Based in Austin, Texas, The Sour Notes consists of members Jared Boulanger, Amarah Ulghani, Rene Chavez, Jessica June Kim, Courtney Howell & Erin Howell. They are known for experimenting in many different musical genres accompanied by female guest vocalists.
The Sour Notes formed initially as the moniker for singer/songwriter Jared Boulanger’s solo recording project while living in Houston, Texas. Upon finishing what would later be his debut album The Meat of the Fruit in 2008, Boulanger then asked long-time friend Chris Page to join him in creating a performing band in Austin. There, they met drummer Travis Hackett and bassist Brandi Dipietro through mutual friends and after having played only 8-shows together, recorded their first collaborative effort, second album Received in Bitterness and hit the road on their first East Coast tour that Winter.
In 2009, the band recorded 7-inch single, Never Mix, Never Worry which displayed a new direction for The Sour Notes’ characteristically evolving sound. Later that year, bassist Brandi Dipietro left the band and keyboardist Elaine Greer joined the band during the recording of their third album It’s Not Gonna Be Pretty which was released in January 2010 to much critical acclaim. Following a 2-week tour in support of the album, The Sour Notes were selected as an official showcasing artist at the 2010 SXSW Music Festival, opening for We Are Scientists at the Official SXSWi Closing Party and Daniel Johnston’s only Austin, TX show that summer.
The band spent a majority of 2010 touring with new members Amarah Ulghani, Kelly DeWitt, Erin Mikulenka and Taylor Steinberg, playing over 60 shows in and around the US that year, including the Free Press Summer Fest in Houston, Pitter Patter Fest in Toronto and the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. At the turn of 2011, The Sour Notes released 7-inch single Hot Pink Flares and their fourth album Last Looks, which featured orchestral-pop band Mother Falcon who performed on the album. The band then set out on another East Coast tour and were invited to play at the 35 Conferette in Denton, Texas and the 2011 NXNE Music Festival in Toronto.
2012 brought the release of split 7-inch record Wait//White on DIY label No Play Music with fellow Austin band, Marmalakes and the U.S. television series Shameless featured The Sour Notes songs “Do-ers & Say-ers” and “One Fell Swoop” during it’s second season premier on Showtime. The band added guitarist Rene Chavez and drummer Justin Selman and were again selected as official artists for SXSW & NXNE 2012. That Summer, the band re-released their remixed/remastered fourth album, Last Looks on vinyl and toured the East Coast with new members Jessica June Kim and Courtney & Erin Howell.
The Sour Notes are expected to release their 5th album Do What May in 2013.
