Cherrytree Records and Interscope Records are pleased to announce that they have signed seven-piece sibling band The Hunts to their roster and release the group’s major-label debut EP, Life Was Simple, digitally today. In addition, a video for The Hunts’ current single, “Make This Leap,” premieres on VEVO today. Watch it HERE.
The pastoral video for “Make This Leap” was shot in The Hunts’ hometown of Chesapeake, Virginia, with a few moments filmed on the family’s actual property. It was directed by Michelle Peerali, who has collaborated with such artists as The Kills, The Cult, The Black Keys, Pyyramids, and Moby. The idyllic location settings beautifully capture the band’s harmony-laced take on alt-folk that’s both breathtaking and sweetly ethereal.
The Hunts have been playing music together almost their entire lives. Ranging from ages 16 to 24, twin sisters Jenni and Jessi and their five brothers Josh, Jonathan, Jordan, Justin, and Jamison all learned to sing and play violin as young kids and spent much of their childhood performing throughout their community. After teaching themselves to play instruments like mandolin, piano, ukulele, banjo, and drums, The Hunts began experimenting with songwriting and soon brought to life a batch of songs that reveal their sophisticated sense of melody and dreamy innocence.
Lead single “Make This Leap” is a lilting piece of indie- folk built on layered harmonies, intricately textured acoustic instrumentation, and lyrics that gracefully shift from melancholy to triumphant. With Josh and Jenni taking turns as lead vocalist, The Hunts sustain that dynamic throughout Life Was Simple, often turning their shared memories into songs that capture heartache and wonder with a wide-eyed but wistful elegance.
“Growing up the way we did, we had to learn to make do with what we had, so the stories from that time are incredibly special to us,” says Jessi, who explains that all seven members of The Hunts write each song together. “A lot of the time we write about what we remember from being young — the things we went through that have drawn us together and stuck in our hearts and really made us who we are.”
The Hunts will hit the road for a U.S. tour in September. All upcoming dates are below.
08/23 Wilson, NC Barton College
08/29 Norfolk, VA Virginia Wesleyan College–Batten Lawn
09/09 Vienna, VA Jammin’ Java
09/10 Pittsburgh, PA Hard Rock Cafe
09/12 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
09/13 Boston, MA Cafe 939 at Berklee
09/15 New York, NY Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2
09/16 Malvern, PA General Wayne E.S.
09/17 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
09/17 Malvern, PA Charlestown E.S.
09/18 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle – Back Room
09/19 Highland Springs, VA Henrico Theatre
09/20 Rock Island, IL Centennial Hall–Augustana College
09/21 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
09/23 Columbus, OH Rumba Cafe
09/24 Nashville, TN High Watt
09/26 Houston, TX McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
09/27 Dallas, TX Index Festival
09/29 Athens, GA Georgia Theatre–Rooftop
09/30 Atlanta, GA Vinyl
10/03 Georgetown, TX The Cove/Southwestern
10/04 Austin, TX Austin City Limits
10/08 Pineville, LA Louisana College-outdoor open field
10/10 Montgomery, AL Faulkner University
10/11 Roswell, GA Roswell Cultural Arts Center
10/17 Madison, WI Capitol Theater
10/18 Chippewa Falls, WI Heyde Center for the Arts
10/19 Spirit Lake, IA Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts
10/22 Fulton, MO William Woods University
10/24 Brussels, WI Southern Door Community Auditorium
10/26 Batavia, IL Batavia Fine Arts Centre
10/28 Searcy, AR Harding University
11/07 Henderson, TN Freed-Hardeman University
11/08 Memphis, TN Buckman Performing Arts Center
http://smarturl.it/LifeWasSimple
