Clovis by B-Bop & Rocksteady

This recording was done entirely remotely (Vernon, New Jersey and Brandon, Florida, respectively.) by us two. From November 2019 through September 2020, we would both send song ideas back and forth in the form of home demos for the other to hear and add their own parts. This eventually piqued our interests, and we finally said collectively, “Let’s make a remotely recorded album!”



It was an absolute joy to send and receive files to and from one another, as we haven’t recorded together since the Summer of 2013 (More on that later). You may even say we were giddy to be working together once again, even if from 1200 miles apart. This is of course, separate of the fact that we did meet face-to-face in January 2020, along with our original drummer John Snyder at the house in Vernon for a nostalgia-fueled jam session that lasted well into the night. The first time we ran through songs like “Hurricane Blues” and “Careful, Icarus”. Bits and pieces of “Tin Foil Hat” were even born from that session.



Anyone that’s ever made music knows that a remote recording is not the ideal for doing an album. It feels a bit cold. Whereas music is typically a very warm medium for expression. A dialogue between two or more people. For best results, serve hot, face-to-face. What we both found, however, was that this is a very comfortable method for both of us to freely express our deepest and darkest thoughts. And conveniently enough, we each had some intensely deep and dark thoughts while making this recording. Not by design, but by chance. The result is something that is so personal, it borders on the embarrassing. However, we are fully prepared to reveal ourselves in a way that we are not 100% comfortable with for the sake of this record, which we feel can most likely help others who are feeling similarly. It is truly our hope that somebody can pull themselves out of troubling times with the music contained herein. And as of late, it seems there’s more than enough troubling times for all to be had.



"Over the years I dabbled with sobriety. Now, I wouldn't say I'm addicted to it but I'm certainly dependent upon it."

B-bop & Rocksteady formed in 2002. The band has gone through many phases. From garage rock band, with drummer John Snyder, to experimental 4 track recordings, to comedy duo and to its present format. Brian Smyth and Brynen Sosa are the main song writers and multi instrumentalists. They run the gamut from prog to jazz fusion, from comedy to the abstract and from exciting highs to bitter lows.