being as an ocean 2019 baao
[Photo by: Ashley Osborn]

Being As An Ocean return with truly epic video, “Play Pretend”

Get your fire emojis at the ready, because you’ll be mashing that button to share this with your friends repeatedly: Post-hardcore unit Being As An Ocean have returned with a new single, “Play Pretend,” that’s so massive, it just might give you whiplash upon hearing it.

Produced by the band and Zakk Cervini (blink-182, YUNGBLUD), the song—which will be released on the band’s impending album, Proxy: An A.N.I.M.O. Story—gives their profile a massive rehaul for maximum thrills and exasperation. 

Read more: blink-182 unveil album release date on ‘Good Morning America’

An artistic statement this big needs a similarly majestic video, and to that end, director BRUME (Waterparks, De’Wayne Jackson) created a controversial piece to heighten the song’s excitement. 

“Like our previous release ‘Alone,’” guitarist Tyler Ross explains, “this song came from one of those Being As An Ocean plus Zakk Cervini intensive 12-hour sessions that results in a monster flow of rock/metal vs. electronic production and energy. It encapsulates the whole spirit of Proxy in one go—all of the tricks, secrets, writing styles, tones and sounds that we found along the way all packed into one four-minute fight to the death. 

“From production to mix to master, this song is just uncompromising. I would have gone anywhere, gotten on any flight, worked any amount of hours to add more to this song,” Ross swears. “There are layers upon layers upon layers of guitars, samples, synths, sounds, vocals, bass, etc. Pair it with its sci-fi music video counterpart and you have a lights-off/sound-up experience that will get your heart rate pumping every single time.” 

In the last five years, BAAO—Ross, vocalist Joel Quartuccio, rhythm guitarist Michael McGough and bassist Ralph Sica—have made heads swivel with their idiosyncratic mix of post-hardcore power and atmosphere. Their fans recognized their prowess, voting the group as the Best Underground Band at the 2015 Alternative Press Music Awards, and acquiring 85 million streams globally.

Check out “Play Pretend” below.

Being As An Ocean hit the road Sept. 19 in Los Angeles, armed with a bevy of fan favorites and songs from Proxy that are destined for honor. You can find additional information here with dates below.

Dates:

09/19 – Los Angeles, CA @Teragram Ballroom
09/20 – San Diego, CA @ Soma
09/22 – Phoenix, AZ @ Club Red West
09/24 – Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live
09/25 – Dallas, TX @ GMBG
09/26 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Studio
09/28 – Orlando, FL @ Soundbar
09/29 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
10/01 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
10/02 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
10/03 – Montreal, QC @ Fairmount
10/04 – Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
10/06 – Pittsburgh, PA @Rex Theatre
10/08 – Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s
10/09 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
10/11 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theatre
10/12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
10/14 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
10/15 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
10/17 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s

See more: 10 most iconic music video looks

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