Intimate Stranger is an international band currently based in Chile. Since its formation by Chilean guitarist Lautaro Vera (Cucsifae, Don Fango, Disturbio Menor) and English/Croatian singer/bassist Tessie S-Woodgate, the band has spent time in London, Belgium and Austin, Texas. After a year writing songs and rehearsing together with drummer Mauricio Muņoz in Santiago in 2006, they recorded their debut album, ?Life Jacket?. The album blends well-paced alternative rock with effective and lingering pop melodies that recall the song structures of their late 80?s indie rock influences, but with a really modern sound. ?Life Jacket? is a collection of stories personifying the disconcerting life experiences and deaths of its haunting characters. ?For Annie?, one of the singles from the album is an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe?s poem of the same name. Its? simple and driven instrumentation back the smooth, melodic female vocals that complete the band?s ambience of melancholic indie rock. The band then spent 2007 and 2008 in Shoreditch, London, playing at all the main underground live-music venues around the capital, including the Rock Garden (which has hosted bands form The Smiths to U2) Bull and Gate, The Enterprise and The Dublin Castle (host of bands such as Oasis, Blur, Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs etc?) While in the UK they played a number of festivals and packed out the main venue at LadyFest Festival in Cambridge. They also also toured northern Europe with Belgian act Romano Nervoso, which led to major radio play for and ?In the Black? and ?For Annie? from ?Life Jacket?. Intimate Stranger spent 3 months in Austin, Texas in 2008, where they played at the Plutopia event at SXSW, which resulted in collage radio play for ?For Annie? and ?Eva?. The rest of the time was spent in the studio writing songs for a second album. In mid-2008 the band returned and began gigging in Chile with keyboardist Ismael Palma. They very quickly built-up a large fan-base in their hometown, filling up all the top clubs and music venues. As regulars at CineArte Alameda, Bar Constitucion, SCD and Bar Loreto they are now headliners in the vibrant live music scene that has really flourished over the past few years in Santiago. They have also been touring around the country building up a strong following in other cities. They have received extensive radio, TV and press coverage, including a review and recommendation of ?Life Jacket? by leading national newspaper ?El Mercurio?. (??A singer who is always able to find the perfect intonation and melody and a guitarist who is equally able to compliment and pick out those strong melodies?Intimate Stranger achieve this really well??) The band was also selected for a interview in the January 2009 edition of Rolling Stone Chile for the ?Leading Ladies of Rock 2009? special, with a half-page foto on the inside front cover. The new set up with synths and keyboards has further evolved the band?s sound, as is reflected in the their new material. They are currently recording their second album ?Under?, which is due to be released at the end of 2009. Both introspective and melancholic, the new songs represent ?thinking-aloud? and contemplation of the self. While keeping with the catchy melodies that characterise Intimate Stranger, sensual and passionate vocals underline the new compositions. The various guitar effects, organs, synths and solid drums create texture, depth and an overall organic ambience on the album, which make up as Karl Nielsen (Head of Marketing at Canal U TV (VITV/Fizz) describes as ?a unique and captivating sound?. A tour of South America and the US beginning in Buenos Aires is scheduled for the end of 2009 to promote the new album.
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