The Ampersands Bring The Energy On Their Latest Project, “Shift Seven EP”
By: Chris Buxton IG: @chrisbuxtonllg
Have you ever listened to an artist or duo that caught your attention on the first listen? If so, what made them standout? Was it their cadence? Overall delivery? Songwriting? This week, I came across a rising duo that made me fall in love with music all over again. That duo are The Ampersands. Consisting of childhood-based friends Aaron McQuade (Drums, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Guitar, Voice) and Jim Pace (Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Percussion, Voice), the Minneapolis-based duo have taken the music industry by storm. They are raw, daring, and their talent is through the roof. Known for their indie & college rock sound, the band has been evoking raw emotions out of their listeners since 2008. Now, the debut on our pages with their new project “Shift Seven EP”.
“Shift Seven EP” is everything you want in a project. Over the course of 7 exceptionally crafted songs, the duo will have you hooked with their refreshing sound. The songs are dynamic, and I loved them sonically. There was a cohesiveness that made the EP stand out. In a time where most music feels formulaic, The Ampersands continue to make music from the heart. That’s why they mean a lot to the music industry. From their songwriting to their production, everything feels pure. They are not a gimmick, and you can tell the amount of maturity and purpose they put into their songs.
The EP is for music lovers & people that love a mixture of sounds and influences. That is what I loved about “Shift Seven EP”. The duo has this ability to shift from calm tracks to 70s inspired pop-rock to bossa nova disco frolic sounding records throughout the project. I was thoroughly impressed with the songwriting due to it reflecting the ups and downs of the pandemic. They successfully captured the emotions and the uncertainty of the time.
My favorite songs from the EP were “Talk to Me”, “Someone’s Favorite Song”, & “Dance the Night Away”. I felt like those were the most memorable records, and they describe the versatility of the duo. Overall, this is one of my favorite projects this year so stream it below!
