In the fall of 2010, Ryan Sanders was a high school first year in Harrodsburg, KY, with time on his hands and music on the mind. With a group of other like-minded friends, he formed Figure 8 in the garage of a funeral parlor. None of them knew much about music, but they were passionate about the band and practiced for hours on end to hone their craft. By May of 2013, the group of high school juniors released their first album, .
After graduation, the original band members went their separate ways and the group disbanded. But a resurrection was on its way.
In 2017, Ed Snyder, a DJ from the now-defunct all-local music station WCHQ 100.9 FM in Louisville, came across Figure 8s only album. He knew then that there was strong potential for the band.
We found a band that many DJs on the station agreed there was something special about, Snyder said. We did not know it yet, but we were becoming part of the story of the new music coming out of this band now, Figure 8s story of resurrection.
Snyder and the other station DJs began playing Speaking My Language regularly on their station. Finally getting to hear his bands hard work on the radio, years after recording, made Sanders reinspired.
The goal always was to have people listen to our music and I didnt feel like we accomplished that in high school, Sanders said. I hadnt thought about playing music in quite a while but when I heard our music on the radio the feelings I had about making music in high school came back and I immediately missed it. The notion that we might get people to listen to us finally inspired me to make more music again.
Sanders began writing music for the band again, and this time had some professional help to make Figure 8s comeback as strong as possible. Producers (from and fame) and () assisted Sanders with the production of a new album, .
In 2018, Sanders contacted Virtue and Palmer out of the blue, not even sure if he could get a response from either. Both did reply, and they were enthusiastic. Palmer had already heard an older version of Hush, and felt like there was potential to make the album even better. Palmer ended up producing the final version of the song and Virtue produced the rest of the album. But even with the different producers, the sound remains consistent.
Palmer did Pearl Jams first album and thats an album most people our age have heard throughout their entire life and to work with someone whos music we grew up listening to was pretty awesome, Sanders said. There weren't any creative restraints working with them. They could do whatever they wanted to make the album sound as best as possible.
Ryan Sanders didnt perform the album alone. , the former drummer for the , and , bass guitarist for , collaborated with Sanders on the album.
Chaney got on board through Virtue, who recommended him for the album. They were friends that had worked extensively together in the past. Sanders didnt have a bass player and needed one, and Chaney fit in perfectly. Chaneys bass can be heard on the fourth track, I Know What You Need.
Sanders also contacted Malinin on a whim. The Goo Goo Dolls are Sanders biggest musical inspiration, and he couldnt think of anyone else he wanted as a drummer for his album. In another stroke of pure luck, Malinin said yes. Malinin can be heard on Hush.
Playing with them was pretty seamless, Sanders said. They were creative in coming up with parts but were already playing with a nearly completed track.
These collaborations make perfect sense for Sanders, whose sound harkens back to the alternative rock scene of the 90s. The second track of the album could easily find itself on the Goo Goo Dolls . Meanwhile, the first track, Hush has a great crunchy guitar that overlays smooth synth. The album is bookended by an equally enjoyable acoustic version, which brings emphasis to its subtly beautiful lyrics.
Other collaborators show the rest of Sanders influences. from played the guitar solos for Hush and I Know What You Need and , the live bassist for , contributed the bass for Shakin My Heart and Hush.
As for the album itself, Ex Nihilo is Latin for out of nothing. Thats exactly what it is. Pure magic made out of what originally was one person with a dream. The message gets deeper on the album cover, which is a reference to Platos Allegory of the Cave ( Shakin My Heart also contains a reference).
Its an album about Platos Allegory overall, Sanders said. The way I see it, it is like being in a movie theatre. You're chained to a seat, staring at what you think is reality the entirety of your life up to that point, but one day you turn around and see the projector and realize that it's not reality, and then you cast off your proverbial chains and leave to learn what reality truly is.
As for whats next for Sanders after the albums release?
Honestly, I dont really know, Sanders admitted, hopefully more music!
-Written by Julia Raimondi
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