INTERVIEW
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Their latest release is a cover of the classic international hit “Beds Are Burning” by Australian band Midnight Oil.
When it comes to band Orchid in the Ivy, two tried and true expressions come to mind: Be the change you want to be and if you want something done right, do it yourself. Orchid in the Ivy consists of members Brett Scharf on lead guitar, Chris Saalfeld on bass and Mark Schulti on drums. Their latest release is a cover of the classic international hit “Beds Are Burning” by Australian band Midnight Oil.
Doing cover songs brings multiple factors for both the musicians and the listeners. For one, depending on your audience, they may think the song is actually an original from the band. Others may immediately write off the cover because they're so attached to the original. Brett shared the way the band approached the cover was the key to it all.
“When you do a cover of a song, you should really put your own twist on it. Sometimes you can’t beat the original so why do it the exact same way? We really wanted to change this one. We sped it up and put some new guitar lines on it. We tried to make it more of a rock song, more of a punk rock song. The original song is just over five minutes but our cover is around three minutes. We hope people latch on to it because it’s got a lot more energy now.” he said.
By putting their twist on “Beds Are Burning,” the energy of the song is picked up and the message of the suffering the Australian aborigines went through comes across even stronger. It’s a message that still remains relevant today as people from multiple places are forced to relocate for one reason or another.
This desire to stand out is connected to the band’s name which Brett formulated through a realistically practical lens that was reinforced through a lens of the band’s goal.
“I have some ivy around my house that I just can’t seem to get rid of. One day there was a flower growing in it and it wasn’t necessarily an orchid but it was still a flower growing in the ivy. I thought to myself even amongst the ivy, there can still be a bright spot. There’s a sea of bands out there but hopefully we can be that orchid that pops through and is a little bit different than everybody else.” he said.
The wide range of Orchid in the Ivy’s musical palette is a key aspect to them standing out amongst other bands. Their range includes alternative, melodic, heavy, pop, progressive, and everything in between. But all of these genres fall under one umbrella: rock. Brett wanted his band to focus on the joy of pure rock that he feels is lost when it comes to the bands of today on a large scale.
“We’re trying to bring our own style and that straightforward rock sound back. There’s metal, screamo, grunge and all these other subgenres and there's good stuff there but we just want to bring back the straightforward rock sound." he said.
At the same time, having the range is what Brett prides Orchid in the Ivy on.
“For some bands, they have the same sound on their record all the way through. I’ve always liked records that go up and down. They have a slower song, it ramps up then things slow down again. I like a good roller coaster ride through an album.” he said.
With so much experience amongst the members of the band, bringing multiple styles and ideas together is something they have mastered. For Brett, bringing new ideas to the band is one of his favorite aspects of being in it.
“...Writing something, presenting it to the band, them putting their twist on it and then playing it together. Everybody just looks at each other and we’re all thinking ‘We’ve got something here.’ That moment right there is why I’m in a band. That moment is everything for me.” he said.
Being on the same page is essential for any band and the members of Orchid in the Ivy know all about this. Both Brett and Mark Schulti had been in several bands and Brett shared how the journey of being in multiple ones taught him something.
“If you're not having that connection with guys, unfortunately, you have to move on. You have to find guys that you connect with, and you have to find guys that have the same vision as you, especially musically.” he said.
When things are going the way they should, Brett says being in a band is like being in a family. You spend so much time together touring and working on music and you naturally grow close to one another. For Brett, connecting with his bandmates is just as important as connecting with the audience when he is performing.
“I want to be the best band on stage. I want to have an energetic stage and crowd. I’m an energetic guy so I’m not up there faking it. I want to pull the crowd into what I’m doing on stage. I want to connect as one. That’s what the show should be about. Going to a show, connecting with the band and you feel like you’re all in it together.” he said.
He went on to say there’s also a sense of escapism when it comes to live shows.
“A lot of the time, shows are a way to get out of reality for a minute. Forget about your job, forget about politics, forget all that. Let’s just come together as a unit and have fun. Let’s do this together.” he said.
Orchid in the Ivy’s cover of “Beds Are Burning” and their original music are all available on streaming services now.
You can hear more Orchid in the Ivy’s straightforward yet wide ranging rock by following them on these platforms.
