Mono Sources is a synthesiser band from Long Beach, CA, founded by longtime friends and collaborators Brett Bixby and Jesse Jason. After working together on Bixby’s release of City Lights and touring extensively with AM and Shawn Lee, the two began creating synthesiser-based music as a form of “music therapy.” Along with Justin Burrow and Denny Weston Jr., the band’s 2019 debut introduced a cinematic, brooding sound that has since evolved into the expansive sonic landscape of their new album, Before Now or After.
After a journey encompassing collaboration during the pandemic era and personal evolution, Mono Sources has released their latest album, Before Now or After. The Long Beach-based band, led by collaborators Brett Bixby and Jesse Jason, presents a richly layered collection of songs that explore themes of time, memory, and transformation. Mono Sources—Bixby (vocals, keyboards), Jason (keyboards), Justin Burrow (guitars, synthesisers), and Denny Weston Jr. (drums, percussion)—emerged from the local scene with their self-titled debut in 2019, blending temperamental synthesisers with a wide array of guest vocalists. Their second album, Before Now or After, sees the band building upon that foundation with a more expansive and evolved sound.
The new album, written and recorded during the 2020 global lockdown, is an exploration of the passage of time, both personal and universal. The band’s collective creative process involved sending tracks between their home studios, allowing each member to contribute their unique sonic influences to the project. “This album really came out of a response to the savage reality of the pandemic,” says Burrow. “We stayed connected through these musical fragments, which eventually took shape as an album.”
Singles like “Ninth Path,” “Our Own,” and the latest release, “Perfect Silence,” exemplify the album’s dynamic range, from contemplative verses to explosive choruses, brimming with synthesisers, textured guitars, and driving rhythms. Before Now or After is a genre-bending album, blending elements of synth-pop, rock, and electronic experimentation. The album is also rooted in deeply personal experiences. Bixby, reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on his creative process, says, “When everything ground to a halt, we found ourselves turning inward, using music to make sense of the outside world.” He adds, “Themes of time, memory, and living in the moment run throughout this album. It’s about realising that the ‘now’ is fleeting, while the past and future continue to stretch out endlessly.”
Before Now or After is a testament to Mono Sources’ ability to evolve as musicians and storytellers. The instrumental tracks, including “Tomorrow Ago” and “Wordless Wonder,” showcase the band’s commitment to sonic exploration, with Weston’s adventurous percussion propelling the songs into new territories. Guest artist Sas Liska (vocals on “Enemy Fatigue”) and bassist David Sutton (on “The Last of Daylight”) also bring fresh energy to the album. As a cohesive whole, Before Now or After is a deeply introspective album that invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences with time, change, and connection. Jason sums it up: “The existence of ‘before,’ ‘now,’ and ‘after’ all happens at the same time. This album is our way of capturing that.”
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