EMBASSYLIGHTS is a new collaborative project from Woodpigeon’s Mark Andrew Hamilton alongside fellow Calgary natives Samantha Savage Smith, Clinton St. John, and Laura Leif, paired with two of Reykjavik's most intriguing songsmiths Benni Hemm Hemm and Prins Póló. The ensemble boasts a talent exchange between six distinct personalities built through a residency exchange retreat in Reykjavik, Iceland, then recorded by Graham Lessard (Kevin Drew’s Darlings, Timber Timbre’s Hot Dreams) at the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts. EMBASSYLIGHTS provides a creative freedom rarely found within a traditional band setting, with members able to swap instruments and explore without the constraints of pre-designated roles. These creative liberties create a dramatic final result, which shines through on their self-titled debut album. Ranging from the elegiac soundscapes of Bedhead, the rhythmic jitters of Talking Heads, a dash of ’60s girl group pop, and rock songs based on Icelandic folklore, EMBASSYLIGHTS proves the language of music is one that is internationally understood. EMBASSYLIGHTS will be releasing their album on Tuesday October 28 to coincide with their first official performances at the Iceland Airwaves festival in Reykjavik, Iceland, running November 5-9. The album will be released as an extremely limited run of coil-bound flexi-disc books, available only via the Boompa online store and selected boutique outlets. EMBASSYLIGHTS is also available across digital music platforms internationally. All songs + lyrics by EMBASSYLIGHTS © Boompa Productions + EMBASSYLIGHTS EMBASSYLIGHTS are: Svavar Pétur Eysteinsson Mark Andrew Hamilton Benedikt H. Hermannsson Laura Leif Samantha Savage Smith Clinton St. John

Credits:

Banff Centre Recordings Produced by: Graham Lessard Banff Centre Recording Assistant: Shun Saito Mixing + Mastering by: Flex Arnason Front Cover Collage by: Laura Leif, Heather Kai Smith, Kali Urquhart, and Dallin Ursenbach Original Photography by: Laura Leif and Benedikt Hermannsson Package Design by: Asad Pervaiz Project Coordinator: Mark Andrew Hamilton EMBASSYLIGHTS was written and rehearsed in Reykjavik, Iceland 25-30 January 2013 and recorded in Banff, Canada on 3 February 2013. Thank you to Kerry Clarke at Festival Hall, Michael Green and the High Performance Rodeo, Matthías Ingimarsson and Bjarni Gaukur Sigurðsson at Kongó, Benjamin Stacey at Okidoki, Robert Calder at Boompa, Grímur Atlason, and Stewart Wheeler at the Canadian Embassy in Reykjavik.