Cephas to Release Debut Album Thursday

_{By Zach Collier}

This Thursday, July 28th, Provo folk band Cephas will release their self-titled debut album. Relative newcomers to the Provo music scene, Cephas released the music video for their lead single, “Giants Among Men” last month ahead of this week’s release. This album is but one of several being released this week, with a dual EP release this Friday from The Solarists and Grey Glass. We don’t know what it is about the Provo music scene, but when it rains, it pours.

Cephas will be headlining their album release show at Velour Live Music Gallery – an impressive feat for a band so new, and one that will hopefully help them make some headway in the weeks and months to come. Joining them will be folk-rock locals Brother. and the female fronted The Crosswinds. Cephas was recently featured on City Weekly’s local release calendar.

The upcoming album will explore things like mental illness and wander lust. Lead singer Rob Speiser grew up in Wyoming. After starting several bands, he decided to pack up and move to Provo, UT with the hopes of pursuing music. “I wrote ‘Creatures of Migration’ a few years ago while I was in school,” he said during an interview with The Couch Series. “You feel stuck, you don’t get to do anything – life just seems so boring. You’re glued to a table. I wanted the lyrics to be about getting away – exploring the world.”

“Creatures of Migration” is just one of the eight tracks on the album. Each one is written from the perspective of someone Speiser admires or someone who experienced a difficult situation that left an impact on him. “I feel like a lot of Rob’s songs are about overcoming adversity,” says bassist Melissa Alexander. “When I listen to our music, I feel good.”

The release show is This Thursday, July 25th, at Velour Live Music Gallery. Tickets are $7 at the door (cash only). Doors open at 8PM. Make sure to like Cephas on Facebook and watch the music video for  their lead single “Giants Among Men” below. You can download the song for free on Soundcloud.