New York – From the streets of New York to Venice Beach and a chance encounter with the storied rapper, producer, and founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA - Lucas Asher and his band Faulkner have been turning the heads of everyone from the prominent and seasoned engineer Mark Needham (The Killers) to Rick Rubin and more recently, KCRW’s own, Jason Bentley. Today Faulkner is proud to announce participation in YouTube’s new Music Foundry initiative. Over the course of two days, Faulkner attended workshops designed to give artists tools and insight to grow their presence on the platform, performed live at YouTube’s Monthly Music Night showcase, and created all new music videos for their hit singles, ”Revolutionary” and ”These Kids Now Days” - all at YouTube Space LA.
Both tracks are off Faulkner’s recent EP, Revanchist which was produced by RZA, Mark Needham (The Killers), JP Bowersock (The Strokes), and recorded at Rick Rubin’s Shangri La Studios. The music videos can be streamed today on YouTube Music. The band will be playing three shows in NYC this September (Mercury Lounge on 9/6, Pianos on 9/16, and Friends and Lovers in Brooklyn on 9/17.) Faulkner will also be performing at Mondo Music Festival on 9/16 & 9/17. The band’s upcoming debut album was also produced by RZA, Mark, and JP, and is due out this October – stay tuned for more details! Until then, Faulkner’s debut EP Revanchist is available for purchase on iTunes.
Revanchist Tracklisting
01. These Kids Nowadays
02. Waters Are A Rising
03. Revolutionary
04. Keep Your Enemies Closer
05. All I Wear Is Black
06. NY Anthem (w/ RZA)
Faulkner is an alternative rock band based in Venice, California with members from New York City, consisting of Lucas Asher (vocals/guitar/Songwriter), Eric Scullin (vocals / multi-instrumentalist / Producer), Dimitri Farougias (bass), and Christian Hogan (drums). After posting a demo on Soundcloud back in 2013 the band attracted the attention of Mark Needham (The Killers) and JP Bowersock (The Strokes) who began working with Faulkner on its debut album. Influential member of the Wu-Tang Clan and producer RZA co-wrote and produced the single “NY Anthem” premiering on ESPN “Draft Academy.” Asher wrote “NY Anthem” while spending years living on the street in New York City.
“Someone’s naked, no one is listening, everything is smoke and haze,” sings Lucas Asher on the title track “These Kids Nowadays” for the debut Faulkner EP REVANCHIST. “The starting point for this album was listening to Wu-Tang Clan’s 36 Chambers on repeat in Brooklyn,” says Asher “Also, I’ve slept with the 48 Laws of Power under my pillow for the last three years.” The result is six hypnotically subversive songs, with contributions from producers RZA, JP Bowersock (The Strokes) and Mark Needham (The Killers) recorded at Rick Rubin’s house. Since Faulkner emerged in 2013, the bi-coastal rockers landed an unfinished demo of the song “NY Anthem” in the hands of RZA, the Wu-Tang Clan mastermind, Faulkner captured the hip-hop God’s interest, leading to their first major collaboration. As a result, the track can be heard at the New York Yankees home games. But New York isn’t the only place giving the band love. Emphasizing the term “bi- coastal,” the rockers have also been featured on iconic L.A. radio station KROQ with the single “Revolutionary” at well over two million plays on YouTube.
“This record is a soundtrack from the times I lived on the streets in New York after running away as an orphan in my teens and experiencing the harsh realities of a dislocated childhood,” says Asher. Lyrically, the EP balances revenge themes and overtones with soaring anthems (the defiantly charged “All I Wear Is Black,” and the Machiavellian “Keep Your Enemies Closer,” is a prime example). “We have a clear vision and consistent theme,” bassist Dimitri Farougias explains.“ Perhaps this vision developed because the band “organically came together as friends,” says drummer Christian Hogan. “the musical chemistry between co-producer and member Eric Scullin establishes an undeniable chemistry. All Faulkner members are hands on with all sides of the creative presentation, they direct their music videos (In monochrome) and have a vision for the images and theme as an extension of the music storyline. “Ideas are all we care about. Good ones and bad ones,” Says Asher, “One of my biggest influences is Lou Reed, and he said, “you may be drawing a circle for the thousandth time, but maybe it’s a slightly better circle.” All Faulkner is trying to do is draw a slightly better circle.
