California Sunrise – Dirty Gold California Sunrise – Dirty Gold (Buy)

I’ve taken quite a liking to San Diego’s Dirty Gold and their sunny, lo-fi afro-pop tunes.  The band’s upcoming EP, ROAR, found its way into my inbox yesterday and has been serenading my ears ever since. While “California Sunrise”, their only track currently available online, is a great song, it doesn’t even compare to the other tracks that accompany it on the EP.

With only one track available on the interwebs, and barely any info on the band members themselves, I decided to have a little chat with guitarist, vocalist, and keyboard aficionado John Ballif.

Officially, Dirty Gold is just three months old, and though John is only 16, he isn’t a stranger to performing.  He and his brother Lincoln (lead vocals, guitar) have been playing music since they were 5 and 7 respectively.  The addition of Grant Nassif on drums rounded out the trio.  As for a bassist, “we have a bass foot organ that we sometimes play live.  We’re still trying to figure out exactly how that’s going to work out.”

Even only a few years ago, it would have been impossible for a trio of teenagers with a single song on the internet and no label backing to garner serious attention.  Enter the blogosphere.  “We owe all of our success to [blogs].  I think it’s so rad to have something and be decided by the people [as opposed to just] a magazine.  The best thing is that it’s a virtual democracy.  Really rad.”

I don’t fully agree about blogs being the reason for their success, though.  Their music is identifiable and easily relatable.  ROAR flows smooth with childish tones while maintaining a mature sense in its composition. When I asked John about deciding to title their debut EP, he replied, “we wanted it to be an opening and for people to be blown away.  It’s hard to ignore a lion’s roar.  There’s also the afrobeat influence in our songs [as well].  I listen to a lot of the Green Arrows, Hallelujah Chicken Run Band, and a bunch of others whose names I can’t pronounce.”

Then there’s the obvious question.  John, Lincoln, and Grant are 16, 18 and 18 respectively.  They can’t legally drink, and if they weren’t on stage, wouldn’t even be allowed in the venues.  As John explained, “it’s never the manager or the owner that’s not [cool with us hanging out].  It’s always the bouncers.  At some shows, they let it happen.  We go outside and chill, but [last] Saturday we had a show at this awesome bar, and there was this this awesome band we really wanted to see.”

Dirty Gold originally got in touch with me to ask about our SXSW plans since they’ll be taking a few days off of school to make the trip to Austin.  I don’t know about you, but my teachers never would have been cool with that.  “Our teachers are super supportive.  They kind of know it’s turning into bigger than a garage band.  If we need to take a week off from school and we can make up the work, they’re fine with it.” The support of their parents and teachers has played a huge role in their budding success.  Not only do their teachers allow them to make up their work, but they also come out to the band’s shows as often as possible.  “They come to all the shows which is hilarious.”

The band has no dates listed on their Myspace page, but rest assured, they’ll definitely be down in Austin for SXSW.  As for the release date of their EP, that’s still up in the air, but it should land sometime in March.