With hot, sultry gasps, Denali breathes life into the indie music scene, offering an innovative brand of sensual rock. Driven by female vocals and rich, resonant guitars, this band emanates mysterious energy. Denali's new album, "The Instinct," is an exciting follow-up to its first release.
The band released its eponymous debut in April 2002 on Jade Tree Records. "Denali" was steeped in seduction with a flowing, ambient sound. "The Instinct" grabs attention with faster songs and prevalent guitars.
"The songs on this album are a lot more rocking," said Maura Davis, lead singer of Denali. This second album also progresses with a greater distinction between songs, combining faster tracks like "Hold Your Breath" and slower songs like "Welcome," similar to those heard on its first release.
With the success of its debut album, Denali recorded its sophomore effort with mixed feelings of assurance and anxiety.
"On this album, we all felt a little more confident," said Davis. "I felt more confident with my singing." Davis said she also felt pressure to recreate the success of the debut album, while bringing new elements to the music.
Denali guitarist Cam DiNuzio said he worried about "The Instinct" during recording.
"It's like not checking your reflection in the morning when you get up and just trusting that everything is going to be OK and be confident that things are going to work out," said DiNuzio. "I think one of the things that made me happy after the record was done was realizing that a lot of that trust was wellfounded, and it came out to a positive end in the record."
The foursome from Richmond, Va., formed when Davis asked her older brother Keeley Davis, of indie-rock band Engine Down, to collaborate with her on songs. Drummer Jonathan Fuller, also of Engine Down, and DiNuzio joined the siblings to create Denali.
"It's awesome to be in a band with my brother," said Davis. "When we were kids we hated each other, but now we are best friends. It's like having a best friend without the drama."
The feeling of closeness reaches beyond the brother-sister duo.
"It's kind of like a big extended family," said DiNuzio of both Denali and Engine Down.
Denali took its name from the Athapascan word for Alaska's Mount McKinley, feeling that the cold, desolate connotations of the word fit the band's sound.
"This record ["The Instinct"] is probably more representative of the mass of that mountain or biosphere, whereas the first record was more representative of the atmosphere," said DiNuzio.
Denali's greatest asset is Davis, whose stellar voice ranges from angelic highs to sexy lows. A classically trained singer with a background in opera, Davis's transition to rock was difficult.
"Coming from opera, it was really hard to decide what my style of singing would be because I had been told how to sing for so long," said Davis. " I didn't want to sound like an opera singer anymore." Davis created her own vocal style, looking to Bj?rk, Ella Fitzgerald, and Beth Gibbons of Portishead for inspiration.
Denali filled the Black Cat nightclub with its powerful, hypnotic sound last Friday night, an impressive finale to its fall tour with Rainer Maria.
"The Instinct" will hit stores Oct. 28. Denali has a short break before heading out on the road again, this time with the Deftones. Don't miss a second opportunity to see this incredible band, check out Denali in D.C. on Nov. 15 at the GMU Patriot Center.
