Posted by Jack at 04-10-2024
Well it’s been a little while since our last post. Seriously, over 2 years…unacceptable really.
The release of Soizj, our inaugural album, was a big moment for us. It was the culmination of over 17 years of work, finally being unleashed on the world. We were incredibly proud of what we put out, despite the album being recorded, mixed and mastered in my front room. I am pleased to say the reception has been great, now with over 1200 unique listens from over 25 countries.
Our ambition has always been to release a second album (hopefully of many) – but it’s a process that cannot be rushed. There are many ideas flowing in the background, many fragments being created and rough mixes produced. During this creative endeavour, we’ve been expanding and building on our sound. Like with Soizj, it’s our ambition for the next album to push the boundaries, and hopefully bring something truly unique to the table. While going on this journey, two tracks stood out to us as really living up to that ethos, pushing beyond the original Rona sound, but still capturing that quintessential Rone-ness. We didn’t want to sit on them while we built out the album further, so we’ve decided to launch a new 2 track EP for your general enjoyment: Erroneous.
Erroneous? You may ask. Seems like a strange name for an EP (if you’re asking this you’re clearly mad, thinking Soizj is a perfectly standard name). Erroneous, we believe, is a perfectly fitting name for this EP. It’s made up of two tracks:
“A Life Unknown” opens the EP with silky lo-fi vibes, focusing on the dilemma of whether to stand still or move forward. The song questions many axiomatic beliefs we take for granted but rarely examine. In our lives, we suffer daily and struggle with the choices presented to us, all while grappling with the weight of whether our decisions are correct. Is there ever anyone home? Should you always walk out into the night? Who is truly listening to you? The song aims to offer comfort, highlighting that this struggle is a shared human experience. It’s remarkably human to wrestle with reality and contemplate every big decision. The feel of the song invites listeners to find ease and reflection, allowing them to process without judgement. With cool synths, subtle lyrical guitar, and warm bass tones, each element has its moment, building together to create a cohesive sound.
In contrast, “Mountain” approaches struggle in a very different way. It presents struggle as a necessary and optimistic driver that encourages us to do better in life and achieve our potential. Climbing a mountain serves as an extended metaphor for any challenge we face. The song aims to provide motivation, drive, and encouragement, showing that anything is possible. By aiming for the highest good, we can propel ourselves forward in every way. The song opens with powerful synths, ringing organs, and punchy drums, complemented by spoken word to connect with your current “self.” As the song builds, it reaches lush, rich harmonies paired with driving synth sounds, showcasing the journey through struggle. It all culminates in a beautiful and awe-inspiring church organ at the end, emphasising the completion of the ascent and a sense of connection with the divine.
Coming back to the question of why Erroneous, you may be mistaken to think that this album wasn’t Deuxrona. We wouldn’t blame you, but listen carefully and you see all the hallmarks that you’ve grown to love from a Rona song. Perhaps the title is ironic - perhaps it's not. That's for you, the listener, to explore and answer for yourself.
Anyway - enjoy the EP! We are excited to hear what you think! And do not fear, the second album is well underway. We can certainly promise you won't be waiting another 17 years for it!
Posted by Tom at 31-01-2022
To be totally honest with you, I'm not sure whether I've even written a blog post before. So, it seems appropriate that we're in January, at the start of a new year, and I'm doing something new. It's a day of firsts, but it's also a day when a long, long wait is finally over (nearly). Deuxrona's first full-length album has been sent off, and it will be appearing on genuine music platforms and in physical copy form on 31st January.
Some of you may remember the Deuxrona EP, all the way back in 2008, that took three days to record. Some of you might even remember the band that existed before Deuxrona and their two gigs back in the hazy days of 2006. The whole thing lasted for less than two years.
It's a long time ago right? Well, I want you to imagine that all this time, Jack and Tom have been working on new musical material. Every success and failure, every ridiculous story along the way, all of that has been condensed down into one mega album. Each track means something, but that meaning might be completely meaningless. Thoughts on a postcard to tom@deuxrona.com.
So given the fact that the EP took three days, you might be wondering why this latest album has taken nearly 15 years. Well, officially I can reveal that it's because of what we like to call "the distillation process", whereby a complex recipe of prog, jazz, blues, and everything else that we've listened to in the last 15 years is magically transformed. Unofficially though, it's just taken ages... we even had a rough version of the album back in 2011 that just wasn't quite up to standard.
I think I speak for both of us when I say that we're proud of what we've created. It's a little "out there" and doesn't shy away from the prog rock side of things, but I think that it's also accessible and has some wonderfulness to balance out the weird. There are some double gashzjns to match the de de kashzjns, and only one auto-tuned note. But before you tell us that's cheating, just remember that all the "mistakes" are intentional, and that every instrument on there is played by Jack, Tom or the mysterious and elusive guitar enigma known only as Tone.
I've been telling people about this album for years, and some of them have been giving me grief about it ever since. Whatever happened to your prog album? Well, here's the answer! Seriously though, thanks to all of you that have supported the project and kept asking about it - in some ways you've kept Deuxrona alive.
Perhaps you think that I've made this all up. It's just a diversion tactic, and the album will take another 15 years to make. Or perhaps you think we're somehow responsible for Coronavirus, and have delayed the album to coincide with the pandemic because we want people to shout "Rona" at our gigs. Well, just you wait and see!
Whether you end up putting one track on repeat, listening start to finish, or just feel confused, we hope that there's something on the album for each and every one of you. Enjoy the countdown to 31st Jan, and stay tuned for more exciting updates soon.
T. Grawl
Posted by Jack at 19-05-2019
Welcome to the new Deuxrona blog.
I am very happy as it took me a cool solid 2 hours to build this blog from scratch. Considering I haven't coded anything since my teens, I was pretty chuffed.
Anyway... I bet you're all wondering... Why has it taken Deuxrona over 13 years to release their first album? Well, thats a good question. Lets start with the obvious. Exceptional music is not made in a couple of hours - it requires a very long brew. We all know, the longer you brew something, the stronger and usually better it tastes. And thats what we are doing here. The new Rona album is brewing up to become the finest musical scotch of powerful, soulful and delicious melodies this world has ever seen.
Whats the latest on the album you say? Well - lets just say we are now at the bottling and labelling stage. The brewing is done - we are at the end game here people. Soon those delightful bottles will be on the way to a home near you - ready to be decanted into your carafeical earways. Once consumed - there will be no turning back.
Your life will be ours.
