White Life

Jon Ehrens is a busy, busy man. Over his (young) adult life he has made and recorded music under no less than 30 different bands and aliases (we were particularly enamored with Art Department), but this Spring/Summer saw him truly come into his own, with WHITE LIFE, a project he is in with his sister Emily Ehrens, that provides the perfect summer soundtrack for those of us who like their music both danceable AND articulate. Think of every synth record you truly loved, sprinkle some soul on top, and swirl in a little magic that made 80s radio hits the HITS that they were, and we're getting somewhere describing what you're about to hear. It has been gaining all sorts of crazy buzz over the last couple of months and if there is any justice in the world, before you know it they'll be (almost) famous.

Jon was kind enough to walk us through some of their favorite tracks off of their self-titled debut record, just in time to prep you for their (rumor has it killer) live show @ Velvet Lounge tomorrow night. - Brightest Young Things

White Life is the brainchild of Jon Ehrens, best known for the twisted and quirky pop music of The Art Department. This new project features help from Emily Ehrens (his sister), Jenn Wasner, Andrew Bernstein, Dave Fell, Mark Brown, and Grayson Brown. The debut LP is out now on Ehse Records, and is a must for late summer dance parties and car ride singalongs.

A few things we've learned from this video - getting stoned and dancing around in your room to White Life is White Life-approved, the 90s are still very much alive, and Jon Ehrens is terrible at tennis. It's a good thing he can sing and write some pretty serious pop songs.

- Impose

It seems that ‘80s nostalgia is everywhere these days, but few people want to bring back more than the ridiculous neon outfits and mall-pop singles—especially those who weren’t even around for the 80s). But Baltimore’s White Life seems to have a special place in its heart for much of the decade’s music. Their first, self-titled release is full of the electronic beats, R&B stylings and earworm hooks you might expect, but it feels much like it was made in the ‘80s more than influenced by them.

You’d be hard-pressed to find the sax solos and rapping in the track “Flirp” on any album by a modern band. Just as skillfully, White Life manages to mix these dancefloor-ready tunes with lonely lyrics (“I Don’t Wanna Have To Make You Love Me”? Knife to heart). It’s a refreshing take on a tired genre, and IMHO, one of the best things to come out of Charm City in some time.

This is a perfect example of a “Jesus CHRIST there should be WAY more people here to see this!” kind of instances, where the band is fucking fantastic and the energy is great and no one knows who this band is yet because they’re not from here. Big mistake, those of you who didn’t hit the Milky Way last night. White Life (of B-More) makes fun music, hosts a fantastic dance party and delivers. Extra points for frontman Jonathonian Ehrens for his unparalleled dance skills. Guys: y’all come back now, ya hear? (Also: can we talk about this video for a sec. Can we just.)

- Dig Boston

Baltimore's White Life—who've put out one of the best albums of 2011 in their self-titled debut—recently released a video for the single "Time Is Wasting." The track, which cherry picks from some of the more fun, danceable, and cheesy tones of the late 1980s and early 1990s R&B and pop scenes, is paired perfectly here with a silly and low-key video of frontman Jon Ehrens dancing his way through a breakfast of cereal and an afternoon of one-man tennis. Ehrens' sister Emily, who provides the track's backup vocals, appears as well, lackadaisically singing-along while reading the morning paper and later dancing spirit-like in a white glowing cloak. If there's a message here, it's that the Ehrens know how to make fun of themselves—and they have a great time while doing it.

- Everybodytaste.com

A few weeks back we caught wind of an excellent new group from Baltimore - the synth-laden hook heavy White Life. Tonight they will be in New York at Pianos, playing a great bill which includes Shelock's Daughter, who are in the midst of big residency of their own.

While we've yet to see White Life in the flesh - what we've heard promises to be high energy - well-written party music. This is one of those bands you will hear about all year, so buy early so you can tell your friends you were there when.

