Stream: “Altered Endings” on All Digital Platforms
Watch: “Altered Endings” video
Stream: “Intertwined” on All Digital Platforms
Ohvaur, the Chicago-based indie rock band known for their deeply personal and evocative music, is excited to announce the release of their latest single, “Altered Endings,” along with its new music video directed by Heath Metzger. The track is the latest pre-release single from their highly anticipated new album, Intertwined, set out October 18. Fans can pre-order the album now on Bandcamp, and “Altered Endings” is available on all streaming platforms for any playlist shares.
“Altered Endings” debuted today at Rock and Roll Globe, and its introspective nature reflects the band’s unique storytelling approach. Timothy Den, the band’s frontman, shares his enthusiasm for the track: “This might be my favorite song on the album. It was co-written with my songwriting ‘soulmate’ since high school, Evan Rifas, who also sings much of the harmonies on it.”
Den elaborates on the song’s thematic depth: “We jokingly say that this song is our Everything Everywhere All At Once because it tackles the same question: who would we be had we made different decisions—either enormous or inconsequential—at certain points in our lives? Where would those paths have led us? I’ve often wondered who I would’ve been had I not immigrated across three continents.” The music video, directed by Heath Metzger of Mock Orange, visually explores this concept by depicting two characters representing separate realities, each vaguely aware of the other through a sense of “phantom yearning,” perhaps even co-existing in one possible reality.
He adds, “When Evan was writing the lyrics with me, he was going through a divorce with his wife of 20 years, so the idea of diverging love was naturally in mind. Unfortunately, as they were on the verge of reconciliation just a few months ago, she suddenly passed away, making this song’s ‘what if?’ context even more torturous and haunting to us.”
“Altered Endings” follows the release of the album’s title track and lyric video, which debuted at Magnet Magazine last month.
Frontman Timothy Den’s journey has been marked by numerous reinventions. From a childhood spanning Taiwan, South America, and Miami to overcoming the challenges of spending 15 years as an undocumented immigrant in the U.S., Den’s life experiences have profoundly shaped his music. Ohvaur’s previous album, A Memories Chase (2013), chronicled his reflections on immigration and personal transformation. Through these experiences he became very good at dealing with the partings and losses such instability brought, but also appreciative of the lessons they taught about survival and perseverance.
By the time A Memories Chase was released, Den had become a legal American, was happily married, a new father, and all but leaving his musical past behind. Tim had been the Assistant Editor of Lollipop magazine; founded his own website, Transform Online; fronted the Boston-based Kimone, whose work was produced by former Jawbox head J. Robbins and logged time onstage opening for the likes of Spoon and The Album Leaf; and scored numerous short films, including Bitch, which premiered at the 2007 edition of the Sundance Film Festival. Leaving the one constant that threaded together his mosaic life was daunting, but – once again – he believed in the power of rebirth.
In the 10 years that followed, this most recent rebirth brought Tim and his family a sense of stability for the first time. Slowly, he felt his passion calling him back. Den’s return to music and the theme of rebirth has led to the creation of Intertwined. The album explores themes of endings and new beginnings, confronting loss, mortality, and the preciousness of life’s fleeting moments.
Helping the band realize their vision were two important figures: producer Matt Wallace (Faith No More, The Replacements, Maroon 5) and Faith No More bassist / songwriter Bill Gould. Tim and Bill have been friends since the early 2000s – something Tim admits as “extremely surreal,” since Faith No More is his favorite band – and Bill had even wanted to release A Memories Chase on his label, Koolarrow. When the band ran into creative roadblocks this time around, Bill brought in Matt to help steer the ship. With Matt’s generous and patient guidance – as well as Bill’s occasional observational input – the band feel that they’ve created their definitive work, sonically and artistically.
Intertwined represents a culmination of years of personal and artistic evolution for Ohvaur. With its release, the band feels they are embarking on a new beginning, led by an album that captures their journey and their mission.
