Episode 51—Bringing Melody Back to Pop Music—The Duskwhales

By Catholic Culture Podcast ( bio - articles - email ) | Sep 18, 2019 | In The Catholic Culture Podcast

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Indie rock trio The Duskwhales formed almost 10 years ago at a small Catholic high school in Virginia. Over that decade, four albums and three EPs, they have forged a distinctly melodic sound in contrast to today’s joyless pop milieu. Their vocal harmonies hearken back to The Beatles and The Beach Boys, while their organ-heavy instrumentation (no bass player in their live shows) sets them apart from contemporary rock bands.

In this 10-year career retrospective they discuss their musical output so far, the importance of their friendship and faith to their survival and continual artistic growth as a band, the loss of melody and retro clones in modern pop music, and more. You’ll hear clips from their eclectic discography, including their new EP, Take It Back.

The Duskwhales are Seth Flynn (vocals, guitar), Brian Majewski (keyboards, vocals), and Chris Baker (drums, vocals). All music used with permission.

Links

Buy The Duskwhales’ music https://theduskwhales.bandcamp.com

Follow them https://www.facebook.com/TheDuskwhales/

Episode 5 on The Duskwhales’ EP Hospital Dreams https://www.catholicculture.org/podcast/index.cfm?id=5

Interview with The Duskwhales’ Sorrowful Mysteries https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otc.cfm?id=1473

Dr. Kurt Poterack on melody https://www.getprinciples.com/a-people-without-melody/ and rhythm in popular music https://www.getprinciples.com/the-rhythm-of-popular-music/ and McCartney’s “Yesterday” https://kpoterackblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/yesterday/

Theme music: “Franciscan Eyes”, written and performed by Thomas Mirus. Download the Catholic Culture Podcast soundtrack.