Semaphore, a Brooklyn-based quartet consisting of singer and guitarist Siddhu Anandalingam, drummer Emmett Ceglia, guitarist Jay Kohler, and bassist Niko Hasapopoulos, has been exploring the intersection of modern life’s loneliness and loudness in their music for the past few years. While their loud and atmospheric sound may seem like that of any other shoegaze band, Anandalingam acknowledges that there is an instinct in a lot of shoegaze to contribute to a collective droning, something that Semaphore resists. Their music is not an attempt to glorify numbness; rather, it is an effort to connect with their audience. This longing to connect with their listeners gives Semaphore’s work a sense of urgency that informs their sound and approach. Founded in 2013, Semaphore released the...