We're psyched to be bringing you one of the first looks at the new video for their single "Time is Wasting" - enjoy folks. White Life are on the earlier side of the bill tomorrow. - Stark Online

White Life is the Baltimore, Maryland based band of Jonathan Ehrens and sister Emily Ehrens along with Andrew Bernstein (Dan Deacon ensemble), Dave Fell, Grayson Brown, and production collaboration and back-up vocals from Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak). Their self-titled LP was released in May and is full of 80's electro synth retro pop. The first track, Time is Wasting, wastes no time inviting the listener to the smooth, catchy party that is White Life – makes you check your worries at the door, hands you a cold adult beverage and introduces you to a hot dance partner to make memories with. You’ll find comfort in these tracks through their pleasing vocals, bright arrangements and blissful predictability. I Want Love is perhaps the best example on this album of the 80's retro-ness.
- Witness This (California blog)

White Life is something of a departure for Jon Ehrens, the prolific and chameleonic singer-songwriter previously best known for indie bands like the idiosyncratic Art Department and the lo-fi Repelican. For one of the first times in his career, Ehrens is sharing vocal and production duties on White Life’s self-titled debut, which was recorded with Chris and Mickey Freeland at Beat Babies, and features several lead vocal performances by his sister Emily Ehrens. But more significantly, White Life is a big stylistic left turn for Ehrens into the world of synths, drum machines and unabashedly pop vocal performances.

The eight songs on White Life’s album, out this week on Ehse Records, each offer different variations on the project’s polished aesthetic and retro sensibility. The closer “I Want Love” is the album’s most overtly R&B track, with a bubbly synth bassline and a euphoric vocal by Emily Ehrens that could pass for an early ’80s boogie classic by Deniece Williams.

Elsewhere on the album, the ’80s evoked by White Life is more along the lines of brooding synth pop, with Jon Ehrens offering some of the most passionate vocals and nakedly emotional lyrics of his career, which effectively lend a sense of gravity and sincerity to what could otherwise be an exercise in campy, ironic nostalgia. On one of the best tracks in that vein, “Follow,” his staccato verses give way to a chorus. that soars with help from backing harmonies by Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak.

- Mobtown Studios

Thursday, May 5, 2011White Life - "Real Things"

Out this week on Ehse Records is the debut LP by White Life. White Life is the project of John Ehrens, with help from Emily Ehrens, Jenn Wasner, Andrew Bernstein, Dave Fell, Mark Brown, and Grayson Brown. This is by far the most accessible project John Ehrens has been a part of, as one pop hit after another emanates from the debut long player.

"Real Things" comes later on in the LP, and is one of the slower burning synth pop jams to grace this collection. It is drenched in 80s AM radio glee just like the rest, bringing you back to your favorite 80s movie soundtrack or disco hall. - Bmore Musically Informed

Et si on prolongeait la bande-son estivale (puisque l'été est très en avance cette année) ? White Life est un groupe qui nous vient de Baltimore (Maryland). Parmi les cinq membres, on trouve Emily et Jon Ehrens qui sont frère et soeur (c'est tendance les groupes familiaux). Alors eux, leur truc, c'est la pop-soul nostalgique, avec ce soupçon de R&B qui vous replonge dans les années 80 (ça aussi c'est tendance en ce moment). Filez écouter leur album sur le site du label qui les héberge, Ehse Records, pendant que je vous laisse le tubesque "Time is Wasting" en écoute ci-dessous.
- My Car is Full of Plums (Spanish blog)

Jonathan Ehrens es el titular del proyecto llamado White Life, además en algún momento del trio de Baltimore, The Art Department y aunque su giro por decirlo de alguna forma es el lo-fi, uno de sus más recientes materiales está encaminado al synth- pop, donde colabora con su hermana Emily Ehrens y que recientemente ha sido lanzado por Ehse Records bajo el nombre del proyecto White Life.

pop de los 80 o R&B son algunos de los toques que tiene el material donde el shynth hace lo suyo en una combincion original misma que se escucha en tracks como I Don’t Wanna Have A Make You Love Me.

