Hailing from multiple territories in California, Great Northern are back with a clear vision and a newfound lust for creating. The two counterparts Rachel Stolte and Solon Bixler have both had impactful careers even before coming together to form Great Northern, Solon with 30 Seconds to Mars, Earlimart, and Sea Wolf, and Rachel being embedded with bands such as Cold Water Crane and Whirlpool.

After finding themselves the duo eventually moved to find their own sound, and so Great Northern was born and was a powerhouse of sound until 2015. At that point the two embarked on a personal journey of self-discovery, seeking to rekindle their individual identities and deepen their creativity.

Eventually, their creative lives had come to a point where they felt the need to take a step back, reflect and learn how to break out of outworn patterns. They needed to recollect and remember what it felt like to love creating again. By stepping away from music, they developed new parts of themselves. Their attempt to get back to a beginner’s mind and deepen their connection to creativity was fuelled by the break they took from it.

In the past  Great Northern had made their records differently. They would seek out producers and mixers to help actualize their pre-written material. Collaborating with producers such as Michael Patterson (NIN, She Wants Revenge, B.R.M.C., Beck), Greg Collins (U2, No Doubt), and Mathias Schneeberger (Afghan Whigs, Mark Lanegan, Foo Fighters, Sunn O).

Utilizing mostly keyboards and drum machines, attacking guitars and powerful soaring vocals, they began creating music with an emphasis on driving feels and a vulnerability that had been missing in the past. They took it upon themselves to create, engineer, produce, and mix all of the material that came to them through this experiment.

After two months that turned into two years, what has come out of them has generated what Rachel calls, ”A life-changing experience and some of the best work we’ve created to date and a fierce departure from anything we have previously created.”

After the loss of her mother and years of working around predominantly male-driven energy and counterparts, one of the changes we made was to let the feminine take the lead.”… “There’s a certain essence that comes with feminine energy, less density & weight…more space and balance.” Says Solon. This sonic evolution years in the making, was led primarily by the hands of Rachel and thus has led the band in the direction to allow for the feminine to take control.

ANIML is a rebellion against the current state of the world. We find ourselves feeling quite defiant as we watch what is unfolding.

The duo’s introspective lens offers a powerful exploration into the human condition, delivering a sonic experience that is as thought-provoking as it is cathartic. With this powerful track, Great Northern encourages us to reflect, challenging us to seek liberation from the constraints that society and fear impose upon us.