The Dirty Shirts have today released their new single titled ‘Heart Attack’. A sweet mix of glam, glitter, rock, soul, and fame, we get a glimpse of the glamourous life as lived through those with grit on the collar and dirt on their heels.
A confessional set to music, ‘Heart Attack’ is written with angst and performed with charm. That kind of charm that only comes from talent. And that talent that only comes with conviction. Feeling the soul is the easy part. The hard part is getting others to feel it with you. And that only comes from good songwriting and earnest performance. And a dirty shirt.
About ‘Heart Attack’
The glam-rock infused track perfectly combines an electrifying pop sound with hook-heavy melodies and an infectious chorus. “My lyrical themes often express the duality of feeling two different things from one emotional situation and how to deal with it,” confesses lead singer, Nick Santa Maria. With ‘Heart Attack’ it’s the feeling of not wanting to let go of a relationship, while also wanting to run away as fast as possible. ‘Heart Attack’ is now available to stream and download on all platforms worldwide.
‘Heart Attack’ immediately grabs the attention of listeners with manic and falsetto vocals set against a chiming backdrop of celestial bells before The Dirty Shirts come clean with their propulsive brand of “dance floor rock and roll.” The song is about a toxic relationship that the narrator knows is failing, but can’t stop. Santa Maria, dug deep into the meaning of ‘Heart Attack’ and what he wants listeners to get out of the song. “We put a lot of intention in creating a sound in the studio that supported and enhanced the story being told in the song, that helps people grab onto it more,” explains Santa Maria. “Ultimately, we just want people to turn this up as loud as they can stand it and dance.” The track was produced by Jeff Saenz (Leon Bridges, Reverend Horton Heat, Nikki Lane), engineered by Joel Raif, and recorded at Modern Electric Sound Recorders in Dallas, Texas.
Making their debut in 2021, The Dirty Shirts is a pop, alternative, and glam rock band from Dallas, Texas. In the last two years, they have released numerous singles and stylized videos, and have toured across North America. Before The Dirty Shirts debuted, band member Nick Santa Maria was touring as a sideman for country artists until the pandemic shut down the entire world. During this time, he re-envisioned his music career and decided to create a band that encompassed his love of rock music.
This was when The Dirty Shirts were born. Incorporating their musical influences, including the Rolling Stones, Oasis, and The Strokes, they released their debut album, The Get Up From The Get Go, and toured across the country in 2022. Performing in support of their hit singles, including “Detonator” and “Please Me,” the band hit the ground running, creating more music as they became more known across the U.S. As The Dirty Shirts release new songs, Santa Maria notes how they wish for their listeners to continue to turn to their music for comfort, especially during challenging moments in life. With their black leather cool and sequined swagger, combined with their charisma and empathy, and strong vocals, The Dirty Shirts have cemented their place in the indie rock canon.
With its captivating lyrics and lively, energetic sound, The Dirty Shirts’ new single ‘Heart Attack’ is sure to have any rock fan of music hungry for more and is the first of many hits they have in store for 2023. The band will showcase the single at their multiple performances during Austin’s SXSW Music Festival. ‘Heart Attack’ is available now on all streaming platforms.
About The Dirty Shirts
Pop, alternative, and glam rock updated with a vibrant spirit of celebration: A salvo of hook heavy singles, stylized videos, and ambitious cross-country touring introduces The Dirty Shirts, an exuberant new band from Dallas, Texas.
Debuting in 2021, The Dirty Shirts showcased at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland before releasing their first full-length, The Get Up From The Get Go, in 2022. National radio airplay for singles “Detonator” and “Please Me” (feat. Remy Reilly), served as an engaging introduction to an indelible musical signature as the band played for expanding Pittsburgh, New York, and Nashville audiences, and circling home to headline Texas shows.
‘Heart Attack’, the new lead single, presents front man Nick Santa Maria’s falsetto vocals against a chiming backdrop of celestial bells before The Dirty Shirts come clean with their propulsive brand of “dance floor rock and roll.” With timeless Bowie and Bolan Seventies influences recast in the present tense for fans of Gorillaz, Foals, and The Weeknd, The Dirty Shirts are a formidable, hard-hitting live aggregation with Nick joined by Joshua Sloan, drums; Patrick Smith, bass; and DiDi McCaffery, vocals.
Respondent with black leather cool and sequined swagger, Nick Santa Maria characterizes charisma and empathy behind dark glasses. The fashion-forward sensibility is a shimmering thread in The Dirty Shirts presentation, an update of glam rock infused with a contemporary sonic sheen that mirrors the music, described by KXT radio as “…sweaty hedonism in the smoky haze of last call.” Videos spotlight the band onstage in a variety of settings; at Rockwood Music Hall and Rocka Rolla in New York City, Modern Electric Sound Recorders in Dallas; against a book lined wall, and with cocktails in hand at a well stocked bar.
Nick Santa Maria was touring steadily as a sideman for country artists when the pandemic pulled the plug. Off the road, he began envisioning a band to encompass his love of rock. “Throwing influences at the wall – Oasis, The Rolling Stones, The Strokes – and developing the style from there.” Narratives are essential; Nick’s thoughtful and complex word play reflects his literacy and love of language. “Most of my lyrics are autobiographical, not directly, but in some raw emotional form,” he says. “My themes often express the duality of feeling two different things from one emotional situation and how to deal with that.”
Collaborating with the accomplished Dallas creative community of artists, curators, and tastemakers is vital to the totality of The Dirty Shirts’ evolving aesthetic. Bedazzling hues illustrate “Shake” – The Animated Video” with an inspired team of local creators. “People who are not only making the music, but are around the music,” Nick says of his hometown contemporaries. “There is something special about Dallas, the overarching artistic scene, but especially the music.”
While Nick is proud of the band’s debut — his first ever experience behind the board, co-producing with three-time Grammy award winner Tre Nagella — he avows that the new songs feel more cohesive and complete. “I’ve grown as a person and a songwriter. I believe that the greatest end results come from collaboration. It feels a lot less of me – I hear our producer’s influence and the band’s contributions, and it makes for better songs.
Tracking with co-producer Jeff Saenz, and managed by ZeroZero Music Group, at this juncture, The Dirty Shirts are more than ready to rock. “My favorite thing about playing live and making records is the connection between us and the audience,” says Nick. “It might sound cliché, but it’s a family thing. We are new, still figuring it out, and we want our audience to join us on this journey. We live in crazy times. I want our listeners to know that whatever else is going on, they have us.”
LINKS:
https://www.thedirtyshirtsus.com
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https://www.facebook.com/thedirtyshirtsus/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ZNWE6jFIP9LDT5PVoHcGH