CHICAGO (August 11, 2003) -- Whorse, an alt rock band pioneered by Stella Soleil, will launch its self-released, debut album with a cd release show at The Gig (7302 Melrose Ave. in Hollywood) on Thursday, Sept. 18. The Los Angeles-based band is comprised of vocalist Soleil of Chicago, drummer Jeff Hanes of Thousand Oaks, Calif., bassist Ben Rowley of Salisbury, England, and guitarist Matt Price of New Orleans, La. The cd may be purchased via mail order or at upcoming concerts across the West Coast. “I think Stella Soleil fans will be pleasantly surprised with the new direction of the music. The vocal performances are the most aggressive I have ever recorded,” explains Stella. “While writing this album, I was angry and it’s fairly evident in the words, music and vocal takes.” Recorded at August Again Productions, in Simi Valley, Calif., the cd is produced by Kentaro Takahashi, Damon Williams and John Katsoudas, and mixed by Robert J. Pace, Jim Mitchell and Randy Mitchell. Hinting at influences that range from punk to grunge to alt rock, Whorse’s debut cd starts fast with lead track “Call Me Out” and continues to pick up speed throughout with numbers like the band’s raging cover of America’s “Horse with No Name,” taking the classic tune to an entirely new level of aggression and dynamic, and the dark, heavy groove of “Undertow.” The 10-song collection of melodic yet agitated songs that flawlessly interweaves the band’s fury with Stella’s supple vocals, also features: “5 Days,” “Half a Human,” “Pavement,” “Saliva,” “Sapharine,” “This Heart’s Ease” and “Tragedy.” “Being in control of the content and style of Whorse’s first album is absolutely, the most rewarding aspect of self-releasing. We feel really good about the final product, and how it represents our capabilities. The obvious downfall of self-release is the lack of distribution channels. While we want the ‘fruit of our labor’ to get out to our fans and start touring as soon as possible, we also are open to partnering with the right, forward-thinking independent label,” says Stella. Whorse’s cd launch performance at The Gig (323-936 4440) on Thursday, Sept. 18 will begin at 8:30 p.m. For more information in regards to purchasing Whorse’s debut cd and tour updates, please visit www.officialwhorsesite.com.