Instrumental quintet Lotus has announced the details for their new studio release Citrus. Recorded at Spice House Sound in Philadelphia during the same studio sessions as the band's 2020 album Free Swim, the 7 track EP is set for full independent release on April 6, 2021. The first single “Phantom Tooth” is streaming now with a new track to be released each week.

“Citrus is the chill-out session to the Free Swim pool party,” says bassist/producer Jesse Miller. “The music is more downtempo, drawing from 70s space-funk, rock and West African music. We've never played these songs live before, but I think they will feel like old favorites.” Tune in here each Tuesday for new songs, merch packages and more.

“Phantom Tooth” is a funky groove built around an aerobic bass line. The 70s jazz-fusion influence is distinct with analog synth, organ and a searing guitar solo over a gritty beat. The song is available now to stream & download here along with pre-orders and merch packages.

Lotus has always been difficult to define musically; an instrumental jamband that has favored groove-based improvisation instead of gaudy solos and noodling. Influences of classic electronic dance music, funk, post-rock and dance-rock have all made their way into the Lotus sound. Over the years, their unique musical blend helped forge a fresh path in the jamband landscape, influencing many younger bands in the scene. Albums such as their debut studio release, Nomad (2006) have become a touchstone for how to organically fuse elements of electronica with jam music, and the band continues to evolve through each tour and album bringing in new sounds and writing styles. Since their formation two decades ago, Lotus – Mike Greenfield (drums), Jesse Miller (bass, modular synth), Luke Miller (keyboards, guitar), Mike Rempel (guitar) and Chuck Morris (percussion) – has toured actively throughout the US working their way up from dingy basement clubs to world-class venues such as Red Rocks. They've become festival favorites, playing everything from Bonnaroo, Camp Bisco and Outside Lands to Ultra Music Festival and Electric Forest, building a hyper-loyal following along the way. Lotus also hosts their annual SummerDance Festival in Garrettsville, Ohio. A Lotus live show is an experience, a uniquely crafted and improvised set taking everyone, the crowd and band, on a journey.

The journey continues with Citrus, packed with the band’s signature catchy melodies and killer grooves. Tune in, take a breather, and unwind.

CITRUS TRACK LISTING

1. Journey to Saturn

2. Citrus

3. Phantom Tooth

4. Year of the Jaguar

5. Condor

6. Fields of Mint

7. Drifting Away from Shore

Wax Future and Jesse Miller (Lotus, Octave Cat, Beard-o-Bees) have  teamed up as BeesWax for a new studio album, Royal Jelly, a follow-up to their 2019 self-titled EP. Listen to the title track “Royal Jelly'' here. Vinyl pre-orders and merch packages, including BeesWax branded honey, are available now.

Wax Future (Connor Hansell/Keith Wadsworth) have built a following with their hip-hop, bass and EDM  influenced productions and energetic live sets. Jesse Miller performs solo modular synth sets as Beard-o-Bees  and produces and plays bass for Lotus and Octave Cat . Together, the three musicians form BeesWax.

“I met Connor and Keith when Wax Future played a show with Octave Cat a few years back,” says Miller.  “We started talking synths, as I tend to do. That led to me helping Connor build his own modular system, then  to us writing music together.”

“Royal Jelly” kicks off with a block shaking beat under a funky guitar and bass line reminiscent of the Meters.  Hansell steps out on lead vocals with a catchy hook that builds toward a barrage of analog synths. This blend  of vintage funk and electronica is a theme throughout the album.

“Even though the world slowed down during the pandemic, the hunger to create was stronger than ever for us,”  says Hansell. “Each track had to be malleable as ideas were added and thrown out, but that was part of the  magic. I think we quickly realized that the process wasn’t just about finishing songs, but capturing emotions  that added together to form a cohesive album.”

“The recording process started by tracking drums to an 80s tape machine using only two microphones,” explains Miller. “From these tape reels I made a set of loops that sounded super saturated, vintage and gritty.  The idea was to have these amazing sounding drum breaks that weren't sampled, but uniquely created for the  project.”

The album moves into sonic territory that expands beyond the collaborators previous individual works with  elements of electronica, pop, funk, post-rock instrumentals and synth music. Album guests include Moon  Hooch , who ramp up the vintage funk with their saxophones on “Back to Class” and ZONE Drums on the  tape reel sessions. Fans of Four Tet, Tycho, Caribou, SAULT and even The Black Keys will find a sonic home  on BeesWax's Royal Jelly. Watch album video trailer here.

The group will celebrate the release with a live show at Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, PA on May 22.  Limited in-person tickets will be available as well as video stream. 

Royal Jelly TRACK LISTING

1. Royal Jelly 

2. Certified Juice 

3. Blue Skies Are Gone 

4. Smoker 

5. Out of the Darkness 

6. Back to Class 

7. Dry Heat 

8. Iceberg 

9. Long Shadows 

10. It All Hinges on This 

11. Golden Hour Light