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Pop alternative rock band PRETTY ODD isn't just an odd band but one that is rather unique. They have a lot of influences to go off of when creating music, along with a handful of releases under their belts as it is. Plus an all new album is in the works currently, with some shows and tour in the woks as well. The band chats about their music and time together below.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Pretty Odd began in 2011. Wesley and Pierce got together to form a band, by that point, Pierce had already been in a couple little groups that participated in school talent shows or at music stores. (Wakefield MS Talent Show and Progressive Music Recitals) Pierce had joined Willow and her twin sister Savannah in a band they called Mystique, shortly afterwards, Wesley, who had been a close friend of Pierce’s since grade school, caught on, and soon Pretty Odd would be born.
Photo 2: Featured Left to Right: Wesley Hitson (Libra: Age 17) Willow Patten (Scorpio: Age 17) Pierce Clawson (Pisces: Age 16) picture Circa 2011.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
The name came from a Panic! at the Disco album, but originally we thought it was the bands name. When we finally learned that Pretty Odd was the name of the album, Pierce and Wesley took off with it, only finding out later that the album was a different turn for Panic! Moving them towards the sounds of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Zombies. That was the same sound we were going for in our own music.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
The band is based out of Emerald Isle, NC where the waves are warm, and the sand is smooth. Originally the band is based out of Raleigh, NC. Here there is a growing community of musicians, bands such as, Malibu Mac, Plaid Overdrive, Lazaris Pit, Sweet Dream, Ashley Virginia, Thørn, Dirty Blonde Band, Heartstop, Bipolar Express, Brian Felton, Will & Tony Show, Aquanauts, Work in Progress, KRVB TRIP, Mostly Primal, Dr. Bacon, Rebekah Todd, Corporate Fandango, Rosary, and many more!
4. How would you describe your style?
Our style is mainly influenced by the music of the 1970’s. Bands like, Led Zeppelin, Boston, CCR, The Who, and more! We are also influenced by other genres such as Power-Pop: The Cars, Big Star, Nick Lowe, and more. Mackenzie and Willow have a love for Alternative Rock: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Misfits, Offspring, MCR, Counting Crows, Smashing Pumpkins, Flaming Lips, and more. Glam Rock: Bowie, T-Rex, KISS, etc. Indie Rock: Tame Impala, Moon City Masters, Vampire Weekend, Weezer, Fleet Foxes, etc. Josh has an appreciation for Reggae: The Wailers, Sensi Trails, TreeHouse, Iya Terra, Signal Fire, Bumpin Ugglies, Irration, Sublime, etc.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
We have three released projects, “Ballad of the Rider,” our first EP, “TWO” our second EP. Eventually we combined them into an eight song LP called, “Flashback.” Last year we released our long awaited album, “Archaeopteryx,” which we recorded with the help of Michael Graziano, Artem Smirnov and David McConnell (Mastered albums by Lou Barlow of Dinosaur Jr. and Wilco). They were all part of a recording studio in Raleigh, NC called, Thread Audio.
“Archaeopteryx,” is a conceptual album about the Information Age, it is about our place in the timeline of humanity and imagining what would happen if there were an event that caused a group of Space Pirates to come to Earth and colonize it? What if our world was in a state of apocalypse? Those listening to the album can expect a soft cross between David Bowie, The Beach Boys and Cheap Trick.
You can purchase the album on +Bandcamp at www.prettyoddnc.bandcamp.com.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
Yes, we have a new album in the works, so far we haven’t decided on a name for it yet, but we hope to record some songs that are becoming a staple in our live set, specifically, “Dutch Girls,” and “Rebel Child.” We expect to start releasing some singles for the album as early as April of this upcoming year, 2023!
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
We do have many shows planned to follow up this release of our new music, our tour for this summer begins with a festival called The Walk-In Closet Festival @ Panther Lake (Willow Spring, NC) from March 17th - 19th. We perform at 7PM on Saturday, March 18th! We have many shows afterwards planned, SPAZZFEST in Greenville NC, Bottega in Wilmington NC, Monstercade in Winston-Salem NC, a radio show at WHUP 104.1FM for Pass the Hat on Friday, April 28th at 6PM, House of Art in Raleigh NC on May 6th, and more going into June and July traveling out to Nashville, Philadelphia and NYC!!!
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
As a band, we hope to connect with larger bands, play bigger shows, share our music with as many people as we can, and do it all humbly without loosing the sense of ourselves. After all it isn’t just all about the money, it’s about showing everyone in our crowd a good time! We dream of playing at Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, Swanfest in Swansboro, Beaufort Music Festival, Or the Charlotte Whitewater Center. After that we will keep moving on to the next opportunity and the next.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Our music is on CD Baby, and through their services, we are streaming on +Spotify +Apple Music +YouTube Music +Amazon Music.
You can find us on most social media platforms under the tag @prettyoddnc or watch our YouTube channel @PrettyOddBand
Our music is available for purchase at www.prettyoddnc.bandcamp.com.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
We want our listeners to connect with the music of the past, hold our music in reverence with those that we look up to. We hope to pave the way for other young and budding musicians, knowing that we at one point or another were in those same shoes. We wish to encourage anyone that music is not just a dead end job, but in fact, so many jobs combined, arts, events coordinator, festival organizer, press contact, booking agent, fundraiser, marketing manager, cashier, musician, the list is endless. Most importantly, follow your dreams.
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