Discography
Click the links below to download the specific album's tracks and view that album's information page.
Biography
You've most likely heard a musician say that the moment they realized music and picked up an instrument was when they heard a life-changing album, or when they went to a stellar show that blew their minds. For Mason Taylor (piano, vocals) of a'tris, his musical awakening was triggered by none other than the great Oscar the Grouch of Sesame Street.
"Around my sixth birthday, the folks bought my sisters and me a tiny keyboard with eight keys, each of which corresponded to the plastic likeness of one of our favorite Sesame St. characters," says Taylor. "I only recall pressing Oscar's key, as he was my favorite. My parents said that the various keys did not have different pitches, so lessons were in order. My tiny keyboard was replaced by a larger one that was later traded for an old upright piano."
This strange churning of fate, music, and Oscar the Grouch led Taylor's early blooming musical interest straight through Berklee College of Music and into the company of Ben Azar (guitar), Nate Lueck (bass), and Travis Abel (drums). These like-minded musicians found a strong communication in their collaboration, and what we now know as a'tris was born.
Based out of Boston, MA, this foursome keeps it real and down to earth, using music as an uncontrived conduit for self-expression. "Every musician wants to feel like they're unique and doing something that's never been done before," say the members of a'tris. "But let's face it; you need to use an agreed-upon vocabulary to describe your music to others. As a musician, you have to come to terms with this as a necessity to discuss your music."
Heavily influenced by the jazz, classical, and progressive rock genres, a'tris not only gives us music as a language, but also as a soundtrack to our lives. "Music and film are inherently intertwined," says Taylor. "I frequently look to film for inspiration and hope that my music has a bit of cinematic flair."
a'tris' newest release, Lensing, is a snapshot of their ongoing and ever-changing journey through the musical lexicon. From the innocent adolescent intermingling with Sesame Street to the inception of a'tris, there is no predictable or projected path for this group; they pave their own paths as they go. "Music is really my life; I'm immersed in it all the time and wouldn't have it any other way," says Abel. "We never stop writing."
press
"a'tris play a multi-textured blend of alt and pop rock, walking a fine line between experimentation and formulation. These guys have "future superstars" written all over them, and I'll be enjoying this album over and over until they're ready to push the envelope a little further."
- Kevin Sellers, Music Emissions
"‘Equally influenced by Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Muse, and Coldplay.' Picture if Radiohead continued on a more mainstream path after OK Computer -- instead of getting all schizophrenic on us -- and it might have sounded an awful lot like A'tris' ‘Lensing.'"
- Greg Prato, All Music Guide
"Extensive rhythmic programming combined with piano, acoustic (and electric) guitars and more. The songs themselves are vaguely math-like, with a definite Gothic pop lean. Mannered moodiness is a fine sound to appropriate. Quite appealing."
- Jon Worley, Aiding & Abetting
"The fact of the matter is when talent meets more talent, with formal training, the result is [a'tris]."
- Isabelle Davis, Weekly Dig
"a'tris's music is complex and full of mood and tempo shifts. Musically it's chardonnay and a fine brie; Of The Commons is a journey of people outside looking in on the rest of us. a'tris evokes the musical theatre of Gabriel-era Genesis, and early Marillion..."
- Joel Simches, The Noise Magazine
"With gripping instrumentals and soft, haunting vocals, a’tris brings alternative to a transcendental level that has been reached by a select few in the past."
- Daniel W. Butler, ACED Magazine
"[a'tris] is astute at making art-pop and implementing creative strokes and melodic-frayed indentations. a'tris is a band that has been spoken about with admiration within the indie music circuit."
- Susan Frances, Hybrid Magazine
"“Lensing,” has a sound that distorts the perception of time and distance, perhaps much like a spotlight on a stage projected towards a curtain and the transitional pause of wondering what the next scene will entail."
- Arthur Groneman, Metro Spirit
radio
'Lensing' broke in to the FMQB subModern Top 100 and received spins at key stations around the country including KFTE (Lafayette, LA), KACV (Amarillo, TX), WEND (Charlotte, NC), KFMG (Des Moines, IA), KTCL (Denver, CO), WBER (Penfield, NY), WKQX (Chicago, IL), XM UP, and WSFM (Wilmington, NC). The album peaked at #91 on the RIYL charts and was in regular rotation at over 150 stations. These are some key peak chart positions:
Chart #2 @ KSTM (Indianola, IA)
Chart #4 @ KJAK (Flagstaff, AZ)
Chart #4 @ KSYM (San Antonio, TX)
Chart #6 @ KSAU (Nacogdoches, TX)
Chart #8 @ WCHC (Worcester, MA)
Chart #9 @ AM 1610 (West Lafayette, IN)
Chart #10 @ WSIN (New Haven, CT)
Chart #11 @ KWCR (Ogden, UT)
Chart #11 @ WSUP (Platteville, WI)
Chart #15 @ KRSC (Claremore, OK)
Chart #17 @ WUMM (Machias, ME)
Chart #18 @ WVCW (Richmond, VA)
Chart #20 @ KNOM (Nome, AK)
Chart #21 @ WLCA (Godfrey, IL)
Chart #22 @ WDWN (Auburn, NY)
Chart #24 @ WRDP (Chicago, IL)
Chart #25 @ WXCU (Columbus, OH)
Chart #26 @ KGAR (Lemoore, CA)
Chart #28 @ WMUR (Milwaukee, WI)
Chart #29 @ CHMR (St. John's, NF)
Chart #29 @ KDUP (Portland, OR)
Chart #29 @ WGBK (Glenview, Il)
Chart #30 @ WKWZ (Syosset, NY)
Chart #30 @ WARY (Valhalla, NY)
