The Submarines

The Submarines formed in Los Angeles after getting their start in the Boston scene performing amongst friends in Morphine, Pixies, Helium, Belly and Lemonheads. After much individual success and years of playing on each other's records, Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti forged a romantic relationship which lasted for 4 years. A breakup on the eve of election night 2004 led to a period of sadness but one which grew into productive songwriting. After some time apart, Blake and John reunited and realized the songs they wrote separately each dealt with their breakup in a similar fashion. From those songs was born a musical duo and an album in the pure, nostalgic sense, one with a single, unifying theme: a stronger relationship emerging from fears, discontent and (eventually) longing. "Declare a New State" is about the unexpected wonder of a second chance.

The Submarines are Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti.

Before releasing her solo debut in 2002 on Boston-based indie Kimchee Records, Blake Hazard recorded her first demos with Morphine’s Mark Sandman at his home studio. Her early recordings earned her a spot in the Boston Phoenix's Top Ten list of the best undiscovered Boston bands. Critics compared her subsequent solo debut to Mazzy Star and Beth Orton. Blake has toured with Evan Dando, Kristin Hersh, Ben Lee, Joseph Arthur, Juliana Hatfield, the Pernice Brothers. She has been nominated for four Boston Music Awards (Best female Vocalist and Best Female singer songwriter). Blake graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and spent two years as a visiting undergrad at Harvard University. Trivia alert: Blake Hazard is the great-granddaughter of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

John Dragonetti has recorded under the name Jack Drag, releasing albums on the labels HepCat, Sugar Free, and A&M Records. Jack Drag toured with indie luminaries Cibo Matto and Built To Spill and his music ranged from ethereal dreampop to Wall of Sound-inspired symphonies and have been favorably compared to Beck, the Eels and Apples in Stereo. John Dragonetti is an accomplished composer, working on projects from VW ads to the Emmy-nominated Showtime series "Weeds" on which he joined forces with Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago.

Blake and John first performed on the acclaimed radio program, Morning Becomes Eclectic, on KCRW in LA in April 2004

The Submarines are an indie pop group comprising John Dragonetti (aka Jack Drag) and Blake Hazard, who initially crossed paths while working as solo artists in Boston. Introduced by mutual friends, the pair soon became musically and romantically involved. Dragonetti produced Hazard's debut solo album, 2002's Little Airplane, and they began playing and performing with each other's bands. The couple moved west to Los Angeles to continue their career in warmer environs, but their relationship ended during the fall of 2004. The event fueled their respective songwriting, however, and since Hazard still recorded her material at Dragonetti's studio, the two began sharing the songs they'd penned about their breakup. Apparently, this also worked to reconcile their love, and the two got back together, recorded the aforementioned breakup songs, and ultimately married. Declare a New State!, which was mastered by a friend as a wedding present, was then released on the Nettwerk label in 2006. Honeysuckle Weeks followed in May 2008, featuring decidedly happier songs and an increased emphasis on Hazard's lead vocals. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide