We had a chance to catch up with Ben Silver, 1/3 of Chicago-based house music enthusiasts Orchard Lounge and discuss clubs, festivals, talking through turntables and their upcoming trip to Washington DC.
Orchard Lounge formed in Chicago back in 2000. How did the three of you join together and where did you come up with your name?
The 3 of us met in Chicago after Spencer and I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. We both moved to Chicago and there we met Spencer’s future wife, the Queen B. We shared the love of similar music and collecting rare records. Way too many times we would end up spinning records until the wee hours after we would go to the clubs or shows. That was how the name came to be – I used to live on Orchard Street, and my place was a spot where we would often “Lounge” out. The next year Spencer and I became roommates and once again it happened to be on Orchard Street. Coincidentally, Bethany also lived exactly 10 blocks south -on Orchard Street. The name just stuck.
All three of you have a previous background in music prior to joining forces. Spencer with the violin, Ben with the guitar and Bethany with the clarinet. Were you each able to bring unique elements to the group upon its formation and do you still see this holding true today?
Anything from seeing your first concert to learning to play an instrument inspire and influence people in their own way. I have always felt that playing music can be very therapeutic and I love playing guitar around the house when home. I look at it in a much different way than DJ’ing and just like DJ’ing, I wanted to learn how because I was heavily inspired by different music. In the case of guitar, it was 70’s jazz guitar that really made me want to learn. That lead to a love of collecting records and really trying to understand them which is a huge part of DJ’ing and we all share that. Also we are focusing heavily on production and a background in music has been really helpful for all of us.
Orchard Lounge sets themselves apart from many others because you not only tour with DJ’s but bands as well on a consistent basis. One relationship that comes to mind is the strong bond you share with the Disco Biscuits and several other jam bands. Tell us how that came about and the differences between touring with bands vs. DJ’s?
We love all kinds of music and before DJ’ing I used to be a big Phish fan and the Disco Biscuits were another band I used to see as often as possible. We used to share DJ mixes with lots of fans of theirs instead of just focusing on people who listen to DJ’s. Later we played Camp Bisco and a number of other events which exposed some people to sounds they may not normally have been listening to like house music which diversified the listeners quite a bit. It is totally different playing with bands because we are opening and then in some cases playing a short set during the set break to get the crowd fired up. Much different than when it is our own show because like any supporting act, we are trying to get the place warmed up however some of the most fun moments we have had are when the band comes out and starts the set with a “segue”, playing over our last records. When it’s our own show, we like to play as long of a set as possible and try to take the listener on a journey for as many hours as we are given.
Which do you enjoy more: Performing in clubs or festivals and why?
Clubs.
Two totally different worlds and it’s a blast getting to play these amazing festivals, especially when in front of a huge crowd which is thrilling. However, there is a reason why DJ’s and clubs go hand in hand. There is something to be said about a nice DJ booth, a big sound-system and a room of people dancing for hours on end. That is where the magic can really happen.
Your mixes and live sets frequently incorporate the use of samples and really help bring together the many genres of music you blend together. Was this a collaborative decision or is their a leader of the “samples” brigade?
Sampling is fun to do and since we don’t really talk to the crowd, it is a way we can express a feeling..or a joke with the crowd but through the music. Bethany really has a lot of samples and it is a quirky way for her personality to shine through as well. We’re all pop culture freaks so often times we hear something and think “I should record that”. It helps us to stay current and we’d rather talk through the turntables than on a microphone.
We know you’ve got a large fan base in the Northeast and have consistently rolled thru Baltimore in the past. Who/What convinced you to come down to Washington DC for the show and are you excited to perform at U Street Music Hall?
We all love DC but this time around it was all U Street. Aside from the obvious places like Red Rocks or Hammerstein Ballroom, I can’t think of a venue where EVERYBODY we speak to says it’s the coolest venue around. Just about everybody who has mentioned U Street says it’s their favorite place to see music, so we are really excited. Since it opened, we have had fans suggesting/requesting we play there.
What can we expect from Orchard Lounge in 2012?
Original music released, more mixes and lots of sweaty nights!
Check out Bethany and Spencer’s latest mix, “The Living Room Sessions Vol. 2″ as they explore the deeper, sinister side of house music.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/32301945”]
Lokkenic (Spencer & Bethany Lokken) – Living Room Sessions Vol. 2
And don’t forget to catch them at U Street Music Hall on Wednesday January 11th with yours truly. Doors are at 9 and it’s only five bucks. You can grab your tickets here.