The Features

The last week of April saw The Features preparing to go in the studio to record their sophomore record for Universal Records. With only two weeks until they were to begin recording, they received a phone call from a label rep with a ???great opportunity.??? The opportunity was to cover The Beatles ???All You Need Is Love??? for a credit card commercial. The label rep also said they would put the cover song on the new record and potentially release it as the first single. The band responded by telling the rep they did not want to record the song. It was made clear that if they didn???t record the song Universal would drop them. The Features still upheld their decision not to record the song and they were dropped. After a few hard weeks that resulted in one band member leaving, they pulled together and recorded Contrast with Jacquire King (who was slated to record the full-length) while looking for a new label home. The new EP has songs that reflect the bands current transition. The new material is stronger than ever, like the glittery but pensive ???Contrast.??? ???Look at what we have done / See the colors begin to fade,??? Pelham croons in a soft warble. ???Soon we???ll lose everyone / And they???ll only be shades of gray. ???The song is meant to signal new beginnings. But its lyrics could be interpreted as a response to the controversy???that by holding true to their convictions, The Features have risked losing everything they have worked for, including making a career of playing music. Contrast is self-released by The Features and is nationally distributed through Junketboy.com and the band???s website www.thefeatures.com. The Features are returning to the studio in the fall to complete their follow-up record to Exhibit A. In the interim they are playing dates in support of Contrast.