
Music
Press
"Undeniably catchy, undeniably punk with a dark edge is the best way to describe A Happy Death. Still that isn’t an accurate description of the band. Rick’s soft moody voice and anguished screams blend brilliantly with Jenn’s sultry vox and wicked bass work. Even though it isn’t hard to imagine A Happy Death achieving mainstream success one would hope that even when they hit the big time they stay true to those of us who knew them when with their introspective lyrics, infectious vibe and knack for taking inspiration form different places to create something truly unique and beautiful."
-Ectomag.com
- ectomag.com
"Great live show. These guys looked so calm and reserved. As soon as they hit the stage your automatically drawn to the front. Intense songs, intricate guitar work balanced with the screams of a madman. The bassist also sang with a collected moody persona. Good things will come of this band if they continue on the same path."
- Peruido magazine
"An awesome demo cd. Can't wait to hear a full length."
-SFD archaic (Japan)
- SFD archaic
keep on the good music ! Will definitely play it at parties and in my DJ set. These guys rock!
- Sanctuary Radio
"listening to a happy death is like crawling one's way up to sanity" - paradigm magazine
Discography
Self-produced demo EP.
First EP out December 2006
Full Length to be recorded Spring 2007
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
A Happy Death began on a cold and rainy night on February 27, 2004. Just having endured the death of his fiancée, guitarist, Rick Espinoza turned his painful loss into inspiration to form a band. After months of writing, Rick was joined by female vocalist/bass player, Jenn Kitner and on drums, by punk drummer, Jeff Hendricks.
Drawing from the influences of seminal acts such as Pixies, Sonic Youth, Gang of Four, The Cure, and Joy Division, A Happy Death employed the minimalist approach to their music. But the true consolidation of their sound came from the bi-polar, loud/soft blue-print. Tapping into the power of improvisation, they drew upon the song-writing technique to incorporate a more loosely-based, natural structure of deceptive simplicity. The songs that began to develop, utilized simple riffs, mixed with layered parts to produce a unique sound. The final balance came with the addition of heavy distortion to offset the use of beautiful yet often gloomy melodies.
With their newly released demo E.P. they are beginning to enjoy airplay in clubs, college, and independent radio stations across the country, as well as Europe and Japan. In January of 2006, A Happy Death was nominated for "Best Punk" at the Southern California Music Awards, sponsored and hosted by Indie 103.1 FM. They have since teamed up with, Anthony Arvizu (engineer/producer: Capitol Records, Sublime, David J of Bauhaus fame, Rocket From the Crypt, etc...) along with "The Compound" studios to record their first EP single. They've also been featured in American Songwriter Magazine, The LA Weekly, and The OC weekly. A Happy Death has performed at local hotspots such as The Scene Bar, The Anarchy Library, The Long Beach Warehouse, Zen Sushi, Vinyl Fetish records, Showcase Theater and various underground venues were a host of eclectic fans gather. A Happy Death has supported and opened for dozens of national touring acts, and always eagerly await to hit the road.
Contact:
www.myspace.com/ahappydeath
www.ahappydeath.com
Links