EKKSTACY

EKKSTACY (stylized in allcaps) is a singer-songwriter based in Vancouver, BC, whose music is influenced a great deal by the post-punk bands of the late '70s and early '80s. He seems to have been particularly influenced by the pre-"Lovecats" period of The Cure, both the goth period and the preceding Boys Don't Cry sound. In much the same way, he also manages to pair catchy, almost upbeat melodies with that bleak tone and a fairly dark mood where the artist is working through his personal issues. On the other hand, the songs are terribly sad as the titles make clear, except they move with a danceable beat. His arrangements are lush, and his tunes are memorable, which gives his work more weight than just being the soundtrack for relentless gloom.