EEP (Texas): 2 new Shoegaze singles, "Hogar" and "Outlast you" just out
For Rosie Varela on Friday, June 26, a lifetime dream finally comes true. On that day, after more than half a century spent studying music and practicing songwriting, her band EEP will release its first single “Hogar” with a full album to follow on July 24.
Varela—who is the front woman of the five piece based in El Paso, Texas—has been waiting for this moment since she first began sneaking into the rooms of her two older brothers to listen to their records when they were out of the house.
Varela is the founding member of EEP. The band formed after Varela approached Ross Ingram, owner, Brainville Studio, Sunland Park, New Mexico, about recording “Hogar.” The project grew from there with Ingram helping Varela recruit the other band members, who met once a month for more than year to complete the album “Death of a Very Good Machine
“They had a really great collection from jazz to early rock to experimental, and I couldn’t get enough,”
She then learned her first instrument, the flute, when she was eight and went on to pick up the oboe, drums, and finally guitar.
Although she has been actively songwriting since 1998, it hasn’t been until recently that her circumstances allowed her to focus on what she loved most: music. And now, at 52 years old and suffering from a genetic eye disease that will eventually will take her eyesight away, she wondered if it was too late.
It was December 2018 when Varela finished writing “Hogar,” which was written for her husband, Justin Oser.
“It’s a love song giving thanks to someone for finding them when they were alone and lost and giving them a home in their heart,”
The songstress thought “Hogar” might be worthy of sending out into the world to be listened to by more than only family and friends. She decided to approach Ross Ingram, owner, Brainville Studio, Sunland Park, New Mexico, to get his opinion.
“I asked him if he thought it was silly to want to record a shoegaze song at my age,”
Ingram was so impressed with “Hogar,” as well as other songs she has since written, he officially joined the band as well as helping recruit other members. Over the next few months, Serge Carrasco was added on guitar; Sebastian Estrada joined on bass; and Lawrence Brown III started contributing drums.
EEP, an eclectic shoegaze band from El Paso, Texas, is pictured from left to right: Ross Ingram, Sebastian Estrada, Rosie Varela, Serge Carrasco, and Lawrence Brown III
The first hurdle had been to gather the band; the next hurdle was scheduling. Time had to be carved out of other commitments such as full-time jobs, families, and participation in other bands. Varela herself is the full-time caretaker for her mother, which demanded much of her time.
Eventually, it was agreed upon to commit to one day a month for an extended session in the studio. So for the past year, EEP have been engaged in recording not only “Hogar” but seven other songs for the eight-song LP. Six of the songs were written by Varela, and the other two were born right in the studio with the entire band contributing.
“The spontaneous writing days are a lot of fun for us. We start noodling with riffs and Ross, Sebastian, and Lawrence get the basic rhythm down. Then, Ross, Serge, and I work on melodies and lyrics. Once we decide the parts of the song, we each record our pieces while experimenting with unusual sounds and textures. It has just been a blast.”
The songwriter describes the sound of EEP as an eclectic mix that incorporates the personal tastes of every member of the band.
“We come from different influences, and every member plays for other projects as well. My influences include blues, classic rock, `60s psychedelic, jazz, dream pop, and shoegaze.”
Ingram and Sebastian are fans of a variety of indie genres, and Serge loves rock and progressive sounds. Lawrence is influenced by everything. He plays drums all over town in jazz, rock, gospel, soul, and hip hop/rap projects.
“Ever since I was a girl, I dreamt about making a record and being part of a band of creatives. This album, and our whole process, has felt like a dream come true for me,” says Varela.
“Hogar” had its premiere on DKFM Shoegaze Radio on Wednesday, June 24 on “Drowned In A Sea of Sound,” a show hosted by DJ Krissy Vanderwoude. She says this about the band, “EEP is creating music that is melodic, mesmerizing, fuzzy, dreamy, fresh and unique, while keeping its roots firmly planted in all the things I love most about shoegaze music.”
On Friday, June 26, the single was officially available for free on Bandcamp as well as all the usual streaming services such as Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, and TIDAL.
This song is off the band’s upcoming new album “Death of a Very Good Machine,” which is scheduled to be released on July 24. It will come out initially in digital format, with vinyl and CDs to follow shortly after the album release. A second single “Outlast You” was released on July 10.
