Photo Credit: Forgetten Aesthetics Photography
Part of what they consider a growing scene in Indiana, the talented trio known as The Orchard Keepers went ahead and dropped not one but two singles in the last month. A rambunxious marriage of thrilling rock and throwback new waves sound, their double single was on the table as we talked twins, obscure trends, and more in this back and forth with 2/3rds of their musical fam.
Kendra: Were you always sure your life would revolve around music when you were younger?
Ayanna: I definitely knew I wanted music to be a part of my life in a big way from a very early age. Once Ella, our bass player, and I met at 13, there was pretty much no turning back. We both knew that we had to create music together in some capacity.
Kendra: Double singles are sort of like twins in that they were “born” or dropped the same day. With that, what famous twins would you compare your own set to? Powerhouse Olsen Twins, the relatable Mowrys, the rebellious Maddens or perhaps another pair?
Ayanna: At the risk of sounding real dang pretentious I would relate our dual singles to the famous twins; Apollo and Artemis. Partly because they’re both like kinda badass (and I like to hope that these songs are both like kinda badass), and also because I feel like The Olsen Twins don’t really give off the vibe we’re going for.
Kendra: These two were released the same day, but were they written around the same time? Or did the inspo for one come way before or after the other?
Ayanna: So, Ella wrote “Driftwood Abbey” and I wrote “Sugar Spit,” and we were both a state apart during the whole writing process (literally and figuratively). I believe we wrote them around the same time, though, but that’s about as related as they get in terms of lyrical meaning and inspiration.
Kendra: Your sound comes with a lot to unpack. From rock to punk to New Wave, it’s all rolled up into a nice tight package. The latter, New Wave, is such an obscure, sort of underground sound that’s continued to influence all these years later. Do you feel any new, out-there style from modern music will have a similar lasting effect?
Ella: Every generation will have artists that leave a lasting impression on pop culture. I remember being a kid and hearing The Strokes or the Arctic Monkeys for the first time and to me that was the real deal that’s what rock was. In terms of the underground I feel it’s no different. There may not be a name for this new music but bands like Screaming Females, The Growlers, and Hop Along will for sure leave a lasting impression because they mean so much to the generation listening to them now.
Kendra: I have some in-laws in Indiana but other than that, I don’t know much about it or its music scene. Would you say it’s one that has found its groove or is it still growing?
Ayanna: Based on how much the scene has changed in the last few years, I think we’re still growing, which is a good thing! We have seen so many new crazy amazing bands popping up all over the place recently, and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of such a thriving scene.
Kendra: With the double single out now, what’s next as the rest of 2020 unfolds?
The Orchard Keepers: We’re hoping to get some more touring under our belt, and perhaps even a second record!
