The Rupert Selection let the riff blossom into a trip with ‘Taking Turns’

Boston alt-rock trio unleashes its latest whirling single ahead of live show at The Middle East in Cambridge on June 22  

NOW PLAYING: Listen to ‘Taking Turns’ via Spotify x Bandcamp

Additional new music produced by Brian Charles set for release later this year 

OUT NOW: May single ‘I Saw God’ is now playing: YouTube x Spotify 

BOSTON, Mass. [June 22, 2023] -- It, like most songs of significant sonic magnitudes, began with a simple riff. But the early seeds of “Taking Turns,” the latest single from The Rupert Selection, now streaming on all major platforms, eventually grew to an impactful final form that belies such humble beginnings. The same can possibly be said for the Boston alt-rock and psych-grunge band, which continues to find its sound as it travels down a heavier musical evolution, and the contributions of vocalist and guitarist Reilly Somach, bassist Sam Bouvé, and drummer Peter W. Bartash coalesce into a dynamic musical force both on stage and on recording. 

“‘Taking Turns’ started from a verse riff and melody I’ve had forever but for whatever reason could never really find a home for,” says Somach. “One day in practice I just started playing it and Peter and Sam jumped in and it started coming together. I started playing the chorus riff after and 30 minutes later it was done.” 

Recorded at Mad Oak Studios in Allston, Massachusetts, and mixed by Brian Charles with additional engineering by Annie Hoffman, “Taking Turns” officially hit the streams on June 15. It lands exactly a week before the trio plays The Middle East in Cambridge on June 22, following a trend of immediately releasing new music without much build-up or promotional fanfare. For The Rupert Selection, the trio wants the music to do the talking – and resonate with its audience – much more loudly than any social media post or desperate quest for online engagement.    

And so far, the plan is working. 

The whirling “Taking Turns” is the follow-up to last month’s seismic “I Saw God” single and video, which pair with two late-’22 singles in “Then Again” and “Astronauts” in starting to reveal the musical identity and sound of a forthcoming album. As The Rupert Selection continue to crank out new music, one heavy single – and comparisons to Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and other gone-but-never-forgotten ‘90s rock luminaries – at a time, “Taking Turns” serves as a pummeling track that displays another noisy, bombastic piece to a full-album puzzle set for release later this year. The album could hit in late summer, or it could hit in early- to mid-fall. The focus in this moment is to create music that best reflects where The Rupert Selection is creatively right here and right now. 

“Following ‘I Saw God’, this song definitely continues the heavier musical path we’ve been on,” adds Somach. “The theme of this album was definitely to make things bigger, heavier but also emphasize we’re a three-piece. Trying to do more with less. Keeping things simple and not overthinking.” 

Ironically, there is a bit of  heavy thinking across the lyrics of “Taking Turns,” which applies the band’s tripped-out psych-rock leanings and applies it to a head trip. Somach is usually reserved when it comes to opening up about his lyrics, but the musician reveals “Taking Turns” asks the listener to look a bit inward as the song reaches cruising altitude. 

“I think the lyrics give off drug-induced anxiety vibes, maybe a situation where you feel like you’re out of your body and meeting yourself for the first time, viewing yourself from another person’s perspective,” he admits. “Being lost in the void or something.” 

The Rupert Selection take no responsibility for those who step into that void during their live performance, as the band has been known for taking show attendees on a long sonic trip. Blame the riff. 

“So far, our live set is pretty much all new songs with maybe two or three older ones sprinkled in,” Somach concludes. “We’re really enjoying playing these songs live and they are definitely getting the strongest reactions. We can’t wait to keep adding more throughout the year and finally share this new album in its entirety.” 

***

The Rupert Selection is:

Reilly Somach – Vocals and guitar

Sam Bouvé – Bass and additional vocals

Peter W. Bartash – Drums

***

Production credits:

Written by The Rupert Selection

Lyrics by Reilly Somach

Produced and mixed by Brian Charles

Additional engineering by Annie Hoffman.

Recorded at Mad Oak Studios, in Allston, MA

Artwork by Crystal Araiza

***

‘Taking Turns’ single artwork:

Art Credit: Crystal Araiza

***

The Rupert Selection bio:

The Rupert Selection is an American psychedelic grunge band from Boston, Massachusetts.

Comprising Reilly Somach (guitar/vocals), Sam Bouvé (bass/vocals), and Peter W. Bartash (drums), the band has created a loyal following throughout New England with their “original voice” and “sound anchored in hard rock” (Boston Globe). Improper Magazine had this to say about the band’s live shows: “The Rupert Selection sparked the loudest crowd interaction, with fans shouting to fill the pauses in the trio’s deft, dynamic mash of Nirvana-esque blasts and math-prog rhythm shifts.”

