TWO SHARE SECOND SINGLE ACCOMPANIED BY MUSIC VIDEO FOR“IN THIS ROUGH”
TWO IS AJA VOLKMAN AND DAN EPAND FROM NICO VEGA
DEBUT EP PULL THE KNIFE OUT, TO BE RELEASED JULY 17TH
WO, the new duo of Aja Volkman and Dan Epand formerly of LA indie rock outfit Nico Vega, release their second single “In This Rough” (produced by Epand and mixed by Rich Costey who has worked with Muse, Sigur Ros and Foster The People among many more) accompanied by a visually powerful music video creatively shot during quarantine and written/directed by Epand.
Of the new single and video, Volkman says, “It’s one of the most honest pieces of music I have ever written. With our video, I truly feel that Dan brought to life the raw emotion that I felt when I first put these words down on paper. I went through some dark times trying to find the kind of surrender that is expressed in this song. What did pain teach me? It taught me that true relief comes from letting go. Pain is the resistance to letting go, for the actual letting go is painless. What is beyond the pain is more simple. Its stillness. And that is the core challenge of life. To learn to let go of everything. For we have no other choice. This experience is temporary. And when you achieve letting go, when you loosen your grip, peace is found.”
“In This Rough” is the lead single from their highly anticipated debut EP, Pull the Knife Out, out July 17 on their own TWENTYTWO RECORDS label.
TWO’S EP, Pull the Knife Out, is written entirely by the duo with Epand producing. The EP also features the band’s first release “Phoenix.” Since Nico Vega, Aja has continued to write on and release numerous projects. Dan has continued playing and writing as well as establishing himself as an accomplished video director, music producer and songwriter in his own right.
Aja Volkman of TWO says, “I took a long departure from heavier music. Mainly because having kids really took all of my creative energy. Dan and I have always remained close and supportive of each other. He has been my cheerleader for over a decade. Over the last few years we have had some things brewing and it finally feels like the right time to open the gates. We are readyto take people on a journey.”
Dan Epand of TWO says, “Aja and I have spent more hours than I can count making music together. When Aja came to me last year ready to work on new material, I knew she meant business. I was on the first flight I could find to meet up with her. Aja is able to string together thoughts and ideas in a way that always impresses and surprises me. She works quickly, effortlessly and confidently. We have been through a lot together, a friendship and a creative collaboration that continues to evolve. It feels so good to put out the first of all this new music. I produced and mixed it myself which in itself was a personal journey with sometimes too much room for self-doubt and obsessive overthinking. Our mantra leading up to this release has been to let go of any preconceptions of outcome. We believe in what we did and to believe in what you create truly is the only thing that matters. Yet, the fact that it means so much to so many of you means the world to us.”
1 Comment
Awesome work you two. Aja, so good to see you stretching out and expressing it. Love you