9+1 Q&A with Dendrons

What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.

Every band member has been making some form of music since childhood, and a few of us used to play together in various hardcore, death metal, and prog bands in high school. After many years of living in different states, we reunited to form Dendrons on New Years Day, 2018 in Chicago. Obviously a lot has changed over the years.

Provide us with some info about your latest release…

Our latest release was a song called “Fool” from our debut, self-titled album, which comes out on May 22nd via Earth Libraries. It was recorded throughout a two-week recording session in Phoenix, Arizona and mixed by Matt Labozza in Peekskill, NY. The plan was to support the release with a European and US tour, but obviously COVID-19 changed that. Instead we’re shifting focus, working from home, writing demos, learning how to garden, learning classical guitar, learning some carpentry. Keeping the fire lit where we can.

Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?

Our music is eclectic and our taste is all over the map, so the answer to this question changes pretty much month by month.

Lately, been listening to a ton of early 90’s bands from the UK, like The Sundays. There’s something very intoxicating about Harriet Wheeler’s voice. Been listening to a lot of Cranes, who sound kind of like a diabolical Mazzy Star. Bowery Electric and Stereolab have been repeat listens lately. Also, back on an Alan Vega and Suicide kick.

We’re always listening to a bunch of UK Garage, techno, ambient, and things like that. Finding a ton through NTS radio.

Lately I’ve been hiking a ton, and camping outside of Phoenix, and finding ways to not be cooped up. This is corny, but silence and solitude are more influential than really any band I could be listening to right now.

In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?

I think where the interest lies for our band is how many genres we are throwing on the table. We’re music nerds, first and foremost. We wanted to see where the crossover lies. Post-punk, techno, pop, psych, drone, gaze, noise, kraut-rock–whatever. Throw it all out and explore the dynamics.

Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…

Korn – Self-titled, Slipknot – Self-titled, Deftones – White Pony

But the caveat is that we’re 9 years old again and listening on a Sony walkman.

Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?

I like them both. Studio album creation is a constantly evolving, time consuming process and exploration of aesthetics and taste. Live is so much more immediate and cathartic. We met so many amazing people on the road, and had so many experiences I would not trade for anything.

Feeling like you have something to prove, coupled with the urge to be deeply vulnerable is a drive that can’t be understated—Hunger is potent. There’s nothing I enjoy more than a band that is hungry and performing.

Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?

Most of the things we find funny are esoteric, inane babblings in a tour vehicle at 3 am. And it all seems so bad on paper.

We once were interviewed by a vegan lifestyle food blog in Montreal because they liked our “look.” None of us were vegan, and our bass player talked in a Cali surf guy accent the entire interview. I think the video is deleted by now.

Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?

It would be very hard for us to choose. Our self-titled album was carefully written as a gestalt, and we hope people listen to it as a whole.

Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?

We are planning on touring as soon as humanly possible.Regarding next year, finish writing and put out another record.

Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…

What else do you wish to accomplish in the next year?

Finish writing and put out another record.

Photo credits: Kevin Allen

Curated by: Christos Doukakis

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