Kikiyon

Alternative Rock

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Kikiyon is the first single off of Gooseberry's upcoming debut full-length album, All My Friends Are Cattle. A bold blend of alternative rock, grunge, and punk, echoing the spirit of Nirvana. With Asa Daniels's raw vocals, Evin Rossington's thunderous drums, and Will Hammond's driving bass, the song confronts judgmental attitudes and personal identity. There's also that name: "Kikiyon." We'll let you look it up.

The story of Kikiyon challenges the absurdity of debating trivial matters and calls for prioritizing unity over frivolous disputes. This song also explores the deep personal connection to Jewish culture and the significance of owning one's name, rejecting attempts to control their identity. At a time when the complexities of Jewish identity and politics have never been more fraught— particularly in the context of the ongoing calamity in Gaza and rising antisemitism, Kikiyon crashes through the hypocrisy and propaganda all around.

The album was tracked over the course of three months, predominantly at Precision Sound Studios in New York City. Drums were recorded by Grammy-winner James ‘Jimmy T’ Meslin (Dream Theater, John Petrucci, Rush). Grammy-nominated engineer Colin Bryson (Zach Bryan, J Balvin, Willow Avalon) served as producer and recording engineer (reprising his role from the Validate Me EP). Grammy-winner Phil Joly (The Strokes, Lana Del Rey, Daft Punk) mixed the record, and Jennica Best (Colatura) mastered it.

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Bio:

Gooseberry is a trio from Brooklyn, New York born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of alternative rock, indie, and blues is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. The band consists of Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass).

Since the release of their 2022 debut EP Broken Dance, Gooseberry has been busy. Their eminently engaging music has tickled the ears and stirred the hearts of both music fans and the industry itself. The band has racked up hundreds of thousands of streams, garnering praise from editorial stalwarts Under the Radar, Ones to Watch, and more. Yet, more than anything, they have focused on doing what they do best: playing shows. They’ve played all along the east coast, often with local heartthrobs (My Son The Doctor, Meyru, Cab Ellis) and major touring acts (BabyJake, Grady Spencer & The Work, Tanner Usrey, Maybird) alike.

On August 25th, 2023, Gooseberry released their sophomore effort: Validate Me. Validate Me as a cohesive piece of art eloquently showcases the unique alternative rock sound that is wholly Gooseberry. This record is foundationally, fundamentally, whole-heartedly Gooseberry. No more, no less. Daniels’s dynamic songwriting soaring over Rossington’s bombastic drums; Hammond’s fluid bass lines the glue holding it all together. Road-keen musicianship wrapped around witty lyricism. More than anything, though, Validate Me proves that Gooseberry knows exactly who they are – gritty rock born at the nexus of DIY and arena-ready pop – and good god they are unapologetic about it.

In support of the new record, Gooseberry hit the road for two months on The Validation Tour, the majority of which featured headline dates. This included a headline show at the legendary Bowery Ballroom in NYC, where they sold nearly 500 tickets! The band now boasts roughly 30K monthly listeners on Spotify and 4K+ followers on Instagram. Since its release, Validate Me has surpassed 450K streams on Spotify. 2024 is shaping up to be Gooseberry’s biggest year yet, with the band hard at work on their next record and touring plans already in motion.

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