Fig Voices: The Hook

AT FIG AND LEHIGH VALLEY UNDERGROUND, WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF LIVE, LOCAL MUSIC TO BUILD COMMUNITY. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VALLEY’S MUSIC SCENE AND EVENTS AT LEHIGHVALLEYUNDERGROUND.COM.

In 2017, four childhood friends and musicians from the Lehigh Valley came together to create something fresh and unique. In 2018, they seem poised to take off to great heights.

The Hook’s journey started when guitarist/singer Carlos Barata moved
back to the Lehigh Valley from Oregon, following the passing of his father. From there, he reconnected with old pals Chris Kondravy (drums), Youssef Moussa (bass), and Joe DiMarco (keys) —all of whom were eager to start making music again.

“We were each just sort of around, available, and feeling the right void at the right time,” Barata explains. From there, the foursome went to work, borrowing elements of roots, reggae, rock, punk, blues, metal, and gospel to create a sound that blurs traditional genre barriers. This is evidenced on the band’s debut, full-length release, “Moonshine & Honey,” which was made available to the public on March 12.

“Moonshine & Honey” is a result of different directions meeting at one place at the perfect time,” Barata said. “Overall, nostalgia is a big part of this album. We all long for something, whether we like it or not. Usually, it’s our past. We hope people will have a great time with the music, but also take the time to focus on the authenticity and simplicity of the lyrics. We’re sure there’s some common ground.”

The band looks to translate the momentum from “Moonshine & Honey” into a continued, growing presence on the regional scene. In addition to gaining more traction in the Lehigh Valley, the band has plans to play festival dates and a summer/fall tour—stretching to Philadelphia, New York, and western Pennsylvania—as the year progresses.

“Overall, there’s just a lot of good mojo going around this entire experience,” Barata said. “The future looks bright—and that’s exciting.”

Learn more about The Hook at readysetgethooked.com.