String Machine
Raavi
Skylar Pocket
Steve Kelly

The music of String Machine is rapturous and inviting. You’ll find an undeniable magic within each note,
a palpable energy owed in part to its creative process. Hallelujah Hell Yeah is an album of joy,
vulnerability, and forgiveness. Through this inventive indie rock, seven friends manage to transport you
to the bedrooms, basements, and home studios in which this was all created, conceptualized, and
recorded.
This recording is the band’s representation of what it means to be grateful that one is alive, regardless of
whether that carpe diem spirit is sourced in optimism (“Hallelujah!”) or nihilism (“Hell Yeah!”). It’s a
powerful statement that rings especially poignant in such uncertain times.
String Machine isn’t shy about sharing their heart with you, and that confessional spirit continues on
Hallelujah Hell Yeah. “The album was inspired by moments of dealing with anxiety surrounding a lot of
personal stuff. Usually, my instinct when anxious is to keep myself busy. Writing songs was the middle
ground where I could solve inner-turmoils while feeling productive,” Beck said.
Reconnecting with journaling enabled Beck to let down his guard, and for that, Hallelujah Hell Yeah has
an uniquely spirited driving force. “This writing experience felt a lot more honest & confessional. Instead
of writing blurbs of nonsense & attaching meaning in a subconscious archetypal way, I tried to be more
deliberate about having purpose in what I sing/write,” he said. “Every song has a place. I’d write the music
and hum melodies until they were catchy enough to be stuck in my head. Putting the words to the music
this way was a lot different than what I’d done before.”
Each single stands as a snapshot. Opener “Places to Hide,” which finds liftoff in its twanging strings and
unexpected use of trumpet was written beachside in Ocean City, Maryland. “Touring In January'' was
written during a solo tour in the Poconos and uses keys, horns, and a bittersweet view of touring to
create a moment of emotive triumph. When it's all pieced together, you’ll feel as if you’re an
eighth member of String Machine, paying witness as a band reaches their fullest, glorious
potential.
Since the release of Death of the Neon, String Machine has garnered praise from publications including
Pitchfork and GoldFlakePaint. They’ve played with acts including Ratboys, Wild Pink, Slaughter Beach
Dog, Another Michael, and Mandancing.

21+ admitted