New Jersey-based Indie pop surf rock outfit Dentist has released their third album Night Swimming via Cleopatra Records, together with their new video for the song by the same name. This follows up the first two singles "Corked" and "Upset Words", which were released earlier.
Rightfully earning their place as one of New Jersey's buzziest bands, Dentist was named one of the top 10 bands at this year's SXSW by Mercury News and a darling of critics at NPR, Stereogum, Flood Magazine and more.
Dentist centers around the songwriting partnership of Emily Bornemann (vocals and bass guitar) and Justin Bornemann (guitar), who had been writing songs and performing together in various ways since first meeting in 2008. The band is rounded out by Matt Hockenjos on drums.
The new Night Swimming album juxtaposes catchy indie surf pop with lyrical themes about social anxiety and heartache. Night Swimming showcases an aggressive approach to their beach inspired pop with lyrics covering the spectrum of human emotions. Produced by Andy Bova and Justin Bornemann, this album was mastered by Jürgen Engler (Die Krupps, Nico, Iggy and The Stooges, Queensryche).
"This album was an attempt to capture all the different aspects of ourselves and create something that we would want to listen to," says Justin Bornemann. "Musically we are attracted to rawness and simplicity, but melodically we lean towards a pop aesthetic. The lyrics tend to be focused on social anxiety, heartache and loss, but sometimes reveal love and optimism," adds Emily Bornemann.
Their strongest release to date, the new album showcases the bands ability to fit pop hooks into aggressive garage punk one moment, then dreamy surf pop the next. The album is cohesive but represents an exercise in capturing all aspects of the band’s personality. The band, who tour consistently, has shared the stage with Television, Screaming Females, Ringo Deathstarr and Laura Stevenson, among others.
Formed in 2013 amidst the oceanfront urban landscape of Asbury Park, Dentist's sound combines the freedom of the beach atmosphere and the urgency of the city into a fuzzed out, surf punk-tinged brand of indie pop with hooks and infectious melodies to spare. Emily Bornemann's vocals are countered by the band's sometimes aggressive, but always addictive sound.
Dentist's debut album released in 2014, described by Pandora as “a deliriously infectious collection of fuzzy, California-styled, indie pop jangle and sun dappled garage rock crunch”.
Their sophomore album Ceilings was released in 2016 to critical acclaim, receiving press from Noisey and Stereogum. Their single “Meet You There (In Delaware)" found its way onto Spotify's Fresh Finds playlist and was chosen as one of Daytrotter’s top 100 songs of 2016.
This summer, Dentist will be embarking on a new nationwide tour, running through July and August, in support of their Night Swimming album, which can be ordered now via Bandcamp or streamed on Spotify. This will be their longest US tour to date spanning coast to coast.
CREDITS
Produced by Andy Bova and Justin Bornemann. Mixed by Andy Bova. Recorded at Simple Sound Studios in Oceanport, NJ. Mastered by Jurgen R Engler. All songs written by Dentist. Dentist is Emily Bornemann on vocals and bass, Justin Bornemann on guitar and Matt Hockenjos on drums. Bass on "The Latter" performed by Nick Kaelblein. Album artwork by Li Sutkowski.
TOUR DATES
7/28 El Paso, TX @ Love Buzz
7/30 Phoenix, AZ @ The Trunk Space
7/31 Long Beach, CA @ The Prospector
8/1 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
8/2 Los Angeles, CA @ Highland Park Bowl
8/3 Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door
8/4 Sonora, CA @ Winters Tavern Motherlode Grill
8/5 Reno, NV @ Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor
8/6 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
8/7 Denver, CO @ Lost Lake
8/8 Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge
8/9 Columbia, MO @ Cafe Berlin (Columbia, MO)
8/10 Omaha, NE @ The Down Under Lounge
8/11 Minneapolis, MN @ Mortimer's
8/12 Chicago, IL @ Chop Shop
8/13 Muncie, IN @ Be Here Now
8/14 Cincinnati, OH @ The Hub OTR
8/15 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
8/24 Asbury Park, NJ @ Langosta Lounge - Homecoming Show
8/25 Norfolk, VA @ The Bird Bash Festival
