THE WANTS + UNSCHOOLING

Thrilled to welcome back NYC trio The Wants, formed of members of BODEGA.

With the minimal instrumentation of post-punk as their framework, The Wants inject the hypnotic pulse of Detroit techno into the practice of pop songwriting. Led by Madison
Velding-VanDam’s elusive duality of personas which oscillate between earnestly romantic and unsettlingly deadpan, The Wants naturally forge a dark alley off the beaten path into danceable dissonance. Velding-VanDam’s vulnerable lyrics sometimes foray into the sardonically biting, reflecting the complex cycle of self-reflection of the current generation, while drawing from sources like the satire-of-power in Jenny Holzer’s “Inflammatory Essays”, and the midwestern heart of The National’s frontman Matt Berninger. Anthony “Shake” Shakir’s “Frictionalism (1994-2009)” and John Beltran’s “Ten Days of Blue” drew The Wants into the lush soundscapes and entrancing mood of electronic music.

The Wants’ origins are in the musical and production partnership between drummer Jason Gates and Velding-VanDam who met in 2014 in Bushwick, Brooklyn DIY scene. They bonded over their appreciation for producer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol) and multi-talented producer/artist Angus Andrew (Liars).