Spotlights

Retrouvez ici toutes nos chroniques, actualités, interviews, reports de concert, ainsi que la discographie et le line-up du groupe Spotlights.

Biographie

Spotlights occupy the space between a push-and-pull of jarring metallic catharsis and sweeping
distortion. Even as either side vies for supremacy, neither extreme ever completely tightens its grip,
allowing waves of melodic vocals and expressive sonic sorcery to breathe in the middle. This deft
balancing act has enabled the trio—husband-and-wife Mario Quintero [guitar, vocals, keys] and Sarah
Quintero [bass, vocals] joined by Chris Enriquez [drums]—to carve a singular lane. Armed with an
uncanny ability to wield darkness or light, the trio’s fourth full-length offering, Alchemy for the Dead
[Ipecac Recordings], finds them exploring something we all face, yet few embrace…
“One of the major parts of our lives, is the fact we’re all going to die,” says Mario. “Most people are
terrified of it, some people learn to look forward to it, and some see it as a way out of their misery. Various
cultures view it differently. There isn’t necessarily a story to the album as a whole, but each song deals
with the theme of death. It could be fantasy such as bringing a loved one back to life or darker moments
like suicide and deep depression. Then, there are thoughts about death overall in terms of the entire
human race. The “Alchemy” part plays more into occult themes such as seance and crossing the
threshold between the living and the dead, or religious rituals that humans use to connect with lost loved
ones.”
If you don’t know who Spotlights are, or haven’t heard their name, then you haven’t been paying
attention. Mario, Sarah and Chris are one of the hardest working new bands out there - plugging away on
tour after tour, earning every fan they have, whether it’s Chino Moreno, or the bartender at a local club.
During 2016, the group gained traction with their debut album, Tidals, earning coveted spots on tours with
Deftones (we did say Chino is a fan), and Refused. Not long after, they caught the attention of Ipecac
Recordings, releasing Seismic in 2017, touring relentlessly (again, enjoying word of mouth amongst
musicians to land outings with the Mr. Bungle, Quicksand, Pallbearer, etc) and worked right into the
studio, releasing Love & Decay in 2019. Consequence praised their “unique amalgam of sounds that is
both heavy and heavenly,” Brooklyn Vegan said the band balances the pretty with metallic sludge, and
Invisible Oranges said the album “leans on the ambient and krautrock inspired edges of post-metal.” In
the wake of their 2020 EP We Are All Atomic, Kerrang! observed, “That a band as heavy and romantic as
Spotlights have become a fixture in the rock scene Is impressive; that they’ve done so in such a short
period of time is tremendous.”
Late last year, the musicians began to carefully piece together what would become Alchemy For The
Dead. For the first time, Spotlights recorded in the basement of the Pittsburgh home where Mario and
Sarah now reside. With Mario at the helm for production once more, they clung to an ethos that he
describes as “don’t do the same thing again”— and they made good on that ambition.
“I had a sound in my head,” he admits. “It was a little punchier rather than being so open. It’s still big, but
it’s tight. A lot of this can be attributed to the basement itself. It’s a tiny room with a seven-foot ceiling. The
sound you get is tight and controlled. We tried to accentuate the space.”
Siphoning the claustrophobia of their surroundings into a definitive vision, propulsive percussion drives
the first single “Algorithmic.” The bass groans and grunts beneath strains of ethereal keys and guitars.
Meanwhile, barely repressed intensity spills over on to a turbulent distorted riff offset by melodic highregister
harmonies as Mario promises, “It won’t be long,” and Sarah counters, “You’ll learn as you go
away”.
“ For me, the song has a religious theme to it,” he says. “It touches on the story of resurrection and
afterlife in this one narrative, while wondering, does any of it really fucking matter?”
Then, there’s “Sunset Burial.” Crossing the six-minute mark, a tense bass line trudges through an
orchestral hum and a head-nodding drumbeat. Otherworldly percussive flourishes shudder as the fits of
distortion shake another hypnotic hook.
“There’s a lot of space,” Mario continues. “But it doesn’t just stick to massive riffs the whole time. Lyrically,
it’s a darker, self-reflective story about what goes through our minds while waiting to die.”
Then, there’s the opening track, “Beyond The Broken Sky.” Its echoes summon the memory of a
particular stormy evening early in the band’s career. “We had gone to our rehearsal space in Brooklyn to
practice for the second time, as Spotlights, and got stuck in a raging thunderstorm walking back,” recalls
Mario. “So, we sat in a bar drinking all night, I woke up hungover the next morning, and wrote that song.
It’s been kicking around for eight years, but finally, seemed perfect as an intro for this album. It draws you
into what’s about to happen.”
On its heels, “The Alchemist” represents a creative shift. The incessant beeping mirrors life support
equipment as the airy vocals practically stalk an uncontainable bass-and-drum rhythm. This chase slips
into the undertow of fuzzy feedback.
“It was probably the first track to encapsulate what I wanted sonically for the album. Bigger and fatter
upfront tones, and unique drum sounds.” he reveals. “It sparked the initial vibe of the album. It’s a loose
take on the old Frankenstein story. A story about a maniac luring people to their death, so he can
reanimate them in hopes of finding his true love.
In the end, Spotlights only cement their own niche with a vision like no other.
“If you’re an artist, I hope our music inspires you to make art and push the envelope,” he leaves off. “If
you’re not, I hope it inspires you to think differently, and get your mind off the day-to-day bullshit. Even
though the themes might seem morbid and dark, as always we hope our music creates positivity. We all
need to care for one another and all living beings on this planet, while we can.”

Style musical pratiqué, en quelques mots : heavy, occult.

Chroniques

Retrouvez ci-dessous notre chronique de Spotlights.

Alchemy For The Dead (2023)

Heavy Occult Pop

Dossiers / Articles

Retrouvez ci-dessous nos 3 dossiers/articles dans lesquels on parle de Spotlights.

HELLFEST 2024

TOP ALBUMS 2023

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