Roomtone began its existence in a room full of keyboards, guitars, a bass, a computer, and a glass of cognac.
"Multi-instrumentalist and song-writer Alexander Yaker, aka Roomtone, was born in Eastern Europe but spent much of his life in Birmingham, Alabama where his musical career began as a keyboard player.
He performed and/or collaborated with Duquette Johnston (Verbena, Cutgrass), Bo Butler (the Saturdays), the Silos (NYC), as well as recorded and toured with John P. Strohm (Blake Babies, the Lemonheads, Antenna).
After relocating to Philadelphia in 2003, Alexander began integrating into the
local scene, playing keyboards, guitar and bass with a one-time successful
Philadelphia band, the Northern Hues. After its demise, he joined and soon toured with Philadelphia's Power-Pop band Grammar Debate! and soon began writing a collection of songs that were later organized under the name Roomtone.
Roomtone's music, drawing comparisons to Jim O'Rourke, Nick Drake, Sam Prekop and Kings of Convenience, consists of rich layers and warm textures of classical and electric guitars, keyboards, cello, percussion and bass as well as lush vocal harmonies - all perfectly blending together to produce a very unique style and cozy sound..."
Roomtone has recently shared the stage with Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Fiery Furnaces, Bon Iver, Amy Millan (STARS, Broken Social Scene), Eric Bachmann (Archers of Loaf, Crooked Fingers), Brookville, Radar Bros., Lisa Germano, Tara Jane O'Neil, Nick Krill (Spinto Band), Nicole Atkins and was recently featured on WPKN Radio in CT/NY, as well as Radyo ODTU (Ankara, Turkey) and Twin Cities FM (Perth, Western Australia) and WXPN's World Cafe Live Podcast and WXPN's Sleepy Hollow program with Chuck Elliot. Roomtone's music is now also being featured on WHYY's National Public Radio show, "You Bet Your Garden" that airs every Saturday across U.S.!
Please check back soon for a list of upcoming shows and other news!
REVIEWS:
"Given the warm influence of bossa nova and other light-listening earmarks, Alexander Yaker's Roomtone project neatly encapsulates an entire scene of bedsit bands, past and present. The bossa nova summons Nouvelle Vague's morphing of New Wave standards into lounge-y backdrops, while Yaker's tiptoed singing and understatedly fluid way around a guitar should appeal to fans of Eureka-era Jim O'Rourke, Serge Gainsbourg, Kings of Convenience and even the indie pop band Aden.
Roomtone may be steeped in a tradition of pop/folk softness, but Yaker's musical resume is more diverse. For years he worked with different acts in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., including John P. Strohm, one-time member of Blake Babies and the Lemonheads.
Atmospheric not just in sound, Roomtone songs dwell on lulling colors, passing seasons and the quiet yearning of love affairs. Alcohol also seeps in, from a mention of Spanish wine to the lines "You could down another glass" and "Speak your mind/ It's easy when you're drinking." That aspect sits well with the plush furniture and candlelit nights Yaker conjures in Roomtone, adrift somewhere between the slow ache of melancholy and the cozy hum of nostalgia. In other words, it's sad in the best possible way." - Doug Wallen, Philadelphia Weekly (8/27/08)
"For all intents and purposes, Roomtone is Alexander Yaker, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter hailing from Birmingham, Ala.
Yaker planted himself on the Philly scene in 2003, and has since taken up endeavors ranging from a Kris Kristofferson tribute (Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down) to backing stellar locals Grammar Debate! on their 2007 release Cheetah vs. Helicopter.
Yaker's most recent works include Everyday Life, a collaboration with John P. Strohm, formerly of The Lemonheads and The Blake Babies (with drug-buddy Juliana Hatfield).
His own solo debut, Hits & Mrs., features Yaker on vocals, guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, drums and miscellaneous percussion.
It is a pleasant and subdued mix of singer-songwriter creations decked out with whiskey-smooth arrangements that bring in classic guitar, jazz tones and samba textures.
Instrumentals like Telebossa, which grooves along with rich, wavering Latin jazz guitar, complement lyric-heavy numbers like The Story Ends the Sun.
Yaker's vocals recall a strong set of influences, from a less emotionally charged Nick Drake to Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan. Overall, his tone, paired with his instrumentally lush compositions, makes for a quiet and seductive aura that surrounds the songs on Hits & Mrs.
Yaker's is the sound of a seasoned musician finally finding time to dedicate his well-honed skills to his own creations, and the tracks are filled with a sense of playfulness and mellow enjoyment. It is a surprisingly artful, carefree and melodic collection of songs for a young guy..." - Brian Rademaekers, Northeast Times
Hola.... te dejo un adelanto de mi primer disco que te va a renovar las neuronas...., no vas a poder parar de escucharlo y querer saber mas al respecto...entonces vas a entrar a ver el video clip y cuando no puedan mas de las ganas de saborear mas de esta musica, solo quedan los recitales para descargar y devolver la energia.
hey! It's been ages since I dropped by! I listen to your CDs sometimes in the morning, so cool! Hope things are going well! I hope u have some gigs in the Fall in Philly, I will be in town!!! x
