Some Time

When sessions to record the current lineup’s debut “Dancing with the Panther” came in January of 2014, Juan “La Mano” Lameiro had only been in the band for about six months. As Sos often says “We didn’t even know he could sing at this point, let alone that he had such a unique and amazing sound.” On Ferret Winter, the sophomore EP from the Hoy’s current lineup, all of the members tackle new challenges to really show people what this band sounds like.

“I really feel like this album, shows what type of diversity the band is truly capable of; on Dancing with the Panther we were just getting their feet wet” says drummer, Jonathan “Panther” Cordts whose joining the band was instrumental in turning the act into a viable stage performance.

The genre crossover is astonishing and very unique on this 6 song EP that takes you on the Hoy’s wild adventure for just over 30 minutes. The EP kicks off with one of the bands two new singles “Centerfold” while seguing into their first released hip hop track, the city cruising “Some Time”. Next up is the other single from the album and the Hoy’s shot at a folk based song in “Houdini” which features Panther on drums, acoustic guitar and harmonica simultaneously. The Ferret, keyboardist Francisco Padilla, takes the bass from Sos on both this and “Some Time” while Sos show off his lyrical skills and long time love of the saxophone.

After an eerie psychedelic ending to Houdini, things start to get weird. A thundering bass kick and piercing violins creep over what is to become “La Mano Contra La Plancha” the band’s over 8 minutes epic where La Mano sings the whole song completely in Spanish. “I still don’t know exactly what he is saying,” says Sos, “but I feel the meaning in the way he sings it, his tones of angst, anxiety and desperation are unmistakable.”

Next, comes the tribute to the late actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, whose career had a profound effect on many of the band members lives. “As the song began to unfold, it was very clear who it was about and where it was headed.” says The Ferret. La Mano and Sos trade soaring vocal melodies on the song that culminates in their triumphant harmonization over lyrics “And you were so adored / You were so adored / What you go and do that for? / Why’d you walk through that door?”

Last, the song finishes up with catchy Sos coined rocker “Full Circle”, a song with heavy riffs and touchy lyrics; the band’s public decry of dangerous megalomania. We wanted to end the EP with something strong, just like the way we started it. In fact, “Centerfold” and “Full Circle” are the only who songs that you could call alike on the whole disc, and that is only because they are both Pop Rock.

The album was completed with Sos’s long time collaborator and former Hoy Polloy guitarist/engineer Nick “Roman” Romanelli. “For me, it was like Nick never left the band really, he just switched roles,” comments Sos, of his friend whom he started this project with in 2011. The album was completed in Hallendale Beach, at Romanelli Recordings. “The new studio was so conducive to the band’s growth, I’m glad that Roman’s niche has become such an essential puzzle piece to the bands success.” Says Sos.

The final product was accompanied by another set of outstanding artwork by Sos’s “cosmic brother” visual and graphic artist Nick Beery. “After 8 albums together it is unlikely anyone else will ever illustrate my work, he’s the only one who knows how to give the music a run for its money” says Sos. The album will be released on February 6th, 2015, the one year anniversary of the Panther EP‘s release and the singer’s late mother’s birthday, who passed right before the band was formed in late 2010. “My mother was my biggest supporter, how many mom’s would come dance at their son’s rap shows?” comments K Sos, “I’m guessing not many. I never dreamed of being where I am right now and I owe that all to the support of my parents, they just wouldn’t let me give up, haha.”

Sos says the band is a long way from where they’d like to be but is very confident this new disc is about to open Pandora’s Box for them in 2015. Check out Ferret Winter, Part two of the Hoy’s four part EP series. Videos to “Centerfold” and Houdini” can be found on You Tube, as well as show dates at TheHoyPolloy.com.