Darkwave band, DICHRO has just unveiled their latest single & video, “Mercy” from the forthcoming full-length album due out in August via Distortion Productions. The song carries a message that we should have mercy not just in our every day encounters, but free one another from judgement for choosing how to believe, if we believe, and what we believe. If we can start seeing one another with empathic eyes and hearts, perhaps we can rid our global atmosphere of so much fear and uncertainty. “Mercy” is an outreach piece.
Says vocalist, Charmaine Freemonk: “We are reaching out to ask that everyone calm down a bit, take a breath, and be more conscientious of our actions. It is a heartfelt plea that we consider whether we are helping or harming one another, practice empathy, and if we cannot help, to at least not harm.”
The video for the single was created to accompany the song’s story. It focuses on the breaking free of indoctrination, a Kansas-to-Oz kind of transition into the light of spiritual freedom and exploration.
In April 2020, amidst the chaos of a world in flux, Peter Guellard, renowned bassist of Pittsburgh’s industrial rock legends Venus in Furs and former member of Mace and The Electric Hellfire Club, embarked on a unique musical experiment. Bringing together a cadre of local musicians, Guellard orchestrated an online cover of the iconic but “industrialized” folk classic “Man of Constant Sorrow,” infusing it with an electronic edge that left listeners electrified and from this virtual collaboration emerged DICHRO, a dynamic quartet poised to redefine the boundaries of darker types of music.
August 2020 marked their official debut with a mesmerizing cover and accompanying music video of Dead Can Dance‘s “The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove,” a bewitching rendition that captivated audiences with its exotic allure. Guellard is joined by guitarist Dirk Miller (Rusted Root, Uprooted), drummer and an established percussionist Tracey Whorton (Venus In Furs, Jenn Wertz Band),and singer/songwriter, Charmaine Evonne, back in the Pittsburgh area after several years spent touring with the Amazing Acro Cats and moving from Austin to New Orleans to Atlanta. She most often performs outside the band as a solo artist or as a professional stilt-walker and fire/LED flow artist and who appeared in the Netflix series “Cat People”.
Fueled by the symbiotic creativity of Charmaine and Peter, DICHRO embarked on a journey of sonic exploration, crafting a debut album titled “Stained Glass” at The Church Recording Studio and later in Psychotribe Studio in Pittsburgh. From remote demos to studio sessions, their collaborative spirit breathed life into each track, resulting in a collection of songs that push the boundaries of anthemic darkwave.
The band’s debut single, “One Lane Bridge,” accompanied by a haunting music video reminiscent of “The Blair Witch Project,” serves as a stark reflection of the anxiety and fear wrought by the Covid virus. With a message urging vigilance in the face of uncertainty, DICHRO captures the frustrations of a world in turmoil. Following the success of their debut, DICHRO unveiled “Strangled,” a poignant exploration of “taxation without representation” from Charmaine’s perspective. With each release, DICHRO delves deeper into the complexities of the human experience, weaving a tapestry of sound that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Signed to Distortion Productions label in March 2024, DICHRO is poised to unleash their debut album “Stained Glass” in August 2024, promising a sonic journey unlike any other. Blurring the lines between music and visual art, their live performances feature bespoke video backdrops and customized light shows, transforming each show into a transcendent experience.
In May of 2024, DICHRO released the single & video for the song, “Mercy”.