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Hometown: Falls Church, VA
Label: DJ Boy Records
Management: Billy Zero
Website: www.ritesofash.com
Sounds Like: RedOne, Marilyn Manson, Kesha, Lady Gaga, Shiny Toy Guns
Genre: Rock
The electronic pop/hard rock outfit Rites of Ash has always been known for accepting nothing less than perfection when it comes to their work. Combining countless influences into a unified and original sound has helped define the band as innovators in an industry desperately lacking originality. No genre or sound is off-limits for the band; this is evident in their extensive list of influences that include Linkin Park, Skrillex, Nine Inch Nails, RedOne, and Lady Gaga. Rites of Ash is comprised of Alex (vocals), Lazzo (guitars, keyboards, programming/sequencing), Toni (vocals), MCO (drums), Tuomas (keyboards), and Ace (bass).
Being an unsigned band hasnt hindered them from making three professional music videos with airings on Fuse TV and MTVu, performing on the Dew Tour, winner of one and nominated for five WAMA (Wammy) Awards, releasing four full-length studio albums, and having their music featured on over ten MTV shows including: The Real World, Pimp My Ride, and Next. Rites of Ashs live show is equally impressive, boasting choreographed lighting effects, custom-built stage pieces, and synchronized videos displayed on various flat-panel monitors.
Their music and live show have garnered them numerous accolades from the mainstream music industry; it has been described as unique but mainstream, hard-hitting yet romantically suavetruly cutting-edge song writing. (S. Diablo, MTV)
The band has collaborated with Pablo Manzarek (son of Ray Manzarek of The Doors), world-renowned DJs Idee and Paul Edge, photographer Doug Sonders, and platinum selling recording engineer Kevin 131 Gutierrez.
In Spring 2014, Rites of ash will release a self-titled full length album, Rites of Ash. This record brought in the mixing/producing talents of Kevin 131 Gutierrez and Grammy-Award Winning Jeff Bova. Selected tracks from this release were featured on the bands award-winning dance/dubstep remix album, Kept Me Up All Night, which was released as a free download in late 2013.
“... inspiration comes from our evolving ability to create auditory art that both pleases and connects with our fans. Not only do we want to make music that people can dance and groove to, we want them to read into the lyrics and feel the emotional messages we are attempting to send them.”
Rockethub.com - Rockethub.com
“Washington DC's own Rites of Ash records with Grammy award wining producer/engineer, Jeff Bova.”
eSoundLink.com / Alert the Globe - eSoundLink.com / Alert the Globe
“Tonight’s HFS Locals Only Spotlight artist is Rites Of Ash, which is the result of the following equation: electropop + hard rock + D.C. roots + L.A. attitude.
Hmm. Don’t like math? How about this description, then: take the technical complexity of Nine Inch Nails, Linkin Park, and maybe Skrillex…then add the bold self-confidence of Lady Gaga.
Still too much for you to wrap your head around? How about taking Shiny Toy Guns and giving them an unhealthy dose of stimulants?
Whatever works for you. Our point is that they are intense, they are simultaneously like and unlike electronic rock bands that know how to shake you up, and they’re something you should check out, which you can do at any given moment by hitting up their website…or at a live show sometime, since they do a lot of those, too.”
Spam - 97.5 WHFS Radio
"Few bands can pull off that electronic rock and pop well, but if you need a reference of a job well done, look no further than DC-based band Rites of Ash, who spews originality and diversity in their latest album, Like Venom. Eleven tracks of rock meets pop meets electronica all carefully crafted into one unified album, makes this a hit. Reminiscent of Linkin Park and T-Pain (if they had a love child, it would absolutely be Like Venom), Rites of Ash make use of technology to influence and put their sound above the rest. Unique and upbeat, their live show fully supports the energy that you get from Like Venom. Wowing crowds seems effortless and natural for the band whose songs have graced MTV hit shows like “The Real World” and “Pimp My Ride.” Lyrically impressive as well...truly breaking barriers on a local and national level, this album is worth all the hype it gets."
Ashley Estill - On Tap Magazine
"I've seen a ton of bands, and you guys really stand out as one of the best...you've got the live show covered!"
-Ron Underwood & Jim Kaufman (Opiate for the Masses)
What the Industry is Saying about ROA...
“DJ Paul Edge and Pablo Manzarek, (son of Ray Manzarek, founding member of The Doors, who were recently awarded a lifetime achievement Grammy) have agreed to remix Rites of Ash's acclaimed album Beautiful Illusions...”
Rites of Ash Remix Project - DJ Paul Edge and Pablo Manzarek
“Most notably, the band debuted their new website to an astounding 55,000+ hits within the first 24 hours of its release, demonstrating the wide appeal the band has to consumers who are intrigued by the band’s unique fusion of hard rock and electronica.”
Rites of Ash Exceeds 50,000 Hits on Website Launch Date
