By: Staff
Emergent Signals, the EP from 2nd Brightest Object, blends elements of new wave, rock, and punk-pop into a boundary-pushing sound.
So we heard this was coming out and went straight into it. "Catch Me" starts off with gritty guitars that pull you into a place of rock ‘n’ roll, and then a very danceable and catchy melody takes you in another direction, making this an exciting opening to the song. The synths carry a sort of EDM undertone, and then the beats hit hard. Next, we hear an extremely unique vocal delivery by 2nd Brightest Object, AKA 2BO. This artist is great at taking chances and stretching boundaries. That phrase would actually be a perfect catchphrase for 2BO because when you listen to the music, you realize they’re not just blending genres, they’re taking each genre, stretching it to its limit, and then blending it with another one, so every genre is already pushed to the max. From there, everything stays unique, with layers of creativity. There’s definitely a pop element here, but the club and dance undertone really sells the entire project. If you’ve ever heard Cerrone’s "Supernature," you can put these on the same playing field, but 2nd Brightest Object stands alone in both direction and sound.
Next up, we checked out "Sky Rider." If we had to describe this song, it would be like a love ballad on acid. In the '80s, Aerosmith redefined their sound by taking risks with love ballads, and this track feels like it’s doing the same. It’s upbeat, with a floating feeling that kicks off with the sensation of traveling through the universe. The drops highlight almost solo-style vocals that prove this artist can really sing. Powerful and soaring vocals pair with extremely well-played drums, then propelled by distorted guitars and synths that make this song electric. It has an absolutely unique sound that’s bound to redefine genres once again. When an artist can take something as simple as an "ooh" and make it captivating, you know they’ve got the ability to engage an audience, and this will be tremendous live.
Lastly, we listened to "Take a Shot," and this one gives the sensation of driving down a street in a convertible on a beautiful day by the coastline. There’s definitely some Mötley Crüe, Nikki Sixx-style bass infusion in this track, especially reminiscent of "Looks That Kill." Come to think of it, 2nd Brightest Object would be incredible at covering a Crüe song, and what an amazing retooling that would be. What we’re realizing is that this artist has a way of blending genres but has clearly defined their own sound. The vocals on this track are gnarly and bring in some underground punk vibes. 2nd Brightest Object is definitely putting in the effort to show they have the ability to crush any arena.
Emergent Signals takes listeners on a wild sonic ride, packed with gritty rock guitars, electrifying synths, and danceable beats. 2nd Brightest Object, also known as 2BO, effortlessly merges different genres, creating something fresh and exciting. From the hard-hitting "Emergency Signals" to the ethereal, cosmic vibes of "Sky Rider," 2BO showcases both raw power and emotional depth. The EP closes with "Take a Shot," a track that pulls from punk energy with a nod to Mötley Crüe’s swagger. Recorded at Blue Room Studio and mastered by Felix Davis at Metropolis Studios, the EP has a nostalgic vibe, reminiscent of '80s and early '90s new wave icons like the Go-Gos, Blondie, and The Bangles, while delivering something undeniably unique.
You can find this release on any major platform, see below for links to take you straight to some of the profiles. Make sure to playlist, stream and share "Emergent Signals" by 2nd Brightest Object.
Wait… there's more!
We had the chance to catch up with 2nd Brightest Object for an exclusive interview in "The Cage" Music Blog.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview
Hello 2nd Brightest Object, we’re thrilled to have you for this interview! We've thoroughly enjoyed diving into your music and exploring your work, and now we’re even more eager to discover more about you, both personally and professionally.
Is there a story behind how you chose your artist name?
When trying to find a moon-related artist name that wasn’t already taken, I stumbled upon the fact that the moon is the second-brightest object in the sky. I thought, there it is -- 2nd Brightest Object -- long, awkward, and the domain is available…perfect! To make things easier, you can call me 2BO.
What inspired the 80’s and early 90’s new wave/rock/punk pop sound for “Emergent Signals”?
I started out in a band called 28-200 that was heavily punk and rock influenced, and my popish tendencies never quite fit in the mix. When venturing out solo as 2BO, I let my love for goth, new wave, and punk pop out of the closet. I don’t intentionally try to make music that sounds like any specific genre; sometimes I feel that the songs write themselves. I’m amazed that people often compare my sound to the Go-Go’s (or Belinda Carlisle) and Blondie. I don’t hear it in my music at all, but hey, what a huge compliment!
Can you tell us about working with Felix Davis at Metropolis Studios on the mastering process for this EP?
