Music

Science Project

young duo takes a new musical direction

Ian Jacoby |

The New Science’s biography reads like the plot of some new High School Musical, but you know, with actual good music. Savannah Smith and Kyle Culver met in study hall at North High School. He was a sophomore football player who loved music; she was a senior who wrote nice little folk songs. They played together for a while, but eventually broke up because of nitpicking and backbiting. Culver went on to play in another folk duo with someone else named Savanna.

“She didn’t have an ‘H’ in her name, so that was different,” said Culver. This h-less version of Kyle and Savanna didn’t last long, and after another short hiatus, Culver and Smith (now a junior and a freshman at Stout, respectively) got together to form the electro-pop group, The New Science.

Where Kyle and Savannah focused on upbeat, catchy folk songs, The New Science focuses on ethereal, introspective songwriting. The mix of quiet, acoustic guitar and electronic beats bring to mind some other Eau Claire music mainstays. Whispers of late Deyarmond Edison and Bon Iver come to mind, and both are influences that Culver and Smith can agree on.

“Obviously, Bon Iver is a big influence,” said Culver, “but we also really like Wake Up Poland (Paul Brandt of Meridene’s side project) and Chris Koza.”

Here’s the point where I have to interject something that may not come out completely clear as I write this; these guys carry themselves really well. You can hear it in the songs themselves, but even beyond that, you can hear it in the way that they field interview questions, the way they laugh about the recording process. It’s something that the band feels is a work in progress.

“We used to write the words together, but it came out super cliché. Now we work on the lyric writing on our own and come together. It feels much more natural,” said Smith.


In addition to writing a lot of new material in a studio that Culver built from scratch, the duo has a couple of ambitious tours planned. They’re slating a tour of the Midwest during spring break, and another, more extensive tour, throughout June. It’s something that has been a pet project of Culver’s for a while, but has really started to take shape only recently. When I ask about what his parents think about being gone for so long – Culver is, as he puts it, almost 17 – Culver is surprisingly candid.

“They don’t know… yet. I’m hoping that this article shows them how serious we are about this.”

And here’s the thing about that: when Culver talks about music, you believe him. The shyness that both exhibit early in the interview melts when they both start to talk about the songwriting process, or about getting ready to play their first show. This same earnestness is what sets The New Science apart from a lot of more experienced musicians. Beyond the keyboards and the weird midi-programmed riffs lies electronic music with a soul, with hope. Here’s hoping that Culver’s parents see the wisdom in that.

    Kyle and Savannah’s debut show since reforming as The New Science is Jan. 30 at Living Room Coffee House, 2006 Cameron St., Eau Claire, along with musician John Davey. The show starts at 7 pm, and costs $3 for adults, $2 for children under 12.

    The New Science + Whetherman plays Feb. 13 at Acoustic Café, 505 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire at 8pm. For more information about the band, check out www.myspace.com/thenewscienceproject.