Eclectic band disappear fear to perform new political album

Reggae, Americana, folk and rock are just some of the words Sonia Rutstein uses to describe the sound of her band’s new record.

The four members of disappear fear will be stopping by The Carrboro ArtsCenter tonight as part of the tour for Broken Film, the band’s latest album. The band is fronted by Rutstein, who formed the Baltimore-based band 25 years ago with her sister. Since then, the band has released numerous albums.

Rutstein said her inspiration comes from her life experiences and national news.

“Every breath I take could be part of it,” Rutstein said. “When you’re awake, you’re seeing things that could affect you.”

Broken Film was released on Sept. 17, the second anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the album features a mix of songs that deal with national political events, as well as events from Rutstein’s own personal life. One track, “The Banker,” discusses the events surrounding the 2008 economic crisis, calling out greedy investment bankers, she said.

“Sonia and disappear fear have an amazing ability of making the political personal,” said Art Menius, the executive director of The ArtsCenter.

Menius said he has been a fan of disappear fear since the ’90s and jumped at the chance to bring them to The ArtsCenter, which hosts about 60 to 70 musical guests a year.

“I didn’t think more than a couple of minutes before committing to it,” Menius said.

Rutstein said she wrote the first song for Broken Film back in 2010 and created the record in two and a half years, taking time off to write songs for a musical and a global warming project.

Don Conoscenti, the lead guitarist for the band’s tour, is a musician in his own right and joined disappear fear last year to work on recording Broken Film. He said he agreed to tour with the group because he loved working with Rutstein.

“I have a great admiration for Sonia and her work. I also love her to pieces,” Conoscenti said.

The musician said he fell in love with music at an early age.

“I played symphony in high school because they got out early,” he said jokingly.

He said he hopes audiences will not only connect to the message behind Sonia’s music but also appreciate the musicality and beautiful sound of the band’s songs.

Conoscenti said his favorite part of performing is really getting to build a relationship with the audience.

“It’s not about being clapped at, it’s about sharing everything with the audience,” Conoscenti said.

For Rutstein, the best part is also the chance to connect with the audience. She said she is really grateful to her fans for allowing her to have such a long and prosperous career as an independent artist.

“This is the type of career that your fans let you know what works and doesn’t work. You get better at it, or you really don’t survive,” she said.

She hopes audiences will walk away feeling uplifted and more at peace with themselves and the rest of the world.

“When you disappear fear between people, you’re left with love,” Rutstein said.

arts@dailytarheel.com