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WE WERE THE STATES

RASA

CHICKEN RANCH RECORDSNOV. 9TH, 2010

CONTACT:

JOSH BLOOM

JOSH@FANATICPROMOTION.COM

FANATICPROMOTION.COM

WE WERE THE STATES

PHOTO CREDIT: JT SUMNER

TRACK LISTING:

01. Rasa

02. End of Us

03. Gold

04. Daft Since '77

05. (I'm Not My) 808

06. Don't Ask Why

07. Paris Green

08. Iris & I

09. Queens

10. I Need A Friend

11. Under The Hand

12. Hot Waves

We Were The States had nearly completed the re-cording of its new album Rasa when the Nashville

floods came. With two feet of water in the base-

ment of Coat of Arms studio, the band went from

euphoric to discouraged, thinking the record they hadworked on for two years would be indefinitely de-

railed.

Regrouping at Nashvilles Club Roar studio, theMurfreesboro-based five-piece quickly prepped for

very long hours on a very limited budget, but ulti-

mately persevered. The resulting album captures all

of the energy and precise abandon of the bands

much-loved live show while also reflecting the real-

istic frustrations of their situation. Its a tense record,

but still a joy to listen to.

Working with producers Jesse Newport and DanielFeese, We Were The States vocalist Justin Webb

was encouraged to approach the songs he wrote forRasa like he had never heard them before. Webbexplains that Feese gave him the freedom to try allof the ideas he had in his head.

A specific example from the record would be DaftSince 77, a song I had the words for, but didntknow how I wanted to hit on the chorus. In its

completed form, the chorus explodes just how its

meant to, expressing Webbs restlessness perfectlyamid just the right amount of rock n roll sheen.

For as easy as that chorus comes, its surprising to

find out that when Webb first met guitarist JayStoyanov and formed We Were The States, he never

even planned on becoming the bands singer. I

only wanted to play guitar, Webb says. I eventu-ally dropped guitar all together tho -- when we play

live, I only sing.

The band is the better for it ultimately, with Webballowed the freedom to perform as a true front man.

On Rasa, his captivating vocals are unhampered

above the mature, layered, and just plain big sound

that the band has achieved on the album -- a dis-

tinctive step forward from its debut record. I know

it took me a few years, but with this album I really

felt comfortable being myself, Webb says.

We Were The States is back to feeling euphoric andis ready to play live again. Wired Magazine previ-ously said of the bands show that These guys

sounded so good that they cut through the din of

South By Southwest from 100 yards away... These

guys are looking forward to continuing to leave thatimpression with the release of Rasa on Austins

Chicken Ranch Records this fall.

We Were The States is:Benjamin P. Moore - GuitarJustin Webb - VocalsTyler Coppage - DrumsJay Stoyanov - GuitarWill Pettus - Bass