BURN TO SHINE

Signs of What’s To Come

By: Jonathan Widran

There’s something explosive and soul stirring about that moment when an indie band, after a long stretch of paying their dues, breaks big out of the “regional success story” realm with confidence, conviction and awareness of the sacrifice it takes to get there. If the ten tracks on Burn To Shine’s debut project are Signs of What’s To Come, just imagine the edgy, melodic and hard rocking possibilities the ....Louisville.., ..Kentucky.... based powerhouse will blast through with in the future.

Driven by the collective vibe and vision of founding members, lead singer Jonathon Streander (aka “Stre”) and bassist Joe Wheeler, Burn to Shine—a staple on the Louisville club scene since 2007--amps up big time with the guiding hand of producer Toby Wright, a “rock star” in his own right via his multi-platinum behind the boards work over the years with many of Burn’s biggest influences, including Alice in Chains, Korn, Metallica, Slayer, 3 Doors Down. Taking the band out of its Midwest/Southern comfort zone for a month of sessions at Resonate and Ocean Studios in Burbank, California, Wright beefed up the vibe of Burn To Shine’s original demo—a sound Stre calls “acoustic hard rock—with a whole new acoustic/electric edge.

He also gave the lead singer greater emotional power by dropping his vocals a step to full baritone range, and helped shape the lyrical tone of the set by inspiring Stre to write two of the collection’s key songs, the soulful, harmonic power ballad “Sunspots” (a duet with vocalist Megan Masterson) and the inspirational, edgy and hypnotic title track, which taps into the reality of a band overcoming obstacles to success and determined to let the music take them beyond what they once dreamed possible.

Other essential tracks that caught Wright’s attention and are featured on Signs Of What’s To Come include “Hear Me Now,” a mix of vulnerability and blistering edge that reflects on the trauma of communication in relationships where screaming is the only way to get a point across; and “Forgotten,” a meditative, hard hitting reflection on the reality of isolation, loneliness and depression. On the whole, the album is about the pendulum of emotions, darkness to optimism, that forms an honest depiction of the moodswings of life.

“The song ‘Signs of What’s To Come’ didn’t start out as a conscious effort to talk about those struggles,” says Stre, “but as it evolved, I began to write a story that would capture the feeling of being at the start of something big, where we feel we are going, and about our determination to make this band our full time career. Pondering how far the music will take us. At first, it was just amazing to have the chance to work with Toby, who had his hands on some of the biggest rock albums of recent years. He was a great inspiration, but beyond that, we benefited from his instincts and expertise and the great ....L.A..... musicians and engineers he brought in to help us develop our sound.”

When Wright first heard Burn To Shine’s acoustic based demo—which he received from Dan Colucci, a manager Joe Wheeler knew from a previous band situation—the producer was immediately drawn to what he calls the two most important elements of any successful band: a unique lead voice and good songs. Before bringing them out to ....Burbank...., Wright flew to ....Louisville.... for a few days of rehearsals and working on arrangements. The good news about the indie band’s tight budget is that Signs of What’s To Come became by default a semi-live recording—a refreshing change from artists who prefer the digital perfection of Pro Tools and constant editing, a vibe Wright feels leads bands to become generic.

“From the start, I thought Burn To Shine’s sound was right in the pocket, very melodic and accessible yet with just enough edge,” says Wright, “but what really drew me in were Stre’s compelling vocals. I felt they might just capture the hearts and minds of rock listeners. In the end, though, it’s all about the songs no matter who is producing them, and I saw the mainstream potential of Burn To Shine’s material. There was also raw young talent there that I felt would be worth developing, and as a veteran producer, that’s truly the lifeblood of my business. We all had a great camaraderie in the studio, and it was fun working with a band that was so open to learning from someone like me who has helped others get to the next place in their careers.”

Streander and Wheeler met shortly after high school and began doing acoustic shows around ....Louisville.... for fun before their lives took different paths. While Wheeler began playing in bands in ....Nashville...., Streander went off to ....Indiana.. ..University..... When Stre moved back to town after college, circa 2002-2003, the two hooked up and collaborated occasionally, writing and performing what they call “country flavored, Wilco-ish” rock. They put together some songs and recorded an album of 20 tracks but realized they had no way to release it.

Chase Dabney, who booked them at venues throughout Louisville, loved their vibe so much that after one of their shows, he took them in the bathroom at a club and started riffing on his guitar as an impromptu audition for what ultimately evolved into The Willing and then, Burn To Shine.

The three became serious about recording and performing together and wrote ten songs in their first month. Working with their original drummer, they began gigging at hotspots like Uncle Pleasant’s and Phoenix Hill Tavern. In addition to expanding beyond the confines of their hometown to play dates in Columbus and, more recently, The Ritz and Blondie’s in Detroit, Burn To Shine began opening shows for numerous national acts passing through town: Devon Allman (Greg Allman’s son), Vast, Bone Pony, Outspoken, Flaw, Kittie, Hollywood Undead, Pat Travers, Days of the New and Sponge. They’ve also scored radio airplay on stations like The Fox 93.1 in Louisville, 820 The Edge in Evansville, Indiana and 89X-88.7 Detroit.

“As an indie band starting out without any major label support, our best bet was to just play as many gigs as we could to build a following,” Stre says, “and we’re so excited that we now have such a loyal and growing fan base. As we gear up for the possibilities of touring beyond our region and opening across the country for national acts, we keep the focus where it’s always been--on strong songwriting and our real bread and butter, our live show. We’re very high energy, heavy on movement and action, and always try to find new, exciting ways to draw the crowd in. We remember that as an up and coming band without major airplay, many people in any given audience aren’t familiar with our songs. So when we get onstage, our job is to win over new fans, and that involves giving every show everything we’ve got.”