Such Cool Stuff! Interviews Kyle.
 
Taken from : http://www.suchcoolstuff.net/2009/07/kyle-akers-of-antennas-up.html


Powerful, groovy, risk-taking Kansas City music phenomenon Antennas Up is channeling the fever of Saturday nights of the 70s with contemporary electronic sampling and fist-pumping pop. On their debut self-titled album Antennas Up will grab you from the inside and provide a soundtrack unique and strong enough to inspire.

Self-proclaimed nerd and bassist of Antennas Up, Kyle Akers, had a heavy influence on the songwriting of the album. With a knack for video games, fixing computers, and chasing girls out of his league, Akers took his nerdy frustrations to the studio.

Tell me about how you originally got into your craft, Kyle.
I played piano in middle school, and I used to sing too much in high school. So finally my friend gave in and bribed me to join choir (with sweet delicious cookies). From there I picked up guitar then bass, and met these other two jokers and decided to craft electronic rock wonders.

How do you describe your music to people?
If you built a space ship, which was also a time machine, and went back and abducted old-school Stevie Wonder, The Gorillaz, and Gnarls Barkley, then took them to a planet made entirely of speakers, you would have Antennas Up.

What is your favorite thing to do in the whole wide world?
Personally, I'm a bit of a video game nerd, and a bit of a sci-fi nerd. So I would say my favorite thing would probably be to play video games while watching Star Trek: The Next Generation while playing a rock show...while flying...in space...in the future....

What is your biggest challenge when it comes to running your business?
The hardest part about running your own band is probably keeping enough time open to work on the music. Between Bo's booking and managing, my promotions and web stuff, and The Ryantist's tech updates and massive gear research, it's hard to find time to get to sit down and write.

When you were a kid, what did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
An architect. Now I'm an architect...of tunes.

In what way has your community impacted your development as a musician?
The more and more we play as a group, and the more shows we play, the more we meet some of the coolest people we know. Our circle of friends continues to expand with artists: Painters, Musicians, Photographers, Dancers, Writers...the list goes on.

The more we can surround ourselves with people who love and focus on their craft, the more it drives us and inspires us to dive even deeper into music.

What other artists out there do you love?
Ha Ha Tonka, Via Audio, The Dig, The Republic Tigers, Life And Times...So many...so many.

What does your future hold?
A sponsorship from NASA, a suborbital trip around the moon where we establish Antennas Up Base, from which we conquer the Galaxy.

If that doesn't come through, expect a new record next year sometime, and tourings around the Midwest and Northeast quite often.


Hear their songs "High & Mighty Parade" and "Agree to Disagree" here. You can also catch them on MySpace and CDBaby.


Chicks With Guns Reviews Antennas Up

Taken from : http://cwgalbumreviews.blogspot.com/2009/07/antennas-up-self-titled.html

Rating: 4 Guns

Buy On:
iTunes

Written By: PSG

The Antennas Up self-titled new album embodies the spirit of the quintessential young man. The songs are sexy, adventurous, confident, and aware, exactly the perfect young fella. This is an album that can go along with any activity: studying, dancing, sex, brushing your teeth. It’s fresh, fun, and shallow in a good way. There are no heavy messages or moralizing to be found in these tracks, just the beat of an exciting life.

The most impressive feature of the Antennas Up album is the way the artists, make the language of the lyrics work for them, specifically “Agree to Disagree.” The words trip along perfectly with the music. Another place this works well is “Break Me Down,” when it says, “in the nation, all this information.” Linguistic rhythm set to rival master poets’ is used through this album, making it particularly noteworthy.

The vocals on this album are also exceptional. On numbers like “PSA” and “Outta Sight,” the vocals could easily have been recorded off a Broadway stage. They are deep, powerful, and share equal space in the song with the music, a rarity. Often vocals can be overpowered by the music and vice versa, but Antennas Up save themselves from this expertly. Also, particularly in the softer, ambient track “Piano Song” the vocals prove very versatile as they become much more casual.

The best part of the album is the attitude it carries which comes mostly from the music itself. It has an excellent urban sound without becoming “gansta” which makes it relatable to more and more listeners. The thing as a whole is very optimistic, which reflects the outlook of a young man in today’s world very well. The sentiment, “we’ve come too far to let it go,” fits great with the light, youthful idea of the album. “You’re going too fast,” from “Break Me Down” also fits in with this theme. Isn’t that how it feels to be a young person at this point in time? Life can really speed by.

The music which brings across these great attitude-filled ideas is rather unique. The electronic sound never comes across as fake or trying too hard, as computerized music can. The artists obviously have real control over their vision to achieve this sound, and that is something deserving of applause.

If you enjoyed Antennas Up check out: Terra Naomi and TV on the Radio