Alternative-rock quartet Satellite partnered with ARTISTdirect this week to exclusively premiere the performance video for “Turning On My Own” from their debut LP, Calling Birds which came out in March through Descendant Records. The band blends boldly vulnerable lyrics with anthemic but finely textured pop and folk. Frontman Steven McMorran has a creative history of collaborating with everyone from Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo to Joe Cocker and Every Avenue.

 

WATCH: Satellite, “Turning On My Own”

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“It’s a hell of a thing to wake up and realize what you’re capable of doing in secret. Its not a judgement. Its a realization of a paradox in me. The song was just to admit that for many reasons I felt detached from everything that I was supposedly loyal to…. like my family. But I liked how independent it felt to admit I meant it. It made the loyalty a choice. So the phrase Turning On My Own has a double meaning.” – Steven McMorran on the meaning behind, “Turning On My Own” 

 
Most recently, Steven McMorran collaborated with Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo on his English-Japanese self-titled LP called, Scott & RiversSteven co-wrote the first track, Break Free stating, “The best part about that experience was seeing how he built this story that we sort of outlined together… and I got to hear the word ‘perambulations’ fit perfectly into a verse.” 

Satellite consists of Steven McMorran (vocals/guitar), Mitch Allan (guitar), Josh Dunahoo (guitar), and Erik Kerte (bass). The band formed in 2010 around songs written by Steven McMorran and the production aesthetic of esteemed songwriter, Allan, with input from bandmate, Dunahoo.

 
“Satellite’s Steven McMorran eases between cowboy craggy and a keening falsetto, sounding like Bon Iver after a strenuous season of rustling cattle or maybe just wearing a lot of denim.” MTV Buzzworthy
“Americana, indie rock and singer-songwriter styles all come to mind. Poetic and dramatic, “Brooklyn” bridges the gap between all of those genres. The seductive melody reminds me of Chris Isaak while the pulsating energy wouldn’t feel out of place in the alternative world. Rather than grumbling and yelling, though, frontman Steven McMorran possesses a dynamic voice that conveys a sense of urgency.”CMT Edge
 
“Lead singer and chief songwriter Steven McMorran is a modern-day pop music philosopher.”CBS/last.fm
 
“With a sound like One Republic on steroids, these guys are poised to capture the pop charts this year.” Examiner LA

Satellite on Tour:

May 14          The Masquerade           Atlanta, GA
May 20          Local 506                      Chapel Hill, NC
May 21          The Camel                    Richmond, VA
May 22          DC9                              Washington, DC
May 26          TT the Bear’s Place     Cambridge, MA
May 28          Rumba Cafe                 Columbus, OH
May 29          Musica                          Akron, OH
May 30          Mickey Finn’s               Toledo, OH
May 31          Pike Room                   Pontiac, MI (Detroit)
June 4           Hotel Cafe                    Los Angeles, CA
June 5           Cafe Du Nord               San Francisco, CA
June 7           Barboza                       Seattle, WA
June 8           Media Club                   Vancouver

June 9              Doug Fir Lounge                 Portland, OR
June 11            Rockwood Music Hall        New York, NY

Satellite: www.wearesatellite.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter #callingbirds |YouTube 

Purchase Calling Birds: iTunes | Amazon

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