At first glance, the two guitars have little in common – one is splashed with boldly colored stickers and battered from years of touring, while the other is shiny and simple, with an air of innocence. Posed side by side, they would seem to suggest an unlikely meeting of very different worlds. And yet it’s exactly this juxtaposition that has created the compelling and energized music of STILL SPARK.
After meeting through a mutual friend, the seemingly unlikely pair of long-time musician Seth Freeman (formerly of Boston alt-rock band Little John) and aerospace engineer-turned-songwriter Dan O’Leary began collaborating on the songs that would eventually become Still Spark. Though they were inspired by diverse influences – everything from Van Morrison and Bob Dylan to Weezer and Nirvana – the two found their different backgrounds and styles nevertheless complement each other perfectly.
The result is a collection of songs that range from the driving energy of the smirking first single “Love Comes Calling” to quieter, more introspective moments like “Heart O’ Mine,” always bound with a common thread of lyrical storytelling and genuine emotion.
Freeman explains, “Still Spark is about being okay with wherever we are, as long as we end up there by following our inspiration.”
Fueled by a successful Kickstarter campaign, the self-titled debut album from the Los Angeles-based duo was produced by Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo, Palmdale) and Chris Zerby (Helicopter Helicopter, Hello Dragon) and boasts knockout performances by Michael Eisenstein (Letters to Cleo, Our Lady Peace), Blair Sinta (Melissa Etheridge, Alanis Morrissette), Lawrence Katz (Mighty Mighty Bosstones), Joseph Karnes (Five for Fighting, Damien Rice), Linus Dotson (Nerf Herder, Palmdale), Gaby Moreno, and more.
A collaborative effort in every sense, Still Spark whips together roots rock, pop hooks and clever wordsmithing, proving that sometimes two heads, or two guitars, when nobody would have bet on them, can create something bigger than the sum of the notes.
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