“The soul-searching signature track (“Dream Catch Me”) from debut Hand Built by Robots develops a breezy hook so effortlessly infectious, it’s destined to soar beyond triple A radio, where it’s building right now.”—Billboard

“If Prince was an English hippie who was obsessed with Bobby McFerrin-esque percussion and had long cinnamon dreadlocks, you’d have Faulkner.”—Rollingstone.com

Sea Trials, the major label debut from rising young Chicago-based rock band Absentstar, will be released April 15 on Canvasback Music/Columbia Records. Absentstar’s four-song EP is already generating attention, as the Cleveland Plain Dealer says, “the band is sure to bring a bit of air to all those radio-music addicts burnt out on the sugar-pill pop sound.” Absentstar is on tour now and will begin playing in support of Third Eye Blind on April 1. Please see reverse for a complete schedule.

Formed in 2005, Absentstar is Derek Ingersoll (vocals), Andy Dixon (guitars), Marshall Hanbury, Jr. (guitars), Heath Hamilton (drums) and Noel Arnim (bass/vocals). While some of the members met and started playing music together in their Bedford, Indiana grade school, it wasn’t until 1998 that they moved to Chicago with the intention of recording and touring together as a band.

By 2005, the group—now expanded to five members—had released its own indie debut, To All That Buy In, premiering Absentstar’s distinctive blend of U.K. musical refinement and American rock & roll energy.
Sea Trials was recorded with singer/songwriter/producer Dan Wilson at the Terrarium Studio in Minneapolis and mixed by Michael Brauer (John Mayer, Coldplay, My Morning Jacket, among others). Wilson, whose solo debut will come in October on American Recordings, took home a Song Of The Year Grammy® in February for co-writing “Not Ready To Make Nice” with the Dixie Chicks.

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For more information please contact Carla Sacks, Ross Clark or Brendan Gillen at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000.