Gothic Rock / Darkwave Act The Awakening, releases their 12th, self-titled album via Intervention Arts, on vinyl, CD, digitally, and in a variety of limited edition formats. In its first month, the video for the lead track ‘Mirror Midnight’ received more than 230,000 views.
Now based in the United States, The Awakening was formed in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the late 1990s as the creative expression of vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Ashton Nyte, known as “Johannesburg’s Bowie” for his various musical styles and theatrical performances. The Awakening’s sound has evolved over time, embracing different musical styles such as gothic rock, darkwave, post-punk, electronic rock, folk noir, new wave, and more.
“The Awakening” album follows Nyte’s second book and eighth solo album, ‘Autumn’s Children,’ which was selected as one of American Songwriter’s top 17 albums of 2023. This new album celebrates the band’s roots and influences. The lead track, ‘Mirror Midnight,’ emphasizes the historical tendency towards self-obsession and the media’s recurring manipulation of self-perception.
Nyte shot the video in his preferred black-and-white style, with a gothic film noir atmosphere:
“Essentially, I fell in love all over again with the bands and albums that made me want to create this sort of art in the first place. It was a true joy to create this work,” says Ashton Nyte, and adds:
“The last two Awakening albums were departures for me. ‘This Alchemy’ (2021) explored the more electronic side of my musical personality, and ‘The Passage Remains’ (2022) effectively cleared out the vaults of unreleased heavier material. It feels like it’s time to come home.”
A core contributor to LA-based supergroup Beauty In Chaos, having been involved with every album released to date, Ashton Nyte has collaborated with members of The Cure, The Mission, Tricky, All About Eve, as well as Peter Murphy’s band. 2024 also saw Nyte involved in the latest Beauty In Chaos album ‘Dancing With Angels’.
Having toured extensively and headlined music festivals in the USA, Europe, and South Africa to upwards of 30,000 people, Nyte has also written and performed in theatrical productions and hosted philanthropic events, including his “Rock Against Rape” concert series. He has also presented a lecture series at US universities focusing on tolerance and acceptance.
With a catalogue of over 300 released original songs, Ashton Nyte and The Awakening have enjoyed airplay and chart success on radio stations worldwide, with songs featured in popular television shows like ‘Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin’ and ‘The Purge’. Nyte has contributed to several scores, working with composer Ethan Gold for the movie ‘Don’t Let Go’ (premiering at the Sundance Film Festival) and for the movie ‘Pale Horse’, directed by the late Pearry Teo. Nyte is also an author and actor.
Returning to Europe for the first time since his 2019 tour with The Mission’s Wayne Hussey, Ashton Nyte’s Solo Acoustic Tour Part 2 kicks off in Germany next week. Tickets are available via The Awakening’s official site:
https://www.theawakening.com/live
Tour dates:
25 OCT – KOHI! KULTURRAUM, KARLSRUHE, GERMANY
26 OCT – PAULUSKIRCHE, DORTMUND, GERMANY*
27 OCT – CAFE FOLI-A, RETIE, BELGIUM
1 NOV – MARIA’S BALLROOM, HAMBURG, GERMANY**
2 NOV – BRAINSTORM FESTIVAL, APELDOORN, THE NETHERLANDS (SOLD OUT)
* Special Guest Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine), Support Hans Blücher feat. Sandy Slanina
** Support Paralyzed Wave
‘The Awakening’ album is out now, available on Spotify and other digital platforms, and can be ordered directly from the artist in all formats
The Awakening’ album order (vinyl, CD, digital) hwww.theawakening.com/the-awakening-album
‘The Awakening’ album on Spotify :
‘The Awakening’ other platforms: https://bit.ly/3YoZvEb
Credits:
All music and lyrics by Ashton Nyte
Published by Intervention Arts / ASCAP (2024)
Recorded, mixed & produced by Ashton Nyte at Intervention Studios (USA)
Cover artwork & artist photos by Ashton Nyte
Video created by Ashton Nyte
“The Awakening” track list:
01 Shimmer
02 Mirror Midnight
03 Through The Veil
04 Your Vampire
05 Haunting
06 Below The Emptiness
07 See You Fall
08 Fallout
09 Sliver
10 Not Here
11 Cabaret
12 Continuum
Keep up with The Awakening:
https://www.theawakening.com/the-awakening-album
https://www.facebook.com/theawakeningofficial
https://www.instagram.com/theawakeningofficial
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-awakening/152010187
https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3604534
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR:
https://www.facebook.com/ShamelessPromotionPR/
https://littlecloudrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.shamelesspromotionpr.com/
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