seed water sun - electronic press kit

the basic details

Artist Name: the last optimist

Location: Boston MA

Release Title: seed water sun (LP)

Release Date: June 30, 2023

Label: Last Optimist Records (independent)

Musician Names/Instruments: Markus Belanger (Guitar, Vocals, Drums, Bass). Special thanks to Danielle Pinals for singing with me on ‘bloom now sweet flower’ and ‘not a sound.’ Special thanks to Doug Kwartler for instrumentation (upright bass, piano, electric guitar, drums, accordion, synths, glockenspiel, lap steel, banjo, percussion, and backup vocals).

Producer Name(s): Doug Kwartler, Hollow Body Studios, Chelmsford MA (https://www.hollowbodystudios.com/)

Similar/RIYL: Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Decemberists, Phoebe Bridgers, Finnegan Tui, Julian Baker, Ani DiFranco, (aspirational list written with extreme humility)

Genre(s): Singer/Songwriter, Indie, Folk, Emo

the songs 'seed water sun'

~a thousand clover leaves~

~one night in Belfast~

~bloom now sweet flower [with Danielle Pinals]~

~shame you left me~

~not a sound [with Danielle Pinals]~

~only two ways out~

~on monkton ridge~

~hermit in the maples~

~love is like a simile~

press

The Big Takeover

Markus “has carved out a niche with a unique delivery and down-to-earth lyricism that is entirely his own” and “is sure to help find comfort and solace for many listeners.” by Cody Conard

OnStage Magazine

The Big Takeover

“Championing a heart-on-the-sleeve subgenre known as Sad Folk.” by Kath Galasso

Obscure Sound

The Big Takeover

Living Life Fearless

“Empathy is hard to access when we can’t possibly imagine what something really feels like – but music can do that for us and this little song has some work to do in the world.” Interview with Mike Mineo

Living Life Fearless

“How can you work under the moniker The Last Optimist and at the same time champion a sub-genre that some critics call ‘sad folk?” by Ljubinko Zivkovic

For Folk's Sake

Living Life Fearless

For Folk's Sake

“Sad folk’ songwriter, poet, and activist Markus Belanger is the Last Optimist - a moniker that he had conjured during dark times for the globe.” by Jonathan Frahm

Tatoo.com

Living Life Fearless

For Folk's Sake

“Opening on a tender, glittering acoustic guitar topped by Markus’ evocative voice - the harmonic flow shifts with the entry of a dark rhythmic component, taking on the desperate colors of a panic attack.”

by Randall Radic

The Farsighted

Raised by Cassettes

“The Last Optimist crafts indie folk flavored singer-songwriter fare that’s unique, extremely well written, and quirky.”

By the painted man in Music

Raised by Cassettes

“In the world today, it's tough to be an optimist - but not only is The Last Optimist offering up some hope here, there is a sense of being able to listen to this EP as a distraction, to forget about that outside world for a bit. While it won't make your problems go away, it can help to ease your mind and perhaps see them a little bit differently.”

By Joshua Macala

the links

Official Website: www.lastoptimist.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LastOptimist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lastoptimist2021/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KnWqHWFOY2idY3mwrvDQJ?si=hGVSiBjzQ3i6kIUrUuuugQ

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lastoptimist

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thelastoptimist

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-last-optimist/1562920829

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B092LBK373/the-last-optimist

Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/156040742

qobuz: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/the-last-optimist/download-streaming-albums

Artist Contact: Please use form at bottom of the home page and I will get right back to you

artist quote

‘Seed Water Sun’ is an album that gives nod to the challenges we all face but moves beyond them with hope and resilience. These songs do not shy away from the troubles of our times but we can’t always rage. We also need the salve, the antidote, the solace so we can heal and get back out there. The album spans the age old influences of Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, and the transcendentalists while simultaneously embracing the future sounds heralded in by Phoebe Bridgers and Julian Baker. My hope is that these words help chart the path to resilience and peace and healing. These little songs have a lot of work to do.

-the last optimist [?]

artist biography

Raised on the DIY folk punk activism influences of Ani Difranco and Fugazi, Markus got his musical start in the emocore band ‘Stricken for Catherine,’ releasing 2 albums in the mid 90s. As the grunge era wound down, Markus turned to folk music forming ‘In Search of a Redheaded Fiddler’ which broke out at the Northern Rocky Mountain Folk Festival opening for Sam Bush. Markus’ newest project, ‘The last optimist [?]’ is an anomaly, pairing folk with emocore, social activism with transcendentalism, trauma with solace, dissonance with poetry. Following on the heels of 2 stripped down albums (‘make it alright with grace,’ and ‘this moment is gone’) the last optimist’s new LP ‘seed water sun’ is full and rich with the intricate instrumental tapestry of producer Doug Kwartler and the transcendent vocals of Danielle Pinals.

seed water sun - electronic press kit

the basic details

the songs 'seed water sun'

press

The Big Takeover

The Big Takeover

The Big Takeover

OnStage Magazine

The Big Takeover

The Big Takeover

Obscure Sound

The Big Takeover

Living Life Fearless

Living Life Fearless

Living Life Fearless

Living Life Fearless

For Folk's Sake

Living Life Fearless

For Folk's Sake

Tatoo.com

Living Life Fearless

For Folk's Sake

The Farsighted

Raised by Cassettes

Raised by Cassettes

Raised by Cassettes

Raised by Cassettes

Raised by Cassettes

the links

artist quote

artist biography

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