New York – Braids are a three-piece experimental pop band from Montreal, Canada.
Braids decamped to a series of retreats in the mountains of Arizona, Vermont, and upstate New York to record their third album, Deep In The Iris. Surrounded by nature in all its warm vitality, the long time bandmates strove to shed the fabric of their day to day relationships, being bare and vulnerable before one another. What resulted is Deep In The Iris, their strongest record to date –powerful, yet fragile; immaculately sculpted but also deeply human.
Driven by roomy acoustic instrumentation and tasteful electronics, Deep In The Iris is easily Braids’ sunniest and most immediate record. While the icy, airless production of their second album Flourish // Perish suited the songs’ inward gaze, the widescreen warmth and full-bodied punch of Deep In The Iris is the perfect complement to its unflinching lyricism.
Raphaelle Standell has always had a formidable voice but rarely has it sounded as vital, focused and powerful as it does here. True to the process that birthed it, the record explores a number of heavy subjects, including: pornography, abuse and slut-shaming. Standell’s emotional vulnerability becomes a triumphant weapon in its own right: scything through wrongdoing and shame with equal aplomb and clearing the way for the many others who will find resonance in the bravery of these lyrics. Written from a place of inspiring strength and unblinking lucidity, the lyricism of this record is a cathartic gift.
Long time friends, Braids was formed in 2007 in Calgary, Alberta. After relocating to Montreal, the band released their critically acclaimed debut, Native Speaker in 2011, and its 2013 follow-up Flourish // Perish. Consisting of Raphaelle Standell, Austin Tufts and Taylor Smith, Braids are a collaborative whole, emphasizing a collective creative experience.
Below is the list of Braids’ upcoming tour dates.
Braids on Tour
06/03 New York, NY Terminal 5 *
06/04 Burlington, VT Higher Ground *
06/05 Montreal, QC Metropolis *
06/07 Detroit, MI Royal Oak Music Hall *
06/08 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre *
06/09 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue *
06/10 Winnipeg, MB Garrick Centre *
06/11 Saskatoon, SK Amigo’s
06/12 Calgary, AB Macewan Hall Ballroom *
06/13 Edmonton, AB TBD
06/15 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theatre *
06/16 Seattle, WA Showbox *
06/17 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom *
06/19 Oakland, CA Fox Theatre *
06/20 Oakland, CA Fox Theatre *
06/22 Phoenix, AZ 32Crescent Ballroom *
06/23 Las Vegas, NV Brooklyn Bowl LV *
06/27 Los Angeles, CA The Lyric Theatre
07/05 Osaka, JP Conpass
07/06 Tokyo, JP Tsutaya O-nest
07/07 Tokyo, JP Shelter
07/24-26 Guelph, ON Hillside Festival
08/21 Ottawa, ON Arboretum Festival
* w/ Purity Ring
Deep In The Iris is out now via Arbutus Records (World), and Flemish Eye (Canada).
Keep up with Braids via its official website and these social media outlets:
Facebook
Twitter (@braidsmusic)
YouTube
SoundCloud
