Hiya Dead Orchards, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
Thanks for joining us today… Tell us bit about where you are from and how you got into music?
We both had slightly different routes into music, but really clicked when we met around 15 years ago as students. We both had very similar music tastes, including shared guilty pleasures. We started playing together around that time, but it was really rustic and wasn’t at all serious. It wasn’t until another 5 years later when we met up, had a jam and thought we could give it a proper go. But even then, it started quite tongue-in-cheek and took some time for us to build up the confidence to play seriously.
What’s the live music scene like in London right now?
London is luckily always full of good bands – both homegrown artists and those passing through on tour. But it does feel that live music and band-based music isn’t as well-catered for as it used to be…anywhere really. There are loads of great nights and people really making an effort to keep it alive, but it doesn’t feel as organic as it once was. Feels like a struggle for venues trying to keep afloat and that’s not how it should be!
Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
From London, there’s a great band called Night Tapes which we’ve been enjoying. They released an album last year and it is superb. A bit further afield – Nightbus from Manchester and Just Mustard from Ireland. All are doing some amazing things. Sea of Days is also an incredibly underrated band!
Do you think its easy to become a victim of our surrounds sometimes?
Definitely – and that’s one key reason we do what we do. It’s like escapism. Life is always trying to take everything all at once, so you really need to carve out time to make music if it’s what you want to do. Mundane and repetitive surrounds can actually be just the ticket for artistic inspiration and drive.
What are your ambitions for the band?
We just want to keep it interesting, creative and go in whatever direction we choose. It’s an emotional and creative outlet for us both. If people like it and support us, that’s a bonus.
What’s your favourite social media platform to use and why?
They all have drawbacks, but we tend to use Instagram the most as it has a wide reach and is easy to use. We’d like to make better use of our Bandcamp as a social platform.
We believe it’s essential to have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and X to introduce yourself to all the different types of audiences out there, what are your thoughts on that?
Depends on the goal of the band/artist, but most people do seem to require some sort of online presence to get heard. That said, there was obviously a time not so long ago where social media didn’t exist!
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
It’s easier to record, produce, release and promote music than ever before, but it’s harder to make a living out of it.
What are your thoughts on AI generated music?
No! Just no. Music should showcase a human experience – AI can’t do that. Maybe it’s OK in some very specific circumstances – e.g. you need a scrappy song for a comedy video or something. But it can’t replace humans when making actual music to listen to, relate to and perhaps learn from.
What is the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
You can get better with age! In many ways it’s logical really – in terms of developing skills, having a broader set of influences, learning from mistakes etc. There’s so much emphasis and expectation around “succeeding” in music when you are in your 20s – as if there is some sort of cut-off point. It is true that in most cases, responsibilities just build and build from that age, sapping time and energy away from the music. But at the same time, the development of skills and range of experience are also accumulating. Many established artists actually produce some of their finest work much later in life for those very reasons.
What’s currently in your ears and on rotation at the moment?
In addition to the earlier mentioned bands, some of our old faves have just released some new music – Bill Callahan has put out a great record and the new Modest Mouse tune is promising! Also just recently got into Lael Neale at the minute, particularly the Acquainted with Night record, a really evocative and vintage sound.
What was your worst experience on stage? Any funny stories to share?
Fairly early on, we played a gig and somehow were put further up the bill than a much more established band. Soundcheck was nerve-wracking to say the least. We were two scrappy lofi kids who had spent the afternoon in the pub and hadn’t practiced properly in ages. We had to soundcheck in broad daylight in front of this lovely quintet of established musicians. They smiled politely but probably had a word with the promoter afterwards…
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
We’ve just released our fourth album “This Was Always Yours”. We put out a record in 2024 and were very happy with it, but wanted to follow up with something punchier and more diverse.
What was the recording process like?
Even though it’s a shorter record than the last, the recording process seemed tougher than before. We both had a lot going on and a lack of time for recording. The music was down pretty quickly, but the vocals took longer. Vocals are so raw and depend so much on how you are feeling at the time. A guitar or synth doesn’t expose itself in the same way. If you are run down, vocals will show it.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
No. It captures a moment. It’s everything we wanted it to be for that album.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
We hit the 10-year mark recently. Quite a milestone that has flown by. We are working on a guitar-based EP for the first time in a while and are plotting a darker, full-length album (our 5th!) for 2028.
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