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Editor's note: KSL.com does a monthly feature on local musicians/bands in the community. If you have an up-and-coming band/musician in mind, feel free to email your submission to jklopfenstein@ksl.com. Please include a contact email for the artist, if available.SALT LAKE CITY — Two years since releasing its first full-length album, Salt Lake City band Cinders is back with a brand new single, “100 Foxes.”
What begins as a lazy front-porch jam quickly turns into a backyard shout-along session.
Cinders' multi-instrumentalist Austin Harris said the song is about overcoming doubt and a lack of self-worth.
“The words acknowledge that we all go through struggles and hard times,” he said. “Most importantly, it focuses on recognizing that everyone else makes mistakes, too. We have to be willing to look past the shortcomings of those around us, just like we would want them to look past ours.”
The song’s refrain, “100 foxes on fire couldn’t bring you down / One honest mistake or lie wouldn’t take your crown,” draws from the Old Testament story of Samson, who tied torches to the tails of 300 foxes and sent them running through the fields of his enemies.
“Although we changed up the lyric a little bit, the imagery remains the same," Harris said. "If you can make it through that, then there is no need to ever tell yourself that you can’t continue on.”
A similar thread of positivity ran through Cinders’ debut album. “On this record, we decided we didn’t want to set any standards or rules of how the songs should sound,” Harris said.
"Lyrically, the songs on this upcoming album are much more personal to us and show more of what we are feeling. With that said, the songs still came out with that same kind of vibe. We are pretty positive people and so that tends to come out in our songs as well.”
The six-piece band — Harris, Adrian De La Cruz (bass), Brad Bennett (drums), Montana Smith (vocals/electric guitar), Chelsey Powell (saxophone/vocals), Jordan Zabriskie (vocals/acoustic guitar) — expands its sonic palette on the new single, introducing harmonica into the mix and a heavy dose of organ.
But what really sets the song apart is Powell’s strong backing vocals.
“(Chelsey) has an incredible voice and a great approach to creating harmonies,” Harris says. “Hearing the song with and without her was a night and day difference. The song does not carry the same emotional weight when her vocals are missing.”
“100 Foxes” is just the beginning of what the band has in store for its fans. The group plans to release a full album in October and also offered up another single, "Tree House," a few months back.
“To stay up to date with all our releases just follow us on Spotify,” Harris says. “That way, you never miss a single.”
In the fall, Cinders will tour through California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada and Washington. The band will play a few Utah dates before heading out of town, including an August 17 show at the Loading Dock and Glue Fest at Thanksgiving Point to support Operation Underground Railroad on September 29.
Editor's note: KSL.com does a monthly feature on local musicians/bands in the community. If you have an up-and-coming band/musician in mind, feel free to email your submission to jklopfenstein@ksl.com. Please include a contact email for the artist, if available.SALT LAKE CITY — Two years since releasing its first full-length album, Salt Lake City band Cinders is back with a brand new single, “100 Foxes.”
What begins as a lazy front-porch jam quickly turns into a backyard shout-along session.
Cinders' multi-instrumentalist Austin Harris said the song is about overcoming doubt and a lack of self-worth.
“The words acknowledge that we all go through struggles and hard times,” he said. “Most importantly, it focuses on recognizing that everyone else makes mistakes, too. We have to be willing to look past the shortcomings of those around us, just like we would want them to look past ours.”
The song’s refrain, “100 foxes on fire couldn’t bring you down / One honest mistake or lie wouldn’t take your crown,” draws from the Old Testament story of Samson, who tied torches to the tails of 300 foxes and sent them running through the fields of his enemies.
“Although we changed up the lyric a little bit, the imagery remains the same," Harris said. "If you can make it through that, then there is no need to ever tell yourself that you can’t continue on.”
A similar thread of positivity ran through Cinders’ debut album. “On this record, we decided we didn’t want to set any standards or rules of how the songs should sound,” Harris said.
"Lyrically, the songs on this upcoming album are much more personal to us and show more of what we are feeling. With that said, the songs still came out with that same kind of vibe. We are pretty positive people and so that tends to come out in our songs as well.”
The six-piece band — Harris, Adrian De La Cruz (bass), Brad Bennett (drums), Montana Smith (vocals/electric guitar), Chelsey Powell (saxophone/vocals), Jordan Zabriskie (vocals/acoustic guitar) — expands its sonic palette on the new single, introducing harmonica into the mix and a heavy dose of organ.
But what really sets the song apart is Powell’s strong backing vocals.
“(Chelsey) has an incredible voice and a great approach to creating harmonies,” Harris says. “Hearing the song with and without her was a night and day difference. The song does not carry the same emotional weight when her vocals are missing.”
“100 Foxes” is just the beginning of what the band has in store for its fans. The group plans to release a full album in October and also offered up another single, "Tree House," a few months back.
“To stay up to date with all our releases just follow us on Spotify,” Harris says. “That way, you never miss a single.”
In the fall, Cinders will tour through California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada and Washington. The band will play a few Utah dates before heading out of town, including an August 17 show at the Loading Dock and Glue Fest at Thanksgiving Point to support Operation Underground Railroad on September 29.
