StaG was founded by the duo of Matt McGwire and Will Walden back in the summer of 2008. The pair relocated from their home in Los Angeles, CA to Boulder, CO for college. While in Boulder, they turned their dorm room into a home studio and began experimenting with ambient electronica and pop music using their laptop and a small guitar amp. They wrote and recorded their debut effort, Rifle Meeker, an album heavily inspired by their move to the Rockies. After the release of their debut effort, the band gained quite a bit of attention in the Denver, CO area with appearances at the Goldrush Music Festival and the Underground Music Festival, and with an upcoming appearance at this year’s CMJ Festival in a few weeks, the band looks to expand their presence nationally. (During this time, the duo which had used various local musicians to help flesh out their live sound have recruited a third full-time member, Mac Welsh, expanding the band to a trio.) 

With that in mind, the band released the first single from their forthcoming sophomore effort Difference, “I Think I’ll Shout.” The track bears an uncanny resemblance to Vampire Weekend – there’s a slight Caribbean/World music influence you’ll hear in both the percussion and the guitars gently fed through reverb and delay pedal. However, the track is airer and more playful while still being quite catchy. 

Based on the strength of this single, I think you’ll be hearing quite a bit about this band throughout the next few months and into 2014.