Forts: A Local Treasure

I recently had the pleasure of seeing local legends Forts in concert at an underground venue in Phoenix. Their inclusion on the bill caught me off guard, as the rest of the artists were more rock-oriented in their sound, while forts is electronic to their core. Forts is an electro-pop group that comes to us from Peoria, Arizona. They are known for their live (as opposed to recorded/premixed) sets that are certified crowd-pleasers. The group has contributed songs to the soundtracks of video games such as League of Legends and Pub G Mobile, establishing a reach far beyond The Valley of the Sun.

The group members are made up of vocalist Mary Clare Clemons (AKA Mars) on vocals, as well as helming the group’s head songwriting, Colton Jones as cowriter/coproducer, and Isaiah Gutierrez on live drums and percussion. Forts’ influences come from a variety of pop, electronic, and rock-oriented groups and performers.

“Still Here,” a collaboration with Tiffany Arts and 2WEI, appears in the game League of Legends and features eclectic vocals, majestic choruses, and soaring highs. Harmonious hums are strewn throughout the background, as thundering drums lead to a dramatic crescendo in which the vocals and music both reach an incredible volume. “Still Here” features the song structures of both rock and electronic music, with extended verses and numerous drops/bridges. The lyrics are strong and passionate, perfectly matching the dramatic battles featured in League of Legends. “Still Here” features the themes of perseverance, transformation, and empowerment.

“Got my heel crushing the snake. There is nothing you can take. It’s in my blood, it’s in my veins. Im still here!”

The chorus is majestic, addictive, and encapsulates the independent spirit of Forts and the various members that make up the unit. An incredible sense of urgency and yearning is conveyed through the lyrics and overall tone of the song. This in a post-battle anthem for the ages and an incredibly emotional song to boot. Give it a listen when you can.

“Air” featuring Julian Gray and 28mm combines aspects of Trance and House to create a unique mashup of genre inspirations. There are numerous remixes and alternative mixes of this song, leading to a wide variety of results and interpretations. The percussion and drums are more House-adjacent, with the bass and drops relating more closely with the Trance genre. “Air” is beautiful and upbeat with incredible production. Two different basslines twist around each other to and fro, leading to an incredibly full sound with no gaps or empty space. The incredible vocals of Mars shine through as bright as ever, along with the production input of Colton and Isaiah. Production and vocals are consistently on the same page and compliment the other well. Each member of the group plays a crucial, irreplaceable role in the group’s unique vibe and genre.

Forts is an incredible local group with an admirable work ethic that shines through in their music and live shows. The live nature of their shows gives concert attendees a sneak peak on what truly goes on behind the scenes when creating effective EDM music. Due to appearances in numerous video games, a lot have people have actually heard the group without realizing it. Appearing in the lobbies of video and mobile games is a fantastic way to market your music to potential new fans and listeners. This may result in an increase in touring demands that may further increase exposure and reach, repeating the cycle. Forts is a very nice group of up-and-coming musicians who pour their heart into every note that they produce. Do not miss out.

Connect with Forts: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | SoundCloud