orchestral and electronic soundscapes fused with off-kilter pop songs

Shortwave Society fuses elements from orchestral and electronic soundscapes to create a unique accompaniment to their off-kilter pop songs. Violin, cello, and a sea of vocals weave intricate tapestries while guitar and pianos pulse, and electronic bleeps and blips fill every nook and cranny of your subconscious. These ladies and gents host a post-modern sojourn through jazz, pop, and chamber music traditions; equally at home in the dance club or the concert hall alike.

The band is a musical collaboration of five Knoxville, Tennessee-based musicians. It began as a series of experiments in the laboratory of a local musical commune, intent on bridging gaps between musical genres. The project was spearheaded by brothers Grant and Curtis Geren and Jason Day, but took its final form with the addition of string divas Alexia Pantanizopoulos and Sarah Hurd. With Shortwave Society, the musical Mission Statement is simple, “to unearth and perform the common thread between all that is musical.” Execution of this goal is another matter, at times virtuosic, at times technological, but always heartfelt and human at its core.

At the heart of Shortwave Society’s musical landscape lies songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist, Grant Geren. His willingness to delve into unconventional song structures, coupled with his knack for surreal lyricism, gives the band’s music its unique emotional identity. Pianist and arranger Jason Day augments these contributions. Day’s extensive jazz background floats subliminally behind his arrangements, drawing equally from classical, pop, and music from around the world. The project is advanced by Curtis Geren; a perpetual student of percussion instruments and electronic music. Cellist Alexia Pantanizopoulos and violinist Sarah Hurd complete the circle, adding the essential chamber music element.