Toronto rock band Desperate Union has worked with a number of producers and video directors who’ve won or been nominated for several Grammy and Juno Awards and have been involved with albums that have combined to sell millions of copies worldwide. That’s not bad for a group where the two principal members just graduated from high school in June 2010.
“We’re now out of school so we have more time to focus on songwriting and our instruments,” says 18-year-old lead singer and main lyricist Alen Worsoff. “We’re able to dedicate a lot more time to the music, which is useful in every way. When you’re focused, things happen a lot faster.”
Desperate Union’s other founding member is 18-year-old guitarist Adam Spears. The band has rotated through a few rhythm sections, with drummer Jason Pierce and bassist Kyle Teixeira being the latest hired on to fill the role.
Desperate Union's dynamic hard rock music is full of commercial potential. Lead single "Black And White Lies" was recorded at Chicago’s Groovemaster Recording Studios with Johnny K, whose production credits include Disturbed, Finger Eleven, Drowning Pool and Machine Head. He was nominated for a 2009 Grammy for his work with Plain White T's, Staind and 3 Doors Down.
The video for “Black And White Lies” was directed by six-time Juno nominee Don Allan (K- OS, Blue Rodeo), while subsequent promotional clips have been overseen by Michael Maxxis (Bedouin Soundclash, Moneen). MuchMusic has been very receptive to the band’s music, as have radio stations across Canada. “At The Sun,” “Don’t Forget Me” and “Surrender” have also been issued as singles.
“Don’t Forget Me” was co-written by Worsoff and Dave Bassett, whose credits include songs recorded by Shinedown, Meatloaf, Josh Groban, Sevendust, Lisa Loeb, Brian Setzer, Serena Ryder, Brooke Fraser, Kim Richey, Howard Jones and Billy Gilman, among many others. Bassett also produced the single at his Malibu, Calif. home studio.
“’Don’t Forget Me’” isn’t written from my perspective,” explains Worsoff. “I wrote it from the perspective of someone leaving a loved one, like a soldier, and their feelings of missing that person and not forgetting them.”
“’Surrender’ was sort of a lyrical experiment with stream of consciousness writing,” Worsoff says of another earlier single. “I wasn’t trying to explain anything or write a story. It was pure expression without any logic to it. I made the lines make sense in a logical way, but it’s very figurative. The words express something, but don’t logically say it.”
“Tie Me To The Ground” was recorded with Toronto producer/mixer Dave Bottrill, a three-time Grammy winner whose name can be found on albums by Peter Gabriel, Godsmack, Kid Rock, Mudvayne, Joni Mitchell, Coheed and Cambria, Silverchair, Staind and Tool.
“He’s unbelievable as a producer and it was a lot of fun working with him and getting his ideas,” capabilities and live performance abilities. What we really need right now is a marketing push. Once we get that, I think we’ll be fine.”
You can find out more about Desperate Union, view its tour dates and hear some of its music on its website (www.desperateunion.com), MySpace (www.myspace.com/desperateunion), Facebook (www.facebook.com/desperateunion), YouTube (www.youtube.com/desperateunion) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/desperateunion) pages.
Here’s the track list for MMX:
1. “Don’t Forget Me”
2. “Armistice”
3. “Like Water”
4. “Bitter End”
5. “I’ll See You”
6. “Tie Me To The Ground”
7. “Surrender”
8. “Black And White Lies”
9. “Break Before I Bend”
10. “Don’t Forget Me (Extended Version)”
Management Contact: mayatarom@hotmail.com
All Other Information: desperateunion@hotmail.com