&a

Hailing from Denton, Texas Seryn (Chelsea Bohrer, Aaron Stoner, Nathan Allen, Chris Semmelbeck, Trenton Wheeler) just released their latest addition to the music world This Is Where We Are and the ten tracks are so totally worth the itunes investment.

The quintet’s arrangements are an effortless audio treat and the band floating somewhere in the range of Seabear and Mumford & Sons is soothing- chalk full of elegant arrangements and hair-raising harmonies.

I caught up with Seryn’s Trenton Wheeler about their latest release, and here’s what he had to say!

LN:  The name is pretty interesting- any special meaning behind it?

TW:  In the span of two weeks between becoming a band and playing our first show, we had to figure out a name and very quickly Seryn held the most value to us. The invented word resonated strong ideas held by each of us like surrender, serendipity, serene. It comes loosely based on the latin word for peace or tranquility.

LN:  Main musical influences?

TW:  The band has a very eclectic taste in music, varying from classical minimalism to metal, and it all has its way of finding a place within our writing.

LN:  You’re stranded on a deserted island and can only bring 3 CDs- pick your poison!

TW:  I’m not sure what my bandmates would pick, but here’s my personal picks:

1) Philip Glass- Glassworks

2) Explosions in the Sky- The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place

3) Detektivbyran- Wermland

All instrumental albums so I could at least pass my time singing over them. If I were to lose touch with reality, these would be the albums to do so with. A soundtrack to my insanity.

 

LN:  Your most recent release is fluctuates between ambient and rock seamlessly, what was the main inspiration behind the heavy tunes?

TW:  Five people experiencing their lives through different eyes and then trying to manifest those moments into a song can do that sometimes. We’ve all failed; sometimes we’ve succeeded; and those things just kinda creep their way into music.

 

LN:  Valentines day is around the corner!  If you had to draft a candy conversation heart- what would yours say?

TW:  “Don’t Eat Me!”

 

LN:  Any pre-show vices or rituals?

TW:  Some Throat Coat tea, maybe a little whiskey. The two combined make for a nice toddy. And a big hug.

 

LN:  Craziest tour/show story to date?

TW:  We were driving to Oklahoma still about two hours from our destination. while we were on the freeway this white car with three guys pulls up in the left lane and a “long-haired dude” tries to get our attention. We start yelling at them, they start yelling at us, but we couldn’t understand anything with the wind. Eventually he made a sign for smoking pot at us and asked us if we wanted to join. We declined, but our drummer hand signed back his phone number, and the guy called and we gave him directions to the show. Two hours later the three showed up to the show. Turns out the driver’s brother was a professional dog-runner and they were transporting a puppy to California. He and the “long-haired dude” were just along for the ride.

LN:  Will we be seeing you at SXSW?!

TW:  Yes, and if you don’t find us, we’ll find you!

LN:  Who’d you die to have an “Almost Famous” moment with?

TW:  Are you talking about when the plane almost crashes?

 

LN:  Any words of wisdom to bands just starting out?

TW:  Practice. All the time. And sometimes it’s OK to throw mini ping pong tables at each other.

 

LN:  What’s up for you all in 2011- recording, tours?

TW:  We will be touring the Midwest through all of February, doing some festival stuff during March, and in late spring/early summer will be heading up the west coast. We have already gotten well under way with material for our second album and we are working on it every chance we get.

 

LN:  Closing remarks?

TW:  Try not to think of an elephant.

LN:  Well guess what I’m thinking right this second!

From the ultra-calming (complete with Baroque-like intro) “Of Ded Moroz” to the more upbeat (and I’d venture to say unintentionally uplifting considering the rest of the nine tracks) “We Will All Be Changed”  the album keeps its listeners on their toes in the middle of the CD.  My favorite standout tracks off the Texas based band’s album are the aforementioned “Of Dead Moroz” and “We Will All Be Changed” mp;amp; the very ambient “River Song.”  All in all the ten tracks are worth listening to in their entirety, and I look forward to seeing them live at SXSW!

Seryn: “This Is Where We Are” from Jon Todd Collins on Vimeo.

 

Can’t wait until March to get your Seryn fix?  Head to www.myspace.com/serynsound to check them out!