Excelente material, escuchen algo de él.

- Anymore TV (music blog - spanish)

We don't know a ton about Baltimore's White Life right now, other than it's another project from the prolific Jon Ehrens and the first to feature sister Emily Ehrens. Their S/T LP just dropped on Ehse Records and it's sugary gem of an early summer album, filled with pop-infused synth melodies, vintage 80s keyboard sounds, and even some tasty fuzzed-out guitar work. White Life occupy the same pleasure zone for us as west coast favorites Kisses. While not rewriting the musical landscape, both groups are anchored by solid songwriting, clever arrangements, and excellent vocal performances. - The Stark Online

Baltimore’s White Life, the project of John Ehrens with the help of sister Emily Ehrens, has produced a debut album that completely hits my sweet spot. Growing up in the 80s, I hold that era of music in high regard – White Life drops electronic pop ballads that bleed the neon synth, but retain some real beauty – never getting to a kitschy aspect that many retro bands unfortunately do. I feel like I’m listening to Madonna’s True Blue re-mastered under the hot and humid Baltimore sun. Yeah, I went there. Its totally like that. At least the female vocal led numbers. When John’s sporting the mic, there’s still a similar flavor…like a Depeche Mode or Erasure type vibe, but bristled with that east coast funk sensibility (and a little old school hip-hop flavor on “Flirp”). Yeah, awesome. The duo also gets some allstars on board – Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak helps out on the vocal harmonies and production as well as Chris Freeland, Andrew Bernstein, Dave Fell, Mark Brown, and Grayson Brown. White Life’s S/T LP is out now via Ehse Records – go get it.

- Pasta Primavera

We wanted to find out more about the awesome electronic pop project from Baltimore, White Life, who killed it on our recent Band of the Month poll. So we caught up with lead Life-r Jon Ehrens, who spills it on the meaning behind the band's name, limitless influence, and future plans. Check out the interview here...

White Life also released their stellar s/t album on May 30. Full of beyond radical 80's dance synths and a nod to the classic scores of Giorgio Moroder, this album is definitely one of B-more's best of 2011 hands down. Check out the sweet track for "Time is Wasting" below.-Dawn

- Deli Magazine

Baltimorean Jon Ehrens’s latest disc, featuring sister Emily Ehrens on vocals and an assist from Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner, answers the question: What would it sound like if Patti LaBelle fronted Chromeo in 1983?

- Washington Post

And yet the most high-profile Ehrens project to date, the self-titled debut album by White Life out earlier this month on Baltimore label Ehse Records, is a bit of a departure even from his varied earlier work. With slick synths, funky basslines, drum machine beats, and soulful vocals by his sister Emily Ehrens, White Life’s songs flirt with campy retro in their appropriations of 1980s pop and R&B, but hold together beautifully with Ehrens’ increasingly confident songcraft, and some of his most somber, dramatic lyrics to date. - Baltimore City Paper

Here’s a track from the soulful Baltimore band White Life. The energy level of these folks’ performance became so high that I sometimes thought they might burst out into the streets. Having won everyone over after only a few songs the whole thing simply spun out into a serious dance party. Good times.

- Bleary Eyed Brooklyn

And it was in fact a Baltimore family affair at the Brooklyn venue on Saturday night with Jenn even joining White Life during their poppy and energetic set. To add to the family atmosphere, Jon and Emily Ehrens of White Life are siblings and their mother was rocking out in the audience. - Brooklyn Vegan

Baltimore’s throwback-pop group White Life is one of a staggering number of Jon Ehrens’ projects, but the first band to feature his sister Emily Ehrens. Teen-beat nostalgia rears its pimply head across the duo’s self-titled debut on Ehse, guiding the group like a dopey-grinned ghost from the perfect family-room jam session - Fader