Progressive rock band Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius spent six years making their sixth album, “Impostor!” due on 7d Media (City Hall Distribution) on October 11, 2024. The songs share stories of emotional battles Joe has observed in his life and the outside world.
“Impostor!” is being released on Trey Gunn’s 7d Media and features Joe (electric 7-string violin, acoustic violin, viola, chin cello, lead and background vocals, and producer), Michelangelo Quirinale-(Guitars), Paul Ranieri (bass), Jason Gianni (drums), and Bill Hubauer (keyboards). “Impostor!” is mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser (Tears for Fears, Dream Theater, Weezer).
Now, violinist/singer Joe Deninzon & drummer Jason Gianni join the podcast to talk about the album by Joe Deninzon’s Stratospheerius – ‘Impostor’ which is out on October 11th. We also talk about Joe now being a member of Kansas following David Ragsdale retiring.
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Now the band are pleased to share the video for the new single “Outrage Olympics”. Watch the video here:
“‘Outrage Olympics’ criticizes cancel culture. It shows both the world at large and his band being spied upon by drones and cameras in a present-day dystopia.”
‘Impostor!’ features many outstanding guests and tackles a number of topics. “Cognitive Dissonance” features guest vocals from Randy McStine (Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree) explores how religious intolerance destroys childhood friendships. “Storm Surge” explores anxiety and features some legends in the prog world, including pianist/flautist Rachel Flowers, guitarist Fernando Perdomo (“Echo in the Canyon,” Jacob Dylan, Carmine Appice), and Saga vocalist Michael Sadler, who co-wrote the song with Joe and the group’s drummer Jason Gianni. Inspired by Friedrich Burgmuller’s 19th century piano piece, “L’Orage (the Storm).”
The title track addresses impostor syndrome and the epic “Chasing the Dragon” about “ unrealized dreams and expectations, ‘Are we ever satisfied?’ The dragon represents that elusive goal, always just out of reach.” The song features guest vocalist Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra).
The album also includes the Jean Luc Ponty/Jerry Goodman-inspired instrumentals “Voodoo Vortex Part I & II.”
The song title, “Tripping the Merry-Go-Round” is taken from Bruce Springsteen’s lyric in “Blinded by the Light.” Joe performs most of the acoustic strings and describes the song; “If Gentle Giant wrote ‘Eleanor Rigby.’ It’s a snapshot of a long relationship where the ‘merry-go-round’ of life keeps people from making adequate time for each other.”
Stratospheerius also covers King Crimson’s “Frame by Frame” with backup vocals from Val Vigoda (Groovelilly).
Pre-order ‘Impostor’ here:
https://7dmedia.com/impostor
1) Voodoo Vortex (Part II) 1:42
2) Outrage Olympics 4:53
3) Impostor! 8:16
4) Cognitive Dissonance 4:56
5) Storm Surge 6:20
6) Frame by Frame 5:21
7) Voodoo Vortex (Part I) 5:19
8) Tripping the Merry-Go-Round 1:53
9) Chasing the Dragon 12:22
Joe’s music’s been compared to Rush, Muse, Dream Theater, and Kansas, who welcomed Joe into the band in May 2023. “While Kansas became my main gig, it was my work with Stratospheerius that got their attention.” Looks like all that “dragon chasing” paid off for Joe and his bandmates!
