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Photo Credit: Horatio Baltz

With our current nationwide tensions, it's about time America figures out how to spread love and avoid hate, and Durand Jones & The Indications is doing just that with their outstanding new album, American Love Call. Durand Jones & The Indications is a soul/R&B group from Bloomington, Indiana, but their profound sounds are adored by listeners worldwide. Recorded at Brooklyn's Studio G, Durand Jones & The Indications' sophomore LP draws attention to their developed songwriting and intricate instrumentals reminiscent of '70s soul. With melodic songs about all types of love ("What I Know About You" focuses on platonic love and "Sea Gets Hotter" hones in on undying passion),  American Love Call is Durand Jones & The Indications' call to action for human beings to embody love in every aspect of life.

Speaking on American Love Call, drummer Aaron Frazer shared:

"We're in a time when so many in this country romanticize the past – wishing to return to a place of simplicity and former glory. But the reality of our history can be disillusioning. For so many in America, the past represents violence, oppression, fear, and colonialism. As America grows more diverse, we have the opportunity to form the strong, interwoven tapestry that we've long claimed. When we find a way to unite across our various movements and see the commonalities of our struggles, we can begin to push forward together. We can begin to see the threads connecting our goals as disparate rallying cries blend into a single song. An 'American Love Call.'"

Below, you'll find Durand Jones & The Indications'  five tips for spreading love in modern-day America:    

Life isn't always fair, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't love.

Addressing stark contrasts between the living conditions across America, "Morning in America" channels Durand Jones & The Indications' relentlessness and brutal honesty when it comes to pressing matters. Touching on the luxurious upper class through playful lyrics, "Congressmen in Washington / Receive their brief n' brew," and immediately toning it down to, "While lead it fills the pipe lines / In a Detroit county school," Durand Jones & The Indications is endlessly blunt with their opinions. Although they truly call out modern day America's bullshit, Durand Jones & The Indications also suggests that we have the ability to rally together if we ignore our seemingly irrelevant differences: "And in towns across the country / It's color that divides / When in working men and ladies / We could find our common side." With Durand Jones & The Indications' optimistic mindset, our divided world just might have a likely shot at growth and progression amongst all of the tragedies we face.

Love is so worth the pain.

Have your ever been so consumed by someone's pure beauty and found yourself in a constant cycle of overwhelming emotions? The talented guys of Durand Jones & The Indications definitely have, so they devoted a captivating song to this unexplainable feeling. "Circles" is a proclamation of unrequited love, interestingly opening with the enchanting chorus: "Got me goin' in circles / Got me goin' in circles around you." After a stage of desperation and complete lust, a simple lyric in second verse speaks volumes: "It drives me crazy that / You treat my love like a game." Many of us have dealt with unreciprocated feelings, but we continue to pursue romantic relationships with certain people, knowing that they may end up breaking our hearts.

Love is patient, love is kind.

Another strings-infused track on American Love Call, "True Love" rewards those who are willing to be patient when it comes to love. Durand Jones & The Indications demonstrates incredible vulnerability in the sweet lyric, "Can't sugarcoat it / I'm devoted to the notion of me and you," as they discuss the questionable potential of a nonexistent connection. They're persistent with this concept of patience throughout the entire song, as they sing, "So I'm waiting on you girl / Come and find me."

Trust people with your heart and ask that they do the same.

Durand Jones & The Indications understands that human beings are naturally curious creatures and we're bound to seek the unknown possibilities. In regards to the relationship narrative of "How Can I Be Sure," they assure us that at one point a strong love connection existed, but now that distance is thrown into the mix, things have gotten fairly complicated. A moment of realization is showcased by the candid lyric, "I used to think our love was reason enough to stay / That was all before," during which a serious reevaluation of commitment is explored. "How Can I Be Sure" desperately begs us to be honest with ourselves and our partners about our changing emotions to avoid hurting one another.

Know when your heart deserves better.

The clever chorus of "Too Many Tears" says it all: "One lonely heartbreak / Too many tears / Three makes a heart ache / For all these years." This witty wordplay makes the liberating message of this song that much more memorable as Durand Jones & The Indications stresses the importance of knowing our self-worth. Dealing with someone who apparently can't treat their significant other with the respect they deserve, they hit us with the straightforward lyric, "Just look in the mirror and love yourself / So goodbye." Trailing off with "too many tears" and calming acoustics, Durand Jones & The Indications refuses to admit defeat by leaving the toxic situation on their own terms.

Become a love doctor with Durand Jones & The Indications'  American Love Call below:

You can catch also Durand Jones & The Indications on tour this spring:

Mon. March 18 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Tue. March 19 - Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Thu. March 21 - Santa Fe, NM @ Tumbleroots
Fri. March 22 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Sat. March 23 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Mon. March 25 - Tustin, CA @ Marty's On Newport
Wed. March 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
Thu. March 28 - Santa Barbara, CA @ SOhO Restaurant & Music Club
Fri. March 29 Oakland, CA @ The New Parish
Sat. March 30 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Mon. April 1 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
Tue. April 2 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Thu. April 4 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
Fri. April 5 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
Sat. April 6 - Kansas City, MO @ recordBar
Sun. April 7 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
Tue. April 9 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Wed. April 10 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Thu. April 11 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Fri. April 12 - Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
Sat. April 13 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
Sun. April 14 - North Charleston, SC @ High Water Festival
Tue. April 16 - Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
Wed. April 17 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Fri. April 19 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
Sat. April 20 - Uncasville, CT @ Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun Resort
Sun. April 21 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
Mon. April 22 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Wed. April 24 - Cincinnati, OH @ The Woodward Theater
Fri. April 26 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
Sat. April 27 - Oxford, MS @ Double Decker Arts Festival
Sun. April 28 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Sat. May 11 - Bloomington, IN @ Indiana University w/ Neko Case