The Jersey boys of the pop-rock outfit The Stolen have come a long way since they were ripping covers of classic rock anthems and Motown tunes at their elementary school’s Fifth Grade Fun Night. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Dominick Cuce, guitarist Rob Chiarappa, bassist Kevin Smart, and drummer Mike Chiarappa. Before they honed their songwriting skills to craft inviting pop hooks and kinetic guitar melodies, they started off as a group of friends exploring their love of music by learning and performing AC/DC songs together. Almost 10 years later, after playing countless shows locally, the band released Adults in 2013, which they recorded with producer/engineer Jesse Cannon (Animal Collective, The Misfits). This also marked their first release with bassist Kevin Smart. In 2015, they reached a turning point with the release of their single “Chardonnay,” recorded with producer Paul Levitt (All Time Low, Have Mercy). This began a transition from their pop-punk beginnings to put more focus on their pop sensibilities. Spring of 2016 marked the arrival of their self-released, self-produced EP I’m So Dead, showcasing their shift from a fast, loud pop-punk band to a more groove driven, pop-rock sound. It also landed them recognition from MTV who called the EP “the perfect pop-alt soundtrack to take you into the summer season.” They recorded at Cannon’s New Jersey studio but produced and mixed the album themselves. Meanwhile, between recording stints, the band continued touring aggressively whether it be self-booked stretches with their peers, touring/performing with acts like Neon Trees, The All American Rejects, The Academic, Jake Miller, Punchline or even following Vans Warped Tour to reach new fans and compete to see who could sell the most CDs and merch. These efforts show the bands perseverance and hustle that they display on and off the road. Fragile Heart (released May 2017) is the band’s most collaborative effort to date and, once again, done with a DIY mentality with the drums and vocals being predominantly recorded from home. With Fragile Heart, The Stolen have accomplished something that sounds both familiar and comforting with an ’80s pop vibe that is simultaneously young, fresh and new.  Their single “Overboard,” (released Feb 2018) which hit No. 21 on the iTunes Alternative Chart, perfectly illustrates where the band’s sound is going.

that internet boy-band

Tinkering  away  in  his  bedroom  studio,  songwriter/producer  Gabe  Mouer  aka  Patternist,  has  lofty  ambitions;  package  nuanced  human  stories  into  concise,  three-and-a-half  minute  pop  songs.  Flowing  from  romantic  pinings  to  troubled  ruminations  on  mental  illnessto  stories  of  drug-addled  hallucinations  and  the  brevity  of  life,  Mouer’s  introspective  lyrical  stylings  contrast  the  slick  guitars,  rhythmic  synths,  &  danceable  beats  that  make  up  Patternist’s  sound.  Dubbed  “blithe  bedroom  pop,”  by  Idolator,  Patternist  has  been  releasing  songs  since  2015  beginning  with  his  self-produced  debut  EP  Youth  is  Fading.  The  EP,  which  spent  several  weeks  atop  CMJ’s  Top  200,  was  quickly  followed  by  a  string  of  singles  garnering  support  from  outlets  such  as  The  Huffington  Post,  PopMatters,  and  Idolator,  in  addition  to  several  Spotify-curated  playlists  including  Fresh  Finds,  Indie  Rock  All-stars,  and  Discover  the  Unknown. 

At the end of 2015, best friends Richard Mier (lead guitar) and David Topete (bass) looked at each other during a Walk the Moon concert and said “we can do this." After weeks of jamming in their gear stuffed rooms, they teamed with drummer Max Huss, who jumped over from David's brothers band, and found singer/songwriter Pat McCloskey through Craigslist (I know right?). Hailing from Chicago with a pretty falsetto and stories of too many bizarre nights, Pat brought the pop dynamic the band needed to project their neo-80s rock into the modern age. On September 1, 2016, the band was officially formed. With their new found chemistry, the band quickly began polishing their songs for the stage and studio. Their goal was simple: make the tracks for your party/kickback/heartbreak playlist. Their debut EP “Hold on the Highs” was released January 6th and they look forward to tour the Western Part of the US in 2017.

My debut album “Nights Like These” is OUT NOW!!