The wrock (Wizard rock) world has been buzzing for months now. That's no doubt due to approaching Portus 2008, a huge Harry Potter convention taking place Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas this coming July. Not only does this year's Portus offer a slew of things to do this year, but they also offer a wrocking dance party! This year, they feature the wrock line-up of talented musicians including: The Mudbloods, Catchlove, Ministry of Magic, The Whomping Willows, The Remus Lupins, and of course, Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls.
Coincidentally, yesterday was the birthday of Christian Calderia, Oliver Boyd's secret Muggle identity. And word has reached the Wizard Wireless that some creative ideas are coming out of the Oliver Boyd camp. Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls released their latest and greatest song, "Whoa Is Me," a very electronic-oriented lament from the perspective of Cho Chang. But this style of composure isn't in the tried and true Oliver Boyd style! There must be an explanation!
Turns out, the explanation is enthralling. Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls have just announced their latest album project: Hogwarts: Stories Within The Walls. Essentially, Stories Within The Walls is a series of EPs which are to be released separately, each highlighting one of the different houses in Hogwarts. Each EP will be titled after its respective house (Ravenclaw EP, Gryffindor EP, et. al.), and all will be separate entities from one another. Yet, once the project has been completed, each EP will be interconnected to the others, forming a whole series; combing four smaller pictures to enlighten listeners with the bigger picture.
This is an impressive task to take on by any band (see: Coheed & Cambria). But the stakes are higher for Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls since this is the story of J.K. Rowling, and the music will need to stay as in canon as possible. Definitely a tricky task. Which is why Oliver Boyd and the Rememralls are raising the ante by changing up the musical style.
"I decided this time around not to hold back on my creative ideas," Calderia said in his latest Oliver Boyd blog. "I wouldn't stop myself from writing or releasing a song because it 'wasn't OBatR sounding enough....' [Whoa Is Me] is definitely not a typical sounding OBatR tune, but that's what I love about it. That's what I want from this quartet of EPs. I want to explore all kinds of sounds and moods."
"Whoa Is Me" definitely doesn't follow The Remembralls' mold for songs, instead veering off in the direction of more attuned to the style explored by Talons & Tea Leaves, Calderia's collective band with the famous Texas wrockstar Catchlove. But if The Remembralls' last two albums speak for the future, fans can only expect excellent things.
The Hogwarts: Stories From Within The Walls collection is due to be released piece by piece over the next several months, beginning with (my favourite house) the Ravenclaw EP. Completition for the Ravenclaw EP is set somewhere within the next month! Just in time for its debut release at Portus 2008 in Dallas, where North Texas natives will be sure to see Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls, along with many other excellent wrockers (though Harry and the Potters will be mysteriously absent... busy with other tasks). Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls will also be offering their most recent endeavour, Open At The Close EP, as well as their last full length album, Back For The Fight, at Portus this coming July.
You can find out more information about Portus 2008 at the official website. Of course, you can also check out Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls' new song, "Whoa Is Me," from the Ravenclaw EP on their Myspace right now!
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