With their airtight arsenal of unexpected yet timeless songs that consistently surprise audiences, NJ-based five-piece pop/rock outfit Tourmaline might just be the antidote to the sanitization of modern mainstream music. Enthusiastic audiences are confirming this in Tourmaline’s home state and beyond, as the band’s burgeoning fan base has blossomed from Tourmaline’s steady touring schedule, strong online presence and a successful full-length album that has already sold over 4,000 copies—truly a grassroots success story.
Though in their late teens and early 20s, Tourmaline’s members have a deep history with music. Band leader and singer/songwriter Matt Rauch and his brother Max have been making music since childhood—Matt has been recording and producing music in a professional environment since grade school, even brushing up against the likes of Jeff Buckley while in the studio. Drummer Max, a long-time guitarist, transferred his talents over to drums for Tourmaline’s lineup, and the brothers have been working together ever since. Rounding out the band’s undeniably adept lineup are Justin Niemiec on bass, Ryan Baratis on guitar and Corey Zaloom on keyboards and piano.
Tourmaline makes what might be dubbed ‘important music.’ Important because of its attention to songwriting and rich instrumentation, but also because of the band’s ability to channel eras both long gone and contemporary in their skillfully crafted songs; Tourmaline’s latest effort recalls the penetrating vocal and lyrical style of The Cure as much as it does the sonic boom of Dashboard Confessional, and the shrewd artistic vision of The Pixies or My Morning Jacket. The band lists artists such as The Who and Ryan Adams amongst its influences and indeed, the music offers a straightforward rock aesthetic that would do either of these acts proud.
Hard-working and fixed on promoting their music in all arenas, Tourmaline are a relentless-touring live act that have been on the road for the past 18 months in support of their two independent releases—Strange Distress Calls, their first full-length album, and follow-up effort The Tourmaline EP, released in July of 2006. The band’s technology-savvy fan base has helped to cultivate Tourmaline’s heavy presence within the online community, with over 1 million downloads and plays through Myspace, PureVolume, AbsolutePunk, Reverb Nation and more.
In a seemingly endless sea of disposable bands, Tourmaline is actually making music lovers want to buy albums again, a healthy breath of traditionalism in an industry that many lament has lost sight of its roots. "We all have a serious need to create and perform our music," says Matt, "and we are going to keep spreading our songs to everyone we can no matter what it takes. We’d be lying to say our goal is anything less than to take back rock and roll."
