I first saw the cleverly-named Semi Precious Weapons perform, in December 2009, as the opening act on Lady Gaga’s juggernaut Monster Ball Tour, at the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort. They certainly got the evening started with a glittery glamtastic bang, and resonated with Gaga’s cultish Little Monsters.

Since then, the band – Justin Tranter (lead vocals), Stevy Pyne (guitar), Cole Whittle (bass), and Dan Crean (drums) have toured the world with Gaga, been featured performers at Lallapalooza and the Isle of Wight Festival, headlined their own Dirty Showbiz Tour, and – most recently – opened for Ke$ha on last year’s Warrior Tour. Talk about building your bona fides!

Now, as SPW is releasing the first four tracks from their new album, Aviation (and after an evening spent twirling each other around the dance-floor, at Hollywood hotspot, Giorgio’s), I get the skinny from Tranter about the new album, and more.

ShulmanSays: Hey Justin! Let’s start at the beginning…

Justin Tranter: Well, the first single we are focusing on is a song called “Aviation High”. It’s my version of a good ole fashion love song; about those moments when the connection (and the sex) is so good that everything feels like you are high. SS: What served as the song’s inspiration?

JT: A very beautiful and dysfunctional relationship I was in, with a borderline bisexual. 

SS: What was the process behind the writing of “Aviation High”?

JT: I wrote the song with my band members and the producer of the song, Axident. It was one of those magical writing sessions where everything fell into place, and we wrote and recorded the whole song in just a few hours. 

SS: Is this a preview of more to come?

JT: It sure is! The full album comes out in April. 

SS: Are you touring anytime soon?

JT: We will be doing some random promo dates from now until summer. Then hopefully some proper touring come June or July.  SS: Finally - what are you most pleased with, as regards your newest releases?

JT: I am most pleased with the fact that we finally have new music out. We have been in some deep label drama for the last four years, and it feels wonderful to even have four of these songs out, for anyone to hear. 

Semi Precious Weapons’ album Aviation will be released in April, and its first four singles – including “Aviation High” – are available for download, now, at iTunes.

Aviation – Semi Precious Weapons
Click HERE to preview/download on iTunes

Get into it!