U of A Guitarist Collaborates With Grammy-Winning Producer Ted Young for New EP

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Joseph Vanderslice

University of Arkansas senior Joey Vanderslice, a guitar performance major in the Department of Music, has just released a new EP entitled "New Ways To Die" with the band Gardensnakes.

The project marks the group's second release and first collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Ted Young (Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth).

"I wanted this EP to reflect the kind of uneasiness and anxiety we all feel right now, but in a fun way," said Vanderslice. "I started working on this just before the pandemic hit, so in a way, it feels like a descent into chaos.

"Music is incredibly important in times like these and my hope is that this music reaches someone and puts a smile on their face."

The collaboration came together at the end of the spring 2020 semester with the band and Ted Young exchanging songs and tracks throughout the summer.

"Ted was really able to bring out the gnarly-ness of our sound and it was really cool to work with someone [who has] a history of working with such legendary musicians," said Vanderslice, the main songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist of Gardensnakes.

Young won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Historical Album for mixing The Rolling Stones' Charlie Is My Darling. Young is additionally known for his work with a wide range of artists including Kurt Vile, Alice Cooper, Mick Jagger, Andrew W.K., The Gaslight Anthem, and Sonic Youth.

"It is refreshing to hear some straight up rock and roll!" Young said on working with Gardensnakes. "This EP is for anyone who wants to just crank it up and kick out the jams!"

Vanderslice agreed, "If you like loud, noisy rock n roll, give it a listen!"

The "New Ways To Die" EP from Gardensnakes is now available through the Gardensnakes bandcamp site: gardensnakes.bandcamp.com. The EP will be also available via major streaming platforms later this month.

About Ted Young: Grammy Award winning audio engineer Ted Young has twenty years' worth of experience recording, producing, mixing, live sound, and studio installation. Since starting his career at venerated studios Water Music in Hoboken, NJ, and The Magic Shop in NYC, he has worked with such artists as Kurt Vile, Alice Cooper, Mick Jagger, Andrew W.K., The Gaslight Anthem, and Sonic Youth.  He has also worked alongside legendary producers such as John Agnello, Bob Ezrin, Kevin Killen, Mike Barbiero, Tony Visconti and Niko Bolas. Ted won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Historical Album for mixing The Rolling Stones' Charlie Is My Darling. Young is based out of his personal studio, Outer Space, in Philadelphia but travels internationally as well as nationwide to work with artists. 

About Gardensnakes: Gardensnakes emerged from an Arkansas summer to beat boredom to death with loud guitars, vicious hooks, and a fine sense of taste. In 2018, singer/guitarist Joey Vanderslice began recording demos in his attic, planning to release them online. Shortly after the six-song album was released, Vanderslice formed a live band featuring Tucker Houk (guitar) and Bryce Holcomb (bass), later adding Greg Boswell on drums. The self-titled album was soon picked up by independent label Abracadabra Records, mastered by Nathan Sabatino (Dr. Dog, Harlem), and re-released with two more songs ("Run Away" and "Quicksand"). The band quickly gained local attention and radio play on several local and international radio stations. In early 2020, Vanderslice began work on the band's latest EP, "New Ways to Die," working with Grammy-winning audio engineer, Ted Young. With Vanderslice recording from home, and Young mixing the EP from his studio, "New Ways to Die" was released in October, 2020 with a tighter, straight up rock and roll sound.