence of Vibrant Influences and Ingenious Experimentation”
The production of ‘MIIEN’ was shared across Montreal, Abilene, and Austin, Texas. MIEN’s creative genesis is a representative of their varied musical backgrounds, thus crafting a unique sonic tapestry. Each song on the album begins as a raw concept—a tune, a rhythm, or a verbal phrase. These ideas are then nurtured and layered meticulously by the band members until they evolve into a fully-fledged track.
John Mark Lapham, often referred to as the band’s “musical alchemist,” refines these initial sketches into sophisticated compositions. The tracks are infused with a flawless blend of bold textures and rhythmic shifts, further enhanced by Maas’ intoxicating and mesmerizing vocals that add a dark, elusive layer to the sound.
As per Rishi Dhir, the band’s creative process is entirely organic by nature. He emphasizes, “A simple idea can become something monumental when we each put our stamp on it.” However, the band’s creative journey was significantly amplified during the unique in-person recording sessions, infusing dynamic immediacy to several tracks.
“MIIEN: Epitomizing the Golden Age of ‘60s Psychedelia with a Modern Twist”
The album ‘MIIEN’ stands as a testament to the band’s collective vision. The infusion of each band member’s unique perspective and creative thought process makes the music universally appealing yet deeply personal. Melding seamlessly textured soundscapes with fearless experimentation, the album brings alive the golden era of ‘60s psychedelia while incorporating modern musical innovation.
When reflecting on the journey, John Mark notes, “Working with these guys has been one of the most enjoyable experiences in my music career. Our synergy is seamless, and I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes us.”
With the expertise of Rishi Dhir in bass, guitar, and keyboards, Robb Kidd in drums, John Mark Lapham handling the keyboards, samples, programming and the hypnotic vocals from Alex Mass; MIEN seems to be all set to redefine the boundaries of psychedelic exploration. They are definitely a band to watch out and remain to be the ones redefining the musical landscapes in the era of psych-music.
Indubitably, listeners are buzzing with anticipation for ‘MIIEN,’ their musical blend has been described as an alchemical fusion creating a sound that’s not only dramatic but transcendent, evoking auditory mirages that are fresh yet nostalgically compelling.
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