EXCLUSIVE: CSTLBLK DROP DEBUT SINGLE; MUSIC VIDEO FT. MATT WILSON OF SET YOUR GOALS



San Francisco Alt-Rock four piece is a creative force on debut single; self-produced music video. [READ MORE]

CSTLBLK has made their official debut. “Alone” is a rich soundscape dripping with solitude, complete with a bonechilling music video surrounding a couple in a post-apocalyptic wasteland ravaged by the undead.

Born from remnants of post-hardcore act The Light Iris, CSTLBLK (pronounced “Castle Black”) fell far from the proverbial tree. Breakdowns have been traded in for picking riffs soaked in reverb. Frontman Andy Chen picked up a bass and significantly improved his vocal chops. Despite being brand new to the scene, CSTLBLK is raising the bar for maturity and sensibility.

However, speaking of CSTLBLK as TLI 2.0 doesn’t tell the whole story. “This project is something we’ve been working on for the past year and as you can tell, it’s a completely different sound from The Light Iris,” says Chen, “As we grow older, a lot of things change and that includes our tastes and musical influences. I feel like this new music is more in line with who we are now as musicians.”

The growth Chen speaks of is apparent, but Cstlblk feels like more of a homecoming than a journey into uncharted territory. Chen has never been shy about Brand New and Taking Back Sunday being major creative influences, and that shines through in Cstlblk’s dynamics and soundscapes. Chen and drummer Brandon Vasquez lay a foundation with a somber, mid-tempo drive, while guitarists Dennis Leveron and Austin Eittreim take advantage of the open space and create an immersive two-part dance beneath Chen’s chilling laments of loneliness, betrayal, and uncertainty. Set Your Goals vocalist Matt Wilson wrote and sang the second verse (and appeared in the music video!), and the dynamic between his and Chen’s voices give each verse its own identity despite both being cut from the same cloth.

Chen makes his mark as the media professional the scene has come to recognize him as over the years (most recently directing Demon In Me’s debut music video), and this is his finest work yet. Chen has always been known for his multi-role, DIY approach to art, and CSTLBLK’s debut shows the value in his approach. After Chen sparked the idea, Vasquez wrote the script, and Chen directed, filmed, edited, and produced the video. “Alone” isn’t an ode to surviving the zombie apocalypse, but the audio connects with the video in a shared feeling of desperation. It’s rare to find a music video that matches quality production value with a plot that can grab you by the shirt collar and turn “listening” into “experiencing.” The music video weaves a story all of its own - the band is completely absent- and the synergy between audio and video is a breath of fresh air for a scene saturated with music videos in the “WatchOurVocalistSingIntenslyIntoACamera.mp4” format.

“Alone” is one of three songs on a debut EP of the same title, recorded with Donald Scully (Voice Box Recordings, Concord, CA), and CSTLBLK plans on producing more music and video content following its releasE.

Watch “Alone” here: https://youtu.be/J8NrpUsi5ZQ

Follow CSTLBLK on FCBK here: https://www.facebook.com/cstlblk