Combining folk, R&B, pop and funk genres, Trackless will kick off the release of their debut album this weekend.
The band, which is composed of four Ball State students and one alumnus, will celebrate with a party and performance Friday at Be Here Now.
Trackless formed in 2011 when Jordan West, drums and vocals, needed a band for a gig in Chicago. Although she did not end up playing there, it resulted in the band’s beginning.
After a few single releases, that band is preparing to release its first album, “For Your Soul.”
“We’re music majors doing music stuff and doing it really well...” bass player Jesse Gaze said. “I think it’s good for people to go see something and have high expectations and have that achieved. Have pride in your fellow students.”
Since the band performed for the first time at Be Here Now, they decided to have their release party there.
“It was a great first show,” West said. “I wanted to do it in the same spot because it’s close to campus, so everybody can come.”
Trackless recorded most of their album back in October. Although they have more than three hours of music, they narrowed it down to choose their top 10 songs for the album.
West described the album’s sound as eclectic.
“It goes through all of our mini phases as a band,” she said. “We had a jazz phase. Our new phase is kind of poppy. A lot of the stuff on our album is not mainstream, I would say. There’s R&B, there’s a country song. The album is us figuring out our sound as a band.”
Since many of the band members have a gig in Indianapolis before the party, they will take the stage around 12:15 a.m. after local bands The Appomattox and Good Morning Players perform.
Gaze said it’s important to support local music.
“It’s a whole big global thing because you can get digital music, but you can’t get this experience, especially for this type of music and the genre as a whole. You gotta go see it live,” Gaze said.
Senior accounting major Kelly O’Connor plans to support Trackless by attending the party.
“My hopes for their album and the party is that it gives them more exposure and opportunities so that their music can reach a broader fan base,” she said. “I hope that everyone that hears Trackless falls in love with the band.”
The release party will start at 10 p.m. Friday at Be Here Now. It will cost $4 for those under 21 and $3 for anyone 21 or older. Trackless will also have their album available for $10.
