The Dirty Heads’ new album ‘Cabin by the Sea’, which debuted in the Top 20 of the US Billboard charts, is set for release in the UK on 3rd September, 2012, on Five Seven Music. Says Dirty Heads front man Jared “Dirty J” Watson – “It starts with the title. No matter where you are or what’s going on, when you hear this record, we want to transport you to this place, this ‘Cabin by the Sea.’” The first single from the album ‘Spread Too Thin’ is quickly shaping up to be one of the biggest tunes of the season in the band’s native US. Debuted by KROQ LA earlier this spring, the track is currently #14 on the Alternative chart in the States with a cumulative audience of over 38 million listeners.
For the SoCal rock/reggae/hip-hop band, Cabin represents more than just good vibes. It’s the culmination of years of hard work and endless touring of their native US, and a chance to refine and improve on their breakthrough, 2008’s Any Port in the Storm. That’s not an easy act to follow – their debut album featured one of the decade’s biggest rock singles, ‘Lay Me Down’ (which spent eleven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Chart, a record for an independent release and more than any single that year by anyone, including The Black Keys, Kings of Leon and 30 Seconds to Mars) and a shout-out in Rolling Stone as one of year’s best new bands. But the Heads knew better things lay ahead. “Last time was our first time in the studio, working with a producer,” says Watson. “This time out, we nailed it. We trimmed the fat and got the sound we were always going for.”
Cabin by the Sea was co-produced by Mario C and Lewis Richards – splitting time between Sonic Ranch Studios in Texas and 17th Street Recording Studios in Costa Mesa, CA. Maintaining the diversity from their first album, Cabin ranges from sunny acoustic pop (the title track) to hip-hop with mariachi horns (‘Disguise’) and feel-good reggae (‘Day by Day,’ ‘Your Love’). The album’s defining trait? An insistence on positivity and good vibes (with an herbal assist), a philosophy summed up nicely by the single, ‘Spread Too Thin.’ “It’s about having too much going on, work or whatever is stressing you out,” says guitarist Dustin “Duddy B” Bushnell. “It’s about needing a breather in life.”
While Port contained an expanded roster of guest stars, from M. Shadows to Billy Preston (best known for his work with the Beatles), Cabin keeps the guest list tight. Still, a few A-level names make an appearance, including a return engagement from Rome (from Sublime with Rome), Del the Funky Homosapien, Kymani Marley and Hasidic hip-hop star Matisyahu.
The recognizable guest stars, big tours and hit songs are a long way from the group’s humble origins in Bushnell’s garage. Back in 1996, school friends Watson and Bushnell started their musical career almost on accident. “It was hilarious: I was in a punk band, but Jared had no musical inclination,” remembers the guitarist. “Then one day he started rapping over these cheesy hip-hop songs I’d make with Casio beats, and I’m like, wow, you’re really good!” The group, later rounded out by percussionist Jon Olazabal, drummer Matt Ochoa and bassist David Foral, eventually outgrew the funny rap vibe and developed a local following as an acoustic hip-hop group. Surprisingly, the Heads grew to be very successful on a small label with little to no resources, an indication of their organic momentum and appeal. The Dirty Heads are now signed to a worldwide deal with Five Seven Music.
THE DIRTY HEADS’ album ‘Cabin By The Sea’ will be released in the UK on 3rd Sept 2012, having just debuted in the US Billboard charts at #18 and at #3 in the Independent charts. Single ‘Spread Too Thin’ is out on 8th July and you can check out a video with special Behind The Scenes footage from the recording of the album below.
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