This week’s “First Listen” features some brand new New Orleans rock music: The Breton Sound. Last week, the quartet’s new EP, Maps {or cartography and the art of generalization} hit the streets and OffBeat brings you an exclusive first listen of the opening track off the disc, “Brighter Than The Sun” right here for the next three days.

As sunny as its title, the song joins a playful storyline and gentle piano to heavier guitar and drums . Led by Jonathan Pretus’ vocals, the journey leads to a chorus of shiny, happy voices chanting in unison, echoing Jonathan’s proclamation that “we all shine brighter than the sun.”

Bandleader Jonathan Pretus says about “Brighter Than The Sun”: “This song started off very different from how it ended up on the record. We played it live for about 6 months before recording, and it was a slower, stomping, Kinks kind of groove. The original demo was even slower and darker, and had a piano solo in it.

“Once we got into the studio, we turned it completely upside down. Tom (Drummond) suggested picking up the tempo and making it more straight, and then we found a cool riff for it, and it turned into a whole different beast. Lyrically, it’s coming from a perspective of feeling bored with where you’ve found yourself, and trying to find a way to push yourself out to a new frontier or a new place. It’s definitely a personal lyric, but not so personal that someone else can’t put themselves in the shoes of the song.”

With their Jazz Fest debut and first Voodoo Fest booking now  under their belts, The Breton Sound are well on their way to a breakthrough. And it doesn’t hurt to have Tom Drummond of local rock favorites, Better Than Ezra at the production helm. Maps is available now on a limited edition run of 300 copies of vinyl or digital download online. For our complete review of the full EP, check out the September issue of OffBeat Magazine, out next week. MORE: www.thebretonsound.com

Preview and download the first single, “Brighter Than The Sun” now here, for free, and let us know what you think:
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Enjoy this “First Listen” here on OffBeat.com through Friday, August 23.

Catch The Breton Sound live this Friday, August 23 on a line-up with xDefinition, AbPsych and the Robert Fortune Band for the “Best of NOLA Rocks” at House of Blues (225 Decatur Street). Doors are at 8 p.m. with showtime at 9 p.m. and tickets are just $10. More Info & Advance Tickets Here.

 

OFFBEAT CONCERT TICKET GIVE-AWAY CONTEST
OffBeat is giving away a free pair of tickets to the show!
A free Breton Sound song and free tickets to a live show in one week?
Yep. Simply fill out and submit the online form below to enter.
Winners will be notified via Email by 3 p.m. on Friday, August 23.
Good Luck!

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