Music
Press
The iOs have slowed things down on their latest self-released EP (Laugh About the End), but there’s still plenty of dreamy new wave goodness that’s perfect for dancing or making out or moping about how you’re not dancing or making out. During the chorus of "Calm Down," Chris Punsalan and Autumn Proemm’s voices playfully bounce off each other and it sounds like total bliss, or at least a college-radio hit - NY Press
Better brush up on those Molly Ringwald dancefloor moves because new wave is back, and not just at the Depeche Mode parties roving around town, either. Nu garde bands like the iOs rock harder than their '80s counterparts, pairing their bright synth washes with scuzzy guitars to catchy effect. - Village Voice
There’s a wonderful, unheralded downtown band called the iOs. They’re this lush, new-wave, indie-pop, boy-girl group who are better than, well, half of Jade Tree’s roster. My 17-year-old friend William describes them better than I can: "The iOs sound like an in-love Weezer, like Rivers Cuomo has a girlfriend and they’re happy together. They sit at home all day and make keyboard-tinged dance-pop versions of the next Weezer album (the proper followup to Pinkerton). Sometimes, they show their joy by singing close harmonies together…ohhh, yeah." - NY Press
A new EP (Laugh About the End) finds this young indie trio trading its spare synth sound for lusher power-pop orchestration - Village Voice
The iOs are breaking in a new drummer and writing new material, but this band is still playing sweet, new-wave-tinged music that's part dance-pop and part Smashing Pumpkins. It's comforting winter in New York music, even if the song about that girl in San Diego is a little better than the song about tripping in Washington Square Park. - Village Voice
Like Brooklyn¹s Sea Ray, t! his downtown New York combo traffics in moody
atmospherics and breathy vocals. In the space of a three-song EP, brevity
(as the man says) really does prove the soul of wit, as the band makes use
of a fairly limited palette of instrumentation. Keyboardist Autumn Proemm
and guitarist Chris Punsalan¹s vocals play nicely off each other on the
opening "Calmdown," evoking some of the best of shoegaze pop. Elsewhere,
drummer Chris Brocco shines, adding a propulsive edge to "Summer Camp." In
all, a band worth watching.
- Big Takeover
This is quite a band and certainly the next star to watch. I can hardly wait until the LP comes out. (shelflife, matinee, are you listening?) - IndieSpinZone.com
Total Pop is what I hear from these demos. Damn good pop. - Crashin-in
With CJ in tow, and now a four piece, Autumn and the two Chrises are even more ready to lead the burgeoning pop revolution here in the City (NYC). - Jenyk.com
This little three-song CD-rom has spent a little bit of time in my stereo, and I love every minute of it! ...A fun little record, and I definitely look forward to hearing more! - Mundane Sounds
Discography
-Victory by Attrition: LP - Kanine Records (Spring 08)
-In Sunday Songs: LP - Kanine Records (May 2006)
-Center and Stop: 5-song EP – Self-Released. June 3, 2004.
Photos
Bio
None of us has gotten over summer camp. For the iOs founding members Chris Punsalan and Autumn Proemm, band camps reach is long. The world of sing-alongs and first kisses inspired their wistful and hilarious tune Summer Camp, and, more significantly, the bands musical bridge between the girls side of the lake and the boys.
The iOs, whose names refers to the interplay of ones and zeros of the digital age, turn out catchy pop music that balances shimmering synth sounds of Proemms keyboard and voice with forceful guitar and vocals from Punsalan. Before they came together personally and professionally, Punsalan learned guitar from his father in the Philippines. Meanwhile, in upstate New York, Proemm cut her musical teeth on clarinet and piano. After forming the band in 2005, they enlisted experienced bass player CJ Amodeo, to add color to the chord progressions. California-born Chris Brocco came on board as the resident Renaissance man, moving from drums to guitar to keyboards and back to guitar again. The current configuration, including Paul Mauceris powerful, precise drumming, has won the admiration of the Village Voice, pairing their bright synth washes with skuzzy guitars to catchy effect, and fans from San Francisco and Los Angeles to New York. Acknowledging the bands 80s era influence and its male/female rapport, the New York Press termed them a lush, new-wave, indie-pop, boy-girl group.
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