Artist Of The Week: Real Estate

Each week WERS highlights an artist we love as our Artist of the Week. This week we’ve picked the indie-rock group hailing from Ridgewood, New Jersey, Real Estate!

Real Estate was formed back in 2008 by Martin Courtney (vocals, guitars), Matt Mondanile (also of Ducktails on guitars), Alex Bleeker (bass), and Etienne Pierre Duguay (drums). The band issued a string of early singles on famed indie labels like Underwater Peoples and Woodsist and then released their self-titled debut album on Woodsist in 2009. The album garnered the band immediate critical acclaim and praise and landed on several best of the year lists including Pitchfork Media’s. This allowed the band to go on tour with some of indie music’s biggest acts, including Girls, Woods, and Deerhunter. They also released an EP in late 2009 titled Reality.

Throughout 2010, the band’s profile continued to rise and by 2011 they had signed to Domino Records. In October of last year, that label put out the band’s sophomore effort, Days. Days was just as (if not more) popular as its processor and saw Real Estate embark on headlining tours of their own as well as open for legendary artists like The Shins. The current Real Estate lineup includes Courtney, Mondanile, Bleeker, Jackson Pollis on drums, and Jonah Maurer on keyboards and guitars.

Real Estate’s music is a blend of indie pop, jangly and surf-inspired guitars, and chilled out lyrics. In other words, it is the perfect music to soundtrack these hot summer days! If you are unfamiliar with the group, I strongly suggest you give them a listen. They will be performing at The Paradise Rock Club this Friday night, August 10th with lo-fi legend R. Stevie Moore and local Boston act Cuffs. Real Estate will also be stopping by the WERS studios around 1:15pm on Friday for an interview and live performance so make sure to listen in for that!

By Mariel Wade

If you liked this, check out:
Artist Of The Week: The Head & The Heart