Blonder lives and breathes elegantly yearning melodies and song structures. Constantine Anastasakis, who grew up in Long Island, NY, was first exposed to music through his older sister, starting with a visit to Jim Morrison’s grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. “I memorized all the Doors’ songs,” he recalls. “I would sing them with my sister for her friends.” Torn between his parents’ careers – his artistically-minded mother worked at a blue chip art gallery, while his florist father firmly believed in “stable careers” – Anastasakis escaped the city by sequestering himself in Vermont with a friend from college. After teaching himself to play guitar and use Ableton to make beats from sampled French jazz, Anastasakis survived a bicycle accident only to endure the worst pain of his life. Once again bound to a space smaller than his ambitions, he crafted hundreds of songs and developed his identity as Blonder.
“Lean,” the first single from the project, is a soft-lit, driving summer jam propelled by taut, bittersweet guitar chords and subtle synth leads. Listeners will recognize the influence of collaborators, including Constantine’s good friend and producer Aaron Maines of Porches, but at its core it’s Blonder through and through – a glossy yet gritty reflection of Constantine’s inner landscape and musical sensibilities. The song is already a viral hit, with more than two million listens on Spotify.
“‘Lean’ opens with some spacious Factory Records style guitar, sounding more than a little like some lost Section 25 demo. But then the drums kick in, and the whole thing lifts into a synth-pop jam that is half-euphoria and half longing for something past…” –Clash Music
“Fun, upbeat, and perfect for all of your summer playlists.” –Euphoria Magazine
RIYL: The Drums, Porches, Craft Spells, Beach Fossils, Day Wave, GRMLN, Japanese Breakfast
Label: TSR / 300 Entertainment
Digital Servicing only
FCC CLEAN
Going For Adds 5/1 & 5/2
