Founded in 2018 by vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Cain, along with bassist Franklin Tangren, ¡What! originally arrived on the music scene as Mind’s Eye, a dynamic duo with a timeless rock sound, but after joining forces with percussionist Ben Lohrding in 2019, they truly became ¡What!. Launching themselves into the spotlight with a string of impressive commercial releases, including debut single ‘Cheap Smokes (And Thirty Years)’, and our personal favourite ‘Waste Some Time’, ¡What! have been slowly chipping away at the mainstream, and now with a new double single on the horizon, they’re set for the big time.
Titled ‘Desperado’, the new release is a powerful two-punch illustration of the band’s sound, offering a deft blend of heavy alternative rock, timeless blues, and dizzying psychedelic rock. Opening with ‘Passing Silence’, the new release cuts to the quick with a driven stream of guitar and measured percussion, laying a foundation for Jonathan’s raw, emotive vocals. It’s an engaging and somewhat sombre affair that sets the standard, setting up the listener for the title track in perfect form. A lingering semi-instrumental piece, ‘Desperado’ has a classic Western feel that eventually fades into a rough-and-ready melody that is purpose-built to invigorate and impress.
Influenced by the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Beatles, Steve Miller Band, Green Day, Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Buddy Holly, ¡What!’s new release is a defiant illustration of their style, incorporating the most rustic and raucous elements of their sound and building it into two titanic new singles.
Available now on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major platforms, ‘Desperado’ is a true indication of a band on the rise, doing things their way, taking no prisoners and making no concessions. Stream the new double-single above via Spotify and be sure to follow the band on Facebook and Instagram today for all the latest news and releases.
Connect with ¡What!,
