Bio

Palm Trees In Moscow

Singer/Songwriter

Chris Frantz is a Baltimore, MD based Singer/Songwriter. He has been recording and performing music under the moniker of "Palm Trees In Moscow" for the past 5 years (or "PTIM", for the uninitiated) with various musicians and collaborators.

Initially inspired by garage legends such as The Replacements and Guided By Voices, PTIM's music has evolved into a dark pop/shoegaze sound; complete with painstaking attention to production and an emphasis on heavier, more thematic songwriting. Palm Trees In Moscow paints portraits of feelings and frustrations that are familiar to many in huge, shimmering, reverb-drenched broad strokes.

 

"Compassion Fatigue" arrives Friday, August 9th!

First single from the forthcoming album, "Keep Your Blood".




Pre-Save on Spotify Here

For fans of Quicksand, DIIV, Helmet, My Bloody Valentine, and Failure, comes "Compassion Fatigue", the new single from Palm Trees In Moscow, the Baltimore, MD-based Grungegaze/Alt Rock project of singer/songwriter Chris Frantz.

Lyrically, "Compassion Fatigue" is about riding the razor’s edge between empathy and complete apathy. There are so many things happening in the world to care about and feel strongly about, and the social media algorithm smothers you with these ideas and images every day. It becomes overwhelming to the point that you can become numb and choose not to care about anything for the sake of self-preservation, or at least trick yourself into thinking you don’t care (If I truly didn’t care, I wouldn’t have written this song!). You only have so much energy to exert on things you can’t control.

Musically, "Compassion Fatigue" starts off with a slinky bassline and in-the-pocket drum groove that you would typically find in a golden-era disco track. Don't get too comfortable though, because the song shifts into a heavy-hitting grungy guitar groove juxtaposed with ethereal vocals, followed by a cinematic and epically satisfying wall of sound shoegaze-inspired outro. Kellii Scott, of the highly regarded and influential band Failure, provides drums, and production was handled by studio wiz Jordon Zadorozny (Blinker the Star, Sam Roberts, Chris Cornell).

"Compassion Fatigue" is the first single from Palm Trees In Moscow's upcoming album, "Keep Your Blood”.
 


 

press

The Big Takeover Magazine on "I Want It Back"

By Dave Franklin

"Palm Trees in Moscow has developed a sound that blends a warped, not exactly pop sounding but certainly pop-aware, infectiousness with a squalling, garage-rock meets shoegazing noisescape, one woven from reverb-drenched guitars and thunderous beats, cavernous sonics and howling vocals." -Dave Franklin, The Big Takeover

Full Story Here!

Plastic Mag UK's review of "Heights"

by paul vine

With Heights, Palm Trees In Moscow showcases their evolution from primal garage rockers to purveyors of diverse sound and profound songwriting. This EP serves as a thrilling showcase of their growth as artists and confirms them as an act worth watching as they continue to reach new heights in their musical endeavours" Paul Vine, Plastic magazine.

Read the whole review here:
https://plasticmag.co.uk/2023/09/new-ep-from-palm-trees-in-moscow/

Prism Reviews on "Heights"

Greg walker muses on the new ep

"Planted firmly in the guitar rock of the 90's (My Bloody Valentine, Hum, The Cure), each song captures a new and interesting theme and capitalizes on emotionial vocals, guitar and drums...the songs deal with life's anxious dance between love and loss, fight and flight, but like he sings, shine brightly nonetheless" -Greg Walker, Prism Reviews.

Big thanks to Greg for the glowing write up! You can read the whole article below:

https://prismreviews.wordpress.com/2023/09/11/palm-trees-in-moscow-heights/

Palm Trees in Moscow reach all new highs on EP, "Heights"

BY AUSTIN SHER

Big thanks for the kind words from Austin Sher at "We Write About Music". Being mentioned in the same breath as Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine is humbling to say the least! You can read the whole flattering ordeal below:

https://www.wewriteaboutmusic.com/reviews/palm-trees-in-moscow-heights


 

"Palm Trees In Moscow Announces Upcoming EP"

GABRIEL MAZZA, MESMERIZED MUSIC BLOG

Nice write-up by Gabriel Mazza at Mesmerized Music Blog on the upcoming "Heights" EP. "Vocals that are gritty yet evocative, controlled yet capable of conveying melancholia and human fragility". Thats high praise, Gabe!

"Heights" hits Spotify and all streaming platforms Friday, 9/1/23.

You can read the full article here:
https://www.mesmerized.io/palm-trees-in-moscow-announces-upcoming-ep-heights/
 

New EP Alert!

"HEIGHTS" HITS ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST.

Happy Summer friends! The"Heights" EP hits Spotify and all digital platforms Friday, September 1st.  Make sure to click the link below to pre-save on Spotify so you hear it first! These 4 songs run the gamut of emotions lyrically and musically, but the title track is the centerpiece. Big thanks to Dane Busick for his feroucious drumming, and Miguel Ferreira for his expressive bassline on the lead single/title track. Can't wait for you all to hear.

Recorded and Engineered by Kenny Kingsborough at Harbor Red Studios.

Chris Frantz: Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Dane Busick: Drums
Miguel Ferreira: Bass (on the title track)

Click Below to Pre-save "Heights" on Spotify!

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/palmtreesinmoscow/heights

 

Prism Reviews on "Strange Medicine (Pure Adrenaline)"

GREG WALKER'S THOUGHTS ON THE VALENTINE'S DAY RELEASE

"It begins with his signature, dark plucked guitar and whispery voice. There is layer added upon layer, one of the highlights of the songs: the intricate alternative rock composition, more in-studio than at-home sounding. Ethereal guitars are overlaid with crunchy guitars, his emotional growl with celestial voices." -GREG WALKER, PRISM REVIEWS.

YOU CAN READ THE WHOLE REVIEW BELOW! MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW GREG ON FACEBOOK/IG/TWITTER; HE ALWAYS HAS IN DEPTH, ELOQUENT, AND VALUABLE INSIGHTS ON INDEPENEDENT MUSIC!

https://prismreviews.wordpress.com/2023/02/14/palm-trees-in-moscow-strange-medicine-pure-adrenaline/?fbclid=IwAR3iwunppY6MKu5rfR1QJAGVahVkn0TP7Rly8eWPGv5nQWLjWvebOO995q8

"Strange Medicine (Pure Adrenaline)" drops Valentines Day

AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS FEB. 14TH

Just in time for Valentine's Day, "Strange Medicine (Pure Adrenaline)" is a dark pop song about yearning, obsession, and passionate longing. The lyrics recount the excitement of meeting someone new as the hopeful, yet frightening feelings of future possibilities charge through your veins. It is a feeling that is at once as familiar as it is brand new. The cavernous reverb caresses the arousing uncertainty of the narrator's lyrics, before submitting to the animalistic natural distortion that serves as a soundtrack of the emotional rollercoaster of lust and (potential) love.

Recorded and Engineered at Zoundfactory Studios (Baltimore, MD). 

Pre-Save on Spotify:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/palmtreesinmoscow/strange-medicine-pure-adrenaline

Album

Album details

PTIM PRESS

Press photos

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