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The Square Egg - Biography |
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The lush, live instrumentation of THE SQUARE EGG, layered against the smooth and unique delivery of their lead vocalist/lyricist, LEE, isn’t the disposable music you’re accustomed to. The Square Egg’s musical collage of funk, hip-hop, jazz, spoken word, and R&B, is hard to categorize, merging sonic elements from such innovators as Spearhead and Sweetback. Immediately you know that you’ve discovered something truly distinct and original at first listen.
Formed in Miami in 1999, the original band consisted of a mere three members and now contains a cohesive ten-piece ensemble. Inspired by an illustrated book also entitled The Square Egg by British illustrator, Ronald Searle, the musical textures of The Square Egg are decidedly as eclectic as their name. ”Our music is not confined to a specific genre,” explains Lee. The Square Egg conveys universal ideals that challenge the listener as well as entertain. The band’s influences range all the way from Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Prince, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles all the way to hardcore, no-frills, hip-hop acts like Public Enemy and early Ice Cube. “I am a sucker for hip-hop music created before the mid-90s. Nowadays it’s all about creating a ‘club-banger’ and the songs get played on radio 50 times a day, but don’t stick with you past the summer,” Lee states.
“The musicians we gravitate towards are generally artists from the era that we grew up with and who pay homage to our musical past and recognize it,” explains Lee. “Songs like ‘The Message’ from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five or ‘Hard Times’ from Run DMC are examples of music that connects with the people. I’m nostalgic for good musicianship and masters of the craft. Music is supposed to inspire and give us insight into the songwriter. I’m really into musicians who push the envelope and allow listeners to soak into who they are as artists.”
The Square Egg has released three albums which span the musical sphere. Their first commercial release was Songs to Live By (2004) followed by The Wooden Tongue (2004). THINGS CHANGE, the band's third offering, written and conceived in NYC during the winter of 2004, and recorded in Miami with their longtime producer, Aaron Fishbein, is a solid, multilayered, well-thought-out, collection that plays from beginning to end as a perfect soundtrack to life's undulating highs and lows. “As a songwriter, I draw from life as an inspiration - my idealistic vision of life versus the reality. I draw from my own experiences and the quest to connect to the spiritual self and my brethren and sisters on the same journey.”
“For Songs to Live By we were visualizing utopia. On The Wooden Tongue we put a mirror up to the world and allowed listeners to evaluate their own realities. We wanted to paint a picture almost to just say ‘wake up.’ And now on Things Change we’re embracing change and offering a blueprint which sonically captures the ideals expressed on the album.”
“Feelin',” one of the disc’s many jewels, is a sincere, soulful, molasses-paced, 8-minute arrangement that conveys that feeling of weightlessness one feels when you find that special someone. Another highlight is “Rise,” a terse yet effective cut that speaks directly on inner-city ills like poverty, racism and poor education. The Square Egg is one band that’s definitely not afraid to grapple with society’s more troubling issues. The title track “Things Change” resonates with a theme of growth, self-evaluation and evolution that is sure to strike a personal chord with people from all walks of life. “There was so much going on at the time of the album’s creation. The political climate of the elections, settling into New York from Miami, the changing seasons, and just our growth and spiritual connectivity. We wanted to relay all those feelings to the listeners, and I think ‘Things Change’ delivers that in an intoxicating way; almost similar to a gospel song. It’s a song that can take you places.”
There are bands you instinctively want to root for – not only because their music is honest and it moves you, but because the musicians themselves ascribe to a set of higher artistic ideals. The Square Egg’s undeniable substance will heighten your awareness. “We’d like people to be able to listen to our music years from now and feel something. Our goal is to write the type of timeless songs that make a connection. We want our music to tap into people’s emotions and for them to have the same feelings about our songs as when they hear ‘Imagine’ by Lennon or ‘What’s Going On’ by Marvin. If we’ve done that, then we’ve answered our calling.” Discover The Square Egg for yourself, you’ll definitely be back for seconds.
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