Felix is the best. He does all of my mastering. The whole process of mastering is intimidating to me because, I mean, what the hell is it really? Well, I don’t know what sort of musical voodoo Felix does, but I know it makes my tracks sound better. The first time I worked with him he asked me what kind of sound I wanted, other artists that I like, and the overall vibe I was going for. Crunchy-ish guitars, yummy vocals, bass that feels squishy and thumpy -- are those even real things? It doesn’t matter; Felix gets it. I can’t say enough good things about him and the whole Metropolis family! They are a wonderful group of people who really, really, really want to make everyone’s music shine (even little indie artists like me).
How do you think your sound has evolved between your previous releases and “Emergent Signals”?
The majority of the songs on my first EP “Stars” were written (and some partially recorded) while I was still playing with 28-200. The title track was the only new tune on the EP, and it was definitely the most popular song by a significant margin. I think the warm response to “Stars” gave me the confidence to go more with my gut when writing future songs. My second EP, “It’s Tomorrow There” showcased my song-writing freedom as a solo artist. I wrote lyrics about whatever I wanted. I got a little popish here and there. I experimented with noise. The theme of the EP was much more “me” than the first, but it was still a somewhat constrained version of me. I wrestled with things like “is that too synthy, is there too much distortion, too much this, too little that?”. I was still second-guessing my sound and myself at times. I threw all of the self-doubt out the window with “Emergent Signals” and just went for it. I wrote tunes that I liked and stopped worrying about where (or if) they will fit in. Someone told me that the song “Eclipse” has the big galactic sound that screams 2BO. I love that because every element of that song was intentional; even the randomness was on purpose. I’m quite happy with the idea that my sound is defined by that track! P.S. There’s no such thing as too much distortion. 😉
What emotion do you feel drives your creativity, especially for this EP “Emergent Signals”?My music tends to express vulnerable emotions that I find difficult to talk about, such as anger, disappointment, and sadness, but a happy tune comes out of me every now and then, too. Some songs in my catalog are based on personal experience, but many are pure fiction. The song “Catch Me” is a cautionary tale that uses a fox hunt to illustrate humans’ relentless chase of fleeting beauty, which is hitting me all kinds of ways with each passing year. One day you take a look at yourself in the mirror and are like “Ugh, I’m old.” Conversely, the song “Sky Rider” describes the joy of cracking open a new comic book and getting lost in a fantastic story.
Can you describe the theme behind the artwork for “Emergent Signals” and what message or feeling you wanted the observer to take away from it?
I really enjoyed creating the visuals for this EP and was very deliberate with the branding, all the way down to the high contrast black and pink color palette. All of the photographs of me are self-portraits that were shot on a closed set all by myself. The private setting made me more comfortable with expressing my emotions in a physical way. I hope that the stark and grainy artwork reinforces the forlorn yet hopeful feelings of “Emergent Signals,” while offering observers a glimpse of my signature sassiness. I’m super excited about the official music video for “Catch Me,” which is campy and creepy with a horror B-movie vibe. I had a stellar cast and crew to help me achieve my Evil Dead-esque vision, and I’m so happy with the result! Be sure to check it out on YouTube.
What part of the process do you find the most stressful—the creative phase, the recording, or the release?
Creating and recording are my happiest of places in the process. The release, and subsequent promotion, is by far the most stressful for me. I never know how to describe my music when pitching it, and I feel like I’m pestering my fans by inundating them with marketing posts on socials. With the promo campaign for this EP, I tried to at least give people something interesting to look at while I’m peddling my wares.
Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that inspires you?
“It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to hate. It takes strength to be gentle and kind.” IYKYK.
As your audience grows, which well-known band or artist would you love to collaborate with on a tour?
It’s tough to choose only one artist, but collaborating with Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs would be next level awesome.
What’s the most memorable or inspiring thing a fan has said to you about your music?
It’s always humbling to receive praise from fans, and of course, it gives me the feels when people comment on my musical and/or vocal ability. But I especially love to hear about the personal meaning that a particular song has for someone. One fan told me that my song “Stars” helped them get through a very difficult time while processing the death of a loved one. Another person said that after listening to my song “Ghost,” they finally felt like someone understood them. Both of those comments were so powerful to me that I will always remember them. Knowing that a song of mine offered solace to another human being is the greatest compliment that I could ever receive.
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared 2nd Brightest Object’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more of 2nd Brightest Object on Spotify & YouTube.