Demitasse – Acoustic Group

Demitasse (pronounced “dehmee-toss”) is a two piece acoustic group. It is the side project for Erik Sanden and Joe Reyes of the Texas art rock band Buttercup. Singing at the very limits of their range, the duo’s vocals get sherpa high, mixing melody, spoken word, and noise. The sound is somewhere between Simon and Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, and the Beach Boys on a dark day. Or Elliott Smith on an extremely bright, sunny day. Or John Cage throwing his car keys at Yoko Ono.

Hoping to cure sadness with sadness, Demitasse offers catharsis with their dark-pretty songs and story-telling live shows, where audience members leave changed and smiling. Underlying humor and life-affirming lyrics make the sadness pleasing – much like Roy Orbison smiling through his blacked out glasses while singing“Crying.”

Both Joe and Erik lost their fathers recently, and their debut record grew out of the chaos of caring for loved ones with long term illnesses. Erik’s father was battling to Leukemia, Joe’s Alzheimer’s. In between trips to the hospital a cycle of songs emerged. The recording became something lovely, a place to escape and to celebrate beautiful moments with family.

The album is called “Blue Medicine” a nod to how the blues are often the best medicine when one is suffering emotionally. The first single “Comfy Coffins” is Carpenters-esque in its soft-robed musicality – sweet and comforting. Many of the songs on “Blue Medicine” start small and swell – the coda on “The Blues or Die” may be the most compelling moment on the record. “Fambly” sings of the importance of family, especially when things get weird.

At some point in the midst of the recording Erik said to Joe, “it’s like we are alone, together.”

So Demitasse recorded the record “live” in as much as they always performed tracks simultaneously – two at a time – so that no one would ever be alone while recording. This “Vow of Chastity” spills into their live show. Demitasse wants the audience to leave the show changed, less lonely, high on music. Demitasse is trying to blot out loneness and depression thru music.

In fact, a portion of all of the proceeds generated from “Blue Medicine” go to a non-profit anti-depression charity To Write Love on Her Arms.