With influences from Bruce Springsteen, to Cold War Kids, to Lou Reed and William S. Burroughs, Mainland finds elegance in simplicity. Throughout their music, shuddering piano and loose guitar augment bare bones pop hooks. It’s a style that’s been carefully refined to perfection over the years. Founded in New York, the trio of
Jordan Topf (vocals, guitar),
Corey Mullee (guitar, keyboards), and
Alex Pitta (bass) initially bonded over their shared West Coast roots and independently released the
Shiner EP in 2014. That landed them a deal with
300 Entertainment, leading to their 2015
Outcast EP; tours with
Melanie Martinez,
Jukebox The Ghost, and
Atlas Genius; and the release of fan-favorite singles “Beggars,” “Outcast,” and “Permission.” Each of those songs has been streamed more than two million times on Spotify, and now the band’s story is about to get even brighter thanks to a move to California and the release of their new EP
Villains.
Villains is anchored by “I Found God,” a track produced by Sam Hollander (Fitz and the Tantrums, Panic! at the Disco, Weezer). The song “is about the spiritual connection that arises when you experience real love – an emotion so strong it unifies humans from all walks of life,” explains Topf. “It’s simple. Love is love. The power of love sees no boundaries and it transcends race, sex, and identify.”
“Indie Rock that will refuse to leave your brain” -Noisey
“Mainland finds themselves teetering along the edge of mainstream ubiquity and intriguing newness; refreshingly offering vintage instrumentation with more contemporary alt vocal tones.” -Atwood Magazine
RIYL: Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, of Montreal, Coast Modern, Isador, DREAMERS
FCC Warning: Track 1, “Villains”