Bones & Beeker, Rosetta Rosetta & Villa Multi-instrumentalist Anthony Newes Shares New Solo EP, In The Dark of The Sea (self-released)
Anthony Newes is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based musician, song-writer, multi-instrumentalist, and engineer. We've covered Newes' music here at The Witzard by way of his Wax Poetic Records-signed project, Bones & Beeker, with Brendan "BK-One" Kelly, but Newes has been actively making, recording, releasing, and playing live music since the age of 16. We, actually, got a chance to speak with Newes' partner in crime, BK-One, back in 2018 about the (re-)making-of Bones & Beeker's Bones & Beeker (2015) companion remix EP, Inside A Different Mind, with help from Cut Chemist, P.O.S. ZuluZuluu, Brother Ali, Open Mike Eagle, and J-Zone, Prince Paul (De La Soul, Gravediggaz) & Sacha Jenkins' SUPERBLACK.
Across the genres of Folk, Punk, Pop, Melodic Rock, Indie Rock, Hip-Hop, and Synth-pop, Newes has released a sprawling back catalog of music with Bones & Beeker, Manifesto, Rosetta Rosetta, Superball, and Villa. Back in April, Newes shared his second proper solo collection, a five-track EP titled In The Dark of The Sea, the follow-up to his 2006 album, Anthony Newes. "My new solo record, In The Dark of The Sea, finally released today. Thanks to all the friends who helped me make this EP. You can listen to it on all the platforms. I've been writing and recording music since I was 16 years old and I'm eternally grateful for all the love and vibrations. Peace and love," Newes shared on Facebook upon the EP's initial release.
Although, In The Dark of The Sea isn't exactly a solo affair; a quick glance at the EP credits on Bandcamp reveals it features the talents of Chris Beirden (POLIÇA) providing bass and additional vocals, guitarist Jeremy Ylvisaker, drummer and percussionist Michael Gunvalson, guitarist and keyboardist Alex Proctor, Nelson Devereaux supplying horns and additional vocals, Ryan Mach playing drums, additional percussion, and additional sounds, Ryan Young (TRampled By Turtles) supplying strings, and drummer Chad Deboer. Anthony Newes himself provided song-writing and lyrics, vocals, guitar, synths, samples, drum machine, keys, samples, piano, and engineering throughout In The Dark of The Sea. All of this provides for an incredibly lush, intricate, and truly unique soundscape for Newes' Bon Iver or The Shins-esque thought-provoking whispered lyrics.
Newes shared, "I wrote the song, "Everywhere Is Here In Your Mind," at least 15 years ago, and it was never fully realized until this past year when I connected with my old friend, Ryan Young. I wrote the main string part years back and we wrote the rest together a few months ago. I absolutely love how it turned out. [...] If nothing else, take four minutes and enjoy the music we made together." Regarding his inspiration behind "What If The Stars Miss Me As Much As I Miss You?" Newes explained: "one evening, I walked into my daughter's bedroom to sing her a bedtime song. She was peering out her window up at the stars when she said to me with a sigh, "what if the stars miss me as much as I miss you?" It was so poetic and beautiful that it became the centerpiece for a song." It appears as though the majority of In The Dark of The Sea was written and recorded during a period of Pandemic-related pause and it shows because these songs are extremely well-put together and you can just tell every note, every syllable is coming from the heart. Anthony Newes' In The Dark of The Sea EP is now available on streaming services.