~Synthphony
April 6th, 2001, 12:26 AM
It's been quite a while since America has produced a truly "alternative" synthpop act. One that breaks all of the stereotypical misnomers associated with electronic based music. One that proves, beyond a doubt, that intelligent songwriting combined with powerfully emotional vocals can work well together in a digitized framework without sounding pretentious. Vocalist Steven Bakos and Synthesist/Producer Ken Porter make up the Arizona-based duo, Intact. Just together for a little over a year now, they have firmly grounded themselves as the band to look for this year, primarily thanks to the uncompromising power of internet word-of-mouth. Ken had been searching for a unique singer to compliment his deft programming skills for a long time, since moving back to the States from Germany (and departing from his band, The Diverge) a few years before. Steven had been combing the local area for a musician to create an infrastructure to model after his beloved 80's influences OMD, Duran Duran, Erasure and Depeche Mode. The two met by happenstance, and the rest is history. After garnering positive website reviews with demo cuts from their debut EP, "That's What I Want," and participating on several compilations, Steven and Ken caught the ears of Synthphony Record's label chief, David Lin, and were promptly signed in late 2000. Intact are poised to make a verifiable splash in the U.S. scene, with songs which will lift your spirit and move your feet simultaneously. Due to Intact's growing popularity, the band has been asked to perform at the first ever "all synthpop" event, Synthcon, (http://www.synthcon.com) in May and their hit song, "Secret Love" has been spinning in dance clubs from coast to coast. We at Synthphony wish them much success and hope they realize all their dreams. Intact's debut album "Inner Workings" [SYN021] is available now!!!