Electronic sound waves bounce between the old and new for Fort Wayne-based band, Metavari.
The music is layered between five keyboards and synthesizers that give the music a heavy electronic sound. The combination of older and new technology sets the band apart.
During live shows, Nate Utesch plays a 1979 Mark II Fender Rhodes keyboard along with guitar and controlling the programming.
Utesch said he gravitated toward "all things old" as a child. Prior to Utesch's birth, his father owned a recording studio in the ‘70s and was in and out of bands. Utesch's childhood was laced with stories of vintage reference monitors, tape recordings and talks about the genius of George Martin.
"It was probably just this instilled bias that anything modern is going be watered down and unsatisfactory," Utesch said. "Too polished. Not enough raw emotion captured in the song."
A variety of keyboards — a Hammond organ, Yamaha DX7, Korg MS2000, microKorg and Moog Prodigy — drape Metavari recordings. During live shows, each keyboard is sampled through the program Ableton Live and programmed by Utesch with Andrew McComas on drums and guitar and Ty Brinneman on bass.
A visual element is added to the electronic symphony. Clips from thrift store VHS tapes, archived historical footage and online vintage videos are syncopated with the music through the use of audio reactive visualizations.
"The live visuals are almost another member of the band," Utesch said.
The band's main influences are Radiohead, Refused, Brian Eno and Aphex Twin.
Metavari's latest album, "Be One of Us and Hear No Noise," tells the story of a man traveling across several oceans, learning about himself and discovering equal amounts of pain and happiness. The band stated that they hope listeners can find their own story through the instrumentation.
"One of the reasons we find so much joy in writing instrumental music is to give the listener the opportunity to let the songs and the album develop for them differently than it did for us," Utesch said. "Something that we are always trying to achieve in all the music we write together is a feeling of hope."
Metavari's Record Store Day performance will be the first for their new touring drummer, Ben Hoeppner.
Utesch said Village Green Records holds a special place in their hearts from VGR's original conception by former owner, Jared Cheek. Cheek recently toured with Metavari as the band's tour manager during their trip to South by Southwest.
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