In the heartland of Kansas City, Emmaline Twist crafts a style that is both grounded and ethereal, fusing an expansive post-punk rhythm with undertones reminiscent of shoegaze. Their music evokes the haunting spirit and complex rhythmic patterns of classic post-punk bands like Bauhaus, Siouxsie and The Banshees, and The Cure, while also channeling the textured ambiance of contemporary darkwave groups such as ACTORS, Soft Kill, and Drab Majesty.
At the helm is Meredith McGrade, lending her voice and guitar prowess, while Kristin Conkright enriches the mix with her bass lines and vocals. The ensemble is further invigorated by the keys of Alex Alexander, the rhythmic backbone provided by Jonathan Knecht on drums, and the distinctive notes of Krysztof Nemeth on the baritone guitar.
With Halloween in our rearview mirrors and Day of the Dead dancing on its marigold path today, Emmaline Twist offers the eerie “Strange Pursuit,” a chilling homage to the iconic 80’s horror films. It artfully weaves the essence of Bat Cave Goth with the eeriness of John Carpenter’s compositions, culminating in a creature unique in its resonance.
Supplementing the music is a charming, spooky video directed by Emily Jane Milner, presented with the nostalgic grain of VHS. It not only encapsulates the spirit of the track, but also playfully subverts the familiar serial killer narrative.
“What’s better for the Halloween season than someone by our side to enjoy it with?” quips Nemeth.
Dip on the other side of the veil and enjoy the video below:
Emmaline Twist first illuminated the musical horizon in January 2016. A mere year later, they marked their territory with a 7” single under the eat.hear.records label in July 2017. By August 2018, their artistry culminated in a full-length vinyl release.
Strange Pursuit was recorded by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound in Shawnee KS, and mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering in Portland.
Emmaline Twist are on Black Site in the US, and distributed in Europe through Shifting Sounds. Black Site is a record label cooperative created by Kansas City musicians interested in supporting regional punk and rock bands release their recordings on a physical medium.
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