During a sit-down interview with the Ghosthustler guys a few months ago (when Alan Palomo was still with the band), they kept bringing up this new dance act in town, called Roy G and the Biv. And when I went to listen to the duo's tracks, I knew exactly why Ghosthustler loved them so much.

The two acts seemed to share a philosophy about making dance music: It should push the envelope with its production while retaining all the elements of great pop music. In other words, it don't never hurt to make a song radio-friendly. My assumptions about Roy G and the Biv's musical mission were confirmed when I talked to one half of the duo on the phone earlier this week.

"We have a love for really good harmonies. The dance music I like has that, and good chord changes," singer Max Townsley said.

21-year-old Townsley is an English student at UNT. He and Berklee College of Music student Drew Erickson, 23, met when they were in high school (Townsley at Booker T. and Erickson in Colleyville). They've always wanted to start a band together, but got serious about it a year ago when Erickson was home from Boston for spring break.

They now have at least four songs done, and are working toward getting a full-length album ready to release in August.

"We work really fast together," Townsley said. "We both play drums, piano, guitar and bass, so no one is assigned to any specific parts when we're recording."

Three of Roy G's songs, including what I'll play you today, are infectious old-school butt-shakers that feature Townsley taking on the persona of a superfly ladies' man. But that's not exactly who Townsley is in real life, he said.

"I think it's funny. A lot of music we make represents a certain spirit. We're not thuggish at all, but we do take an approach to making art that sometimes calls for a bit of exaggeration when necessary."

Roy G and the Biv, "Think You Might":

Erickson and Townsley don't plan live shows anytime in the future. They're about a year from being done with college, and still need time to work out who will do what on stage: "We did talk about how we'll handle the live thing, and we'll figure that out more when he comes back from Boston," Townsley said.

But you're gonna want to get hip to these guys now, because come album time, they may just be the talk of the town.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 12:15 PM | Permalink
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