Sanders Bohlke

The Violence Of The New Day's Sun Always Prevails
Illustration by Johnnie Cluney,
Recording engineered by Josh Niles at Big Light, Nashville, Tennessee - Daytrotter

Seven years after releasing an eponymous folk debut, Sanders Bohlke has released a full-length follow-up that sounds like a soulful mash-up of Bhi Bhiman and Bon Iver. With Jeffrey Cain of Remy Zero at the helm, the University of Mississippi alum has created headphones music with lush reverb-laden harmonies layered over strings and effects. - Paste

Sanders Bohlke’s Ghost Boy could not be more appropriately named. Haunting and visceral, this recording was inspired when Bohlke retreated to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia one winter and chronicles the loneliness he felt being so removed from society.

The album opens a cappella with “Pharoah,” a beautiful song that turns into a a sonic wall of sound then back to a cappella. The track invokes memories of such songwriting greats as Jeff Buckly and Elliott Smith. Songs like the title track and “The Loved Ones” are so refreshing in their simplicity, yet so deep in emotion, both lyrically and musically.

“Lights Explode” speaks of the regret of time wasted: “We were best friends / Watching the lights explode / And then you give me your hand / And away we go” while the upbeat acoustic-driven “Serious” explores a darker side of relationships: “If you’re serious / I’ll be serious too / I’ll rip your heart out / Like you want me to.”

The whole album is filled with lyrics that are narrative and poetic. Layers of synths and keyboard effects are both transcendent and anticipatory. The guitar is hypnotizing in its steady heartbeat of both acoustic and distorted sounds. Bohlke has created beautiful visual imagery with his words and music, allowing the listener to get a sense of what he was feeling that winter in the mountains as the days got shorter and the nights got darker.

For more information on Sanders Bohlke and for upcoming tour dates visit http://sandersbohlke.com. - Performer Magazine

Sanders Bohlke took six years between his debut album and sophomore effort Ghost Boy, a record full of complex folk tracks showcasing Bohlke’s soulful voice. Currently on tour in support of Ghost Boy, Bohlke brought his ethereal (at times haunting) sound to New York’s Mercury Lounge on February 13, and took no more than six minutes to capture the attention and the hearts of the audience. Despite playing as an opener before an unfamiliar crowd, Bohlke owned his performance, captivating all in attendance and leaving them wanting more.

Taking the stage with his acoustic guitar and only one accompanying electric guitarist, Bohlke started the show with “Search and Destroy.” The longest song in his repertoire (it clocks in at just under eight minutes), the song’s simple acoustic melody paired with Bohlke’s calming yet powerful vocals served as a perfect introduction to his music. With a buzz running through the room, Bohlke settled in and confidently belted out the lyrics to the song, showcasing his impressive voice and securing the audience’s attention for the rest of his set.

Practically lulling the crowd into a state of trance, Bohlke utilized electronic effects from his guitarist to impeccably transition to title-track “Ghost Boy.” This performance of the first single from his new album immediately gave the show a sense of continuity and while demonstrating a musical maturity uncharacteristic of most openers. Throughout his performance of the pop-infused folk song, Bohlke threw in passionate vocal fills to account for the missing vocal layers present in the studio version of the song.

Bohlke went on to play seven additional songs, each compelling in its own way and illustrative of his potential as an artist. “Lights Explode” was upbeat and open, helping to showcase Bohlke’s strong lyrics, while “Fighter Pilot” featured heavily layered vocal melodies that, though repetitive, gave his performance depth. Bohlke rounded out the planned portion of the set with “The Weight of Us,” a song released exclusively as a single. The melancholy lyrics, “I’m not ready for the weight of us,” suggest a fear of love, while the final lines call for bravery and a joint strength. His emotional outro was met warm applause and shouts for “One more song!” to which Bohlke smiled and agreed to play one more. He ended his set with “Soldier,” a sorrowful and politically charged B-side that doubtlessly left many in the audience wondering what Bohlke could sound like with a full backing band.

Between the complexity of his music, meaningful lyrics, serene guitar style and Bon Iver-like voice, Bohlke truly demonstrates in a live setting why he deserves recognition. On this night, even as an opening act, the sheer emotion behind his songs captured the ears of a group of strangers and left them stupefied, shouting for more. Hopefully someday soon we will be able to see Bohlke with a full-backing band and an opener of his own. - Glide Magazine

By Blurt Staff

Singer-songwriter Sanders Bohlke’s new album, Ghost Boy (released this February on Communicating Vessels), came out of time spent in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, during a long, cold winter, and that sound permeates throughout, giving a haunting eerieness that invites the listener to explore the lush soundscapes that Bohlke and producer Jeffrey Cain (of Remy Zero) built. Lead single, “Ghost Boy,” is arguably Bohlke’s most infectious melody and fully realized flirtation with pop music, and BLURT is excited to offer the exclusive premiere of the new music video for the track.

Bohlke recently was chosen as the special guest for Rachael Yamagata’s Dealbreaker Heart Tour 2013, which hits most major markets in North America this summer. He is currently in the studio finishing a short EP to accompany the tour, and will preview the run with a solo gig in New York at the Rockwood Music Hall on May 30th. For more information, visit his website: http://www.sandersbohlke.com/ - Blurt

It’s been seven years since Sanders Bohlke’s debut album was released. Since then, there’ve been many singles and EPs from Sanders, but no full-length releases until now. His long-awaited new album, Ghost Boy, will be released on February 19th by the Communicating Vessels label.

The sound is lush and the lyrics devastating, reminding me of recent work by Lost in the Trees. Here’s an example from “The Loved Ones”:

Brought the wooden cup
To my mouth
And I drank
Til my heart gave out
A blurb on the album’s artwork remarks that these songs were written during Winter in West Virginia. Since that is my current experience, it’s hard for me to appreciate the sense of claustrophobic dread they cultivate.

You can preview the album here and download a free, legal mp3 of the title track below… - Muruch