Atlanta, USA-based darkwave newcomer Now After Nothing has announced details of its debut EP, Artificial Ambivalence, out on 13 September through the band's own label, Living On Neptune(s); the EP will be available on all digital platforms and vinyl.
Now After Nothing, helmed by Matt Spatial, has started to make waves locally after releasing a series of singles showcasing the band's goth and post-punk influences. The Artificial Ambivalence EP was written and performed by Spatial and drummer Michael Allen and features additional guitar work by Mark Gemini Thwaite, who has played with Peter Murphy, The Mission, and Gary Numan.
Matt Spatial talks about the EP: "With this collection of songs, you get a good understanding of our influences of post-punk, shoegaze, and darkwave. Lyrically, the songs of the EP remain true to the general theme of toxicity and how each one of us can really struggle sometimes with the negative influences and realities around us. It goes far beyond just tumultuous interpersonal relationships - it's also our toxic relationships to social media, commercial news media, politics, misogyny, racism, anti-human rights movements, misuse and abuse of religion, etc. ad nauseam".
Spatial also explains the title: "It all just takes its toll and it's from this feeling where the title, Artificial Ambivalence, comes from. To me the title personifies a reaction to the general malaise, exhaustion, and helplessness of how so many of us are feeling these days or how some can turn a blind eye to these negative forces because it doesn't impact them directly. The world feels like it's in a state of artificial ambivalence. When you add the play on the phrase artificial intelligence, it just further demonstrates, in my mind, how many people feel like they are on auto-pilot in some respects".
Now After Nothing plans to tour supporting the EP, and its first show is a hometown gig on 14 September at Center Stage with Glass Spells and DJ Goth Dad. The band also proudly supports Atlanta's Lifeline Animal Project - a non-profit organization that runs the animal shelters for the two main Atlanta counties with a no-kill mission statement. Now After Nothing will sell a 'Meow After Nothing' cat design T-shirt at shows and online, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the organization.
Now After Nothing blends classic influences and modern electronic soundscapes to the present-day crowd. Frontman and multi-instrumentalist, Matt Spatial, draws from a deep well of alternative music subgenres citing influences: Bauhaus, The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, and Sonic Youth. Spatial intricately weaves social, political, and personal narratives within the instrumentals to add depth and darkness that resonates with lost and misunderstood souls. The band has been getting noticed in Atlanta with its energetic live shows, sharing the stage with Curse Mackey (My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Pigface) and darkwave rising stars Astari Nite. Link
Artificial Ambivalence tracklist:
1. Sick Fix
2. Criminal Feature
3. Holly
4. Fixation Fantasy
5. Dare
6. Entangled
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"I think it's basically a mutation of a lot of different things — like a hybrid creature nobody quite knows how to categorise. A heretic, I guess." - Håvard Ellefsen (Mortiis)
"With Hypocrisy, I'm very "home", but with Pain, it's an adventure, just like going into the jungle only with a knife and no glass of water and trying to survive." - Peter Tägtgren
"I don't tend to judge people, but I do judge them if they're too lazy to engage in independent thought or if they're simply careless and don't consider the consequences..." - Sven Friedrich
"You know, the music and songs just come, and we don't distance ourselves from the music that comes out." - Jyrki 69
