New Constellations - Hot Blooded (Betty Aus Extended Edit)

New Constellations - Hot Blooded (Betty Aus Extended Edit)
The founding members of New Constellations, vocalist-guitarist Harlee Case and multi-instrumentalist and producer Josh Smith, are childhood pals. They met through a Christian youth group when Case was in seventh grade and Smith was in ninth, and when they were still teenagers Smith recorded Case’s first song in his family home in southern Oregon. After high school, their lives took different paths, but they kept making music—and about seven years ago, they started doing it together again. They were both living in Portland, and when Case posted on Instagram that she was looking for a new project, Smith immediately responded. As New Constellations, they make shimmering dance pop influenced by 80s synth bands and R&B, and they sometimes shake up their approachable, easygoing vibes with moodier, more experimental sounds. The band caught lightning in a bottle with their 2021 debut single, “Hot Blooded,” a serene 80s-flavored synth-pop tune that showcases Case’s expressive, full-throated vocals. The song picked up more fans the following year when New Constellations released a futuristic music video directed by Travis Abels (trailer editor for Bridgerton and Westworld), and it now has nearly 11 million views on YouTube. They’ve since expanded into a trio by recruiting another longtime friend, multi-instrumentalist Kyle Farook, and they’ve continued to put out singles, most recently November’s effervescent “Sun Chasing the Rain.” They’re building their fan base on the road, and they hope to release their first full-length album by the end of the year. At publication time, they’d sold out nearly every date on this five-week U.S. tour, including both of their two shows tonight at Schubas—but if you got your ticket, you’ll be able to brag that you saw them back when.