Embodying everything you love about ‘90s grunge but with a modern twist, the band has released three EPs and one full-length album. Each release was built upon the previous album but without leaving the band’s original psychedelic rock roots behind.

The Rupert Selection has left its mark on Boston with sold-out venues and heaps of praise from local media – nominated for “Rock Artist of The Year” back to back in 2018 and 2019 by the Boston Music Awards; being a finalist in the Rock and Roll Rumble; being named one of the “10 Acts On The Rise In Boston” by WGBH, and one of “10 Local Acts Making Waves” by Improper Boston.

The future is bright for The Rupert Selection as a new album is in the works, with Brian Charles at the helm as producer. The band will be touring extensively after the release.

Media praise for The Rupert Selection:

The music of The Rupert Selection can be heard on Blood Makes Noise, Boston Emissions, Brooklyn Free Radio, BumbleBee Radio, Click Roll Boom, Code Zero Radio, DigBoston, Fuzzed Out on WZBC, Garagerocktopia on KUCR, Good Music UK, If It’s Too Loud, Indie Rock Dojo, Jammin’ with JenCat on Twisted Road Radio, Loose Canon on 6 Towns Radio, Marc’s Alt-Rock Playground and Original Music Showcase on Mark Skin Radio, On The Town With Mikey Dee on WMFO, PipiloPop, Rising with Skybar on WMFO, Rock N Roll Fables, Screaming For Years, Sunshine Music iRadio, The Whole Kameese, The Alternative Frequencies on Radio Leyland, The Alternative Music Hour on Banks Radio, The Bad Copy, The Retweeter Show on Zeno.FM, Tour Bus Tunes, Turn Up The Volume, Vanyaland, WODY Odyssey Radio, and other fine stations, shows, outlets and platforms.

“Clocking in at just under two and a half minutes, this track is on the short side but no second or note is wasted, instead each packed with intent. ‘I Saw God’ is loud and heavy and the accompanying video does a fine job of what is often impossible and captures the raw energy of a performance – the lighting also helps nail the trippy aspect of the tune.” _Tour Bus Tunes​​

“I love the originality of this band.. .their willingness to do active riffs with each instrument shining with his/her own personality speaks volumes. I highly recommend this song to anyone who loves to melodically jam!” _Indie Rock Dojo

“Nirvana’s poignant teen spirit is all over this mind-boggling grunger. This hellish head-over-heels assault will leave you out of breath in the end. ‘I Saw God’ is a malicious mammoth of a haymaker. Layers of razor-blade riffage, monstrous drumming and anxious vocals bringing the late great Motorhead Lemmy’s growling pipes to mind, combine for a supersonic ballbreaker. Now I’m sure that God was a biblical punk rocker. Hallelujah.” _Turn Up The Volume 

“The Rupert Selection are more than just a band – they are in fact a sonic and melodic experience that you won’t soon forget.” _The Whole Kameese

“It’s almost like The Rupert Selection are time travelers from 1993 that were the forgotten bridge between bands like Nirvana and Alice in Chains and the follow ups like Bush and Silverchair.” _If It’s Too Loud

“So if you miss the early 90’s and bands like Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam’s more abrasive material this might be up your alley. I definitely feel the grunge vibes as it’s dark, moody and driving. Riffs that hit like Soundgarden’s more metal tinged songs. The vocals definitely give off a Layne Staley meets Scott Weiland feel. This would be the perfect band to see live if you are looking for that nostalgia feel and just want to see a loud heavy band that is melodic.” _Blood Makes Noise

“Wonderful… outstanding.” _The Alternative Music Hour on Banks Radio Australia

“Prog-rock power trio The Rupert Selection are a consistently great act with killer riffs and an abundance of volume. [‘Astronauts’] exemplifies what I’ve just described with a cool lead up at the beginning and stellar syncopation between guitarist and vocalist Reilly Somach, bassist Sam Bouvé, and drummer Peter W.  Bartash. You can’t deny the sheer shredding that’s always been a primary trait of this talented band.” _DigBoston’s Best of 2022

“‘Astronauts’ has that fuzzed out, psychedelic alt-hard rock sound that is going to remind you of some of your favorite ‘90s classics. In particular, this one is going to make you think of Hum and early Smashing Pumpkins. It has this wonderful aggressiveness while still being beautiful.” _If It’s Too Loud

“The Boston trio… unleashed a sky-high psych-grunge cruiser called ‘Astronauts’, clocking in at a robust 4:20 in length and serving as the explosive live band’s first new music in three years.” _Vanyaland

***

WEBSITE  .  SPOTIFY  .  BANDCAMP  .  INSTAGRAM  .  YOUTUBE  .  FACEBOOK  .  TWITTER  .  LINKTREE