Prince Rama, karaoke pioneers

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Boston. Art school. Karaoke. So goes the life of sisters Taraka and Nimai Larson, otherwise known as Prince Rama. After leaving their Hare Krishna farm in Florida, the sisters and friend, Michael Collins, went to art school in Boston and it was here that the psychedelic sounds of Prince Rama were created and perfected. After a long series of tours and the release of both Threshold Dances and Zetland, the band made the move to Brooklyn. It was here that they rebuilt their sound and recorded Shadow Temple, produced by Avery Tare and Deakin of Animal Collective.

The sisters redefined their sound once again after Michael Colllins took a hiatus from the band. As a result, Trust Now, the bands fifth album, came about with the help of Scott Colburn (Animal Collective, Arcade Fire). The album is the second to be released on Paw Tracks (started by Animal Collective) and will be out next Tuesday, October 4. You can stream the six track album at Altered Zones now. But what about karaoke? Good question. Prince Rama decided to give fans a sneak peek of the album by releasing a video series where musical friends sing karaoke versions of songs off the album. This includes G. Lucas Crane of Woods performing “Incarnation”, Janka Nabay of Sierra Leone singing “Summer of Love”, and Damon McMahon of Amen Dunes covering “Golden Silence.” It's such a good idea, you're probably asking yourself why you didn't think of it yourself. The video for “Golden Silence” is out now and also fall tour dates with Gang Gang Dance and Indian Jewelry. All you need to know is listed below.

October
01 Houston, TX Fitzgerald's #
03 Austin, TX Mohawk #
04 Marfa, TX House Show
05 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom #
06 Los Angeles, CA Los Globos +
07 San Diego, CA Casbah #
08 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriet's #
10 Big Sur, CA Henry Miller Library #
11 San Francisco, CA Independent #
12 Eureka, CA Empire Squared #
13 Portland, OR Holocene #
14 Seattle, WA Neumos #
15 Vancouver, BC Biltmore #
18 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry #
19 Madison, WI Majestic #
20 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall #
21 Morgantown, WV 123 Pleasant Street #
22 New York, NY CMJ

November
11 Brooklyn, NY Utopia NO TIME Concert For The End of the World Artist Residency Issue Project Room
12 Brooklyn, NY – Cameo Gallery*
13 Philadelphia, PA – Little Bar*
14 Pittsburgh, PA – The Shop*
15 Chicago, Illinois – Beat Kitchen*
16 Columbia, MO – Mojo's *
17 Springfield, MO – Outland Ballroom*
18 Denton, TX – Hailey's*
19 Austin, TX – Mohawk Inside*!
20 Houston, TX – Mango's*
21 New Orleans, LA – Siberia*
22 Pensacola, FL – TBA*
28 Jacksonville, FL – Burro Bar
29 Gainesville, FL – The Backyard (Boca Fiesta)
30 Orlando, FL – Will's Pub

December
01 Miami, FL – Art Basel
02 St. Augustine, FL – Red Moonfest

* = w/ Indian Jewelry
! = w/ Melt Banana, 400 Blows
+ = w/ Sun Araw, matthewdavid
# = w/ Gang Gang Dance

Prince Rama
Trust Now
(Paw Tracks)
Street Date: Oct. 4, 2011

1. Rest In Peace
2. Summer of Love
3. Trust
4. Portaling
5. Incarnation
6. Golden Silence