Counterpart Explore Toxic Relationships On Debut Single “Oleander”
Samantha Colleran, August 2024
Formerly Nick Sumner & The Assistance, Counterpart is a new band set to make waves in the music industry. Nick (vocals and guitar) is a veteran of the NYC music scene, having played with bands that shared stages with the likes of Slash and Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators. Setting out on a solo artist journey with a revolving door of musicians to help him, Nick eventually found kinship with Arturo “Art” Vega (bassist and vocals), Bryan Langlotz (drums), and Jordan Dean (guitar and vocals), and the revolving door closed. Together, they’re carving out a space in the music world, their single “Oleander” solidifying them as a musical force to be reckoned with.
High school was pivotal for each member of Counterpart, where their musical switches were truly turned on. Art learned how to play guitar from friends who also expanded his music listening palette, which led him to begin playing bass in the Bronx Underground. Although Nick was drawn to the idea of playing music at the age of four when he first saw Van Halen’s “Jump” music video, he taught himself guitar and basic music theory in high school which further propelled him into the music world. As a collective, Counterpart’s biggest inspirations include Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, Stone Temple Pilots, and Pink Floyd, to name a few. Individually, musicians such as Jeff Buckley, Third Eye Blind, Tom Waits, Steely Dan, and Deftones also serve as inspirations.
“Oleander” is based on real life experiences. Going through the motions of growing up can teach you the difference between good and bad relationships, for some people the difference can take a longer time to understand. Speaking about the track, Nick shares “‘Oleander’ specifically is about a toxic relationship; one that you know is bad for you, one that will just take years off your life, but one that you simply cannot walk away from”. When writing the song, the music came first, which helped to craft the overall mood of the track, the lyrics coming later.
As a band, Counterpart’s overall goal is to make music that people feel connected to. They hope that their music can connect even deeper in a live setting and evoke more emotion within listeners. Speaking about the importance of music in a live setting, Nick shared “If you listen to ‘Oleander’ on the recording and feel like you’ve lived that experience in your life, we are confident that experiencing it in a room while we perform it will only speak more intensely to you”. They hope to share a kinship with audiences across the country, and eventually the whole world.
Counterpart has a few singles that are set to release throughout the remainder of the year. They are also hoping to bring their music to fans outside of the New York and Northeast area. You can follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on those dates, and hopefully snag tickets if they venture to your area. “Oleander” is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music.