THE DOCTOR IS IN: APPLE ORCHARD

APPLE ORCHARD is a FILIPINO INDIEPOP BAND based in the U.S. composed of brothers RYAN and DALE MARQUEZ which was formed back in year 2000. Apple Orchard began as a solo project by RYAN MARQUEZ when he started writing songs and even had some bedroom recordings during those times. I was able to get in touch with both DALE and RYAN MARQUEZ of this great PINOY Indiepop duo so thus this blogpost of mine was born as my simple tribute to the band right here on my little blog "The Doctor Is In". According to Dale and Ryan, the song "Wide Awake" was the reason why Apple Orchard came into existence. This song was chosen by TOTI DALMACION of the famed GROOVE NATION and now on TERNO RECORDINGS to be on Manila's Definition Records sought-after Filipino Indie CD compilation entitled "MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY" back in 2000. Ryan asked his brother Dale to play bass just moments before recording "Wide Awake" in the studio for the said compilation and both of them considered the result was more than satisfying thus APPLE ORCHARD was born. Dale who has broad musical knowledge knew exactly where the band was heading in terms of their sound and thus the duo continued making music. Aside from Apple Orchard, both Dale and Ryan have other side projects which will then make you think that these guys are true and real music enthusiasts. Ryan with Soda Jerk and Carnival Park while Dale with Some Gorgeous Accident, Sonnet LVIII, and sometimes with Soft Pillow Kisses. Both Ryan And Dale are also in Dorian Of Jupiter Bells.

So I asked them where did they get the name "Apple Orchard"? Was It influenced by "Cherry Orchard"? Btw, the above photo is where the MARQUEZ brothers got their band's name. I highlighted the "Apple Orchard".

These were the replies of both Dale and Ryan regarding the band's name:

RYAN: It's a song by BOUQUET. I made a tape with two demo tracks and at the time, Bouquet's Apple Orchard was my favorite song. I labeled the tape "Apple Orchard".

DALE: No connection to Cherry Orchard, no. But apart from being a song by BOUQUET, it also has something to do with The Field Mice's very first gig.

Here are other questions I asked RYAN and DALE and their replies are well indicated:

What inspired you to form a band?

RYAN: I'm a big music fan. Seems like the only thing left to do besides listening to music is make music. It's just a hobby for me though.

DALE: Sometimes, there are these sounds in your head and you just want to write it down and see what you can do about it. Of course, other bands have inspired us to write our own music.

Of course,a very common question regarding music influences. Who are your influences? What kind of music do you prefer or do you listen to?

RYAN's favorite Bands/ Artists:
Teenage Fanclub, The Field Mice/ Northern Picture Library/ Trembling Blue Stars, Brighter, The Sugargliders, Galaxie 500, BMX Bandits and a lot more. I also love Sixties pop, Shoegaze, almost anything that's Scottish and '80s guitar pop too.

DALE's favorite Bands/ Artists:

There's too many! My Bloody Valentine, Blueboy, The Field Mice, Riverside, Railway Children, Trashcan Sinatras, Pale Saints, Slowdive, The Pearlfishers, The Montgolfier Brothers, The Wake, New Order, Henry Mancini, Martin Denny... I'm into Sixties girl groups too and sunshine pop, and a lot more in fact.

Why did you prefer to be a duo than to be a four/ five piece band?

RYAN: We love the D.I.Y. thing and we never intended to become a live band.

DALE: We were really more into recording our music than playing live anyway and since we can play different instruments, I think it was more spontaneous.

What was your very first ever gig? How did it turn out to be?

RYAN: Possibly in Mayric's a long time ago. The crowd took it easy on us. It was a small crowd.

DALE: Yeah, I think it was in Mayric's, during one of those Buzz Nights. The usual small, late Sunday night crowd.

MAYRIC'S Concert Ticket courtesy of Onatz

Any memorable gig that you wanna share?

RYAN: I like the Shelflife Popