As the solo project of Tim Vesely (Rheostatics’ resident poptimist), The Violet Archers are distinguished by Vesely’s quiet way and deft melodic hand. Catalyzed by the creative surge that produced the unexpected Rheos reunion of 2017, then to find band plans sidelined by the pandemic, Vesely turned his energy toward new songs that speak directly to this time of urgency.

With “Keep It In The Ground,” available in Dolby Atmos spatial audio, Vesely digs into the climate crisis basics: change or be changed. 90’s nostalgic in sound (we’re adults now) but starkly 2021 in message, “Keep It In The Ground” and sister song “Quiet This Morning” look back and ahead with equal alarm.

“‘Keep It In The Ground’ is about how we lack a proper historical perspective on our existence as a species,” Vesely says. “It’s time to take stock and proceed with our very survival in mind. It’s just science. A cold, hard fact.”

ABOUT THE VIOLET ARCHERS

The Violet Archers is the solo project of Tim Vesely, a “master pop craftsman” (Exclaim), founding Rheostatics band member and producer/composer based in Toronto. In search of an alternate environment in which to express his songwriting vision, Vesely formed the band in 2005, joined by Ida Nilsen, Yawd Sylvester, Cam Giroux and Scott Remila, to release The End Of Part One (2005) and Sunshine At Night (2008).

Over the next decade, Vesely applied his songcraft expertise to recording and producing other artists in his role as in-house engineer/producer at Blue Rodeo’s Woodshed studio in Toronto. Since the release of Rheostatics’ Whale Music soundtrack, Vesely has also continued to compose music for film and television.

The unexpected Rheostatics reunion for Here Come The Wolves in 2017 brought about Vesely’s return to songwriting. Holed up in the Woodshed while the pandemic slowed momentum on further Rheos recordings, Vesely moved forward on his own. Channeling the creative energy sparked by the Rheos’ first new album in over a decade, two new songs for The Violet Archers emerged. “Keep It In The Ground” and “Quiet This Morning” featuring Lyle Molzan on drums and Steve O’Connor on Hammond Organ, are out now via Six Shooter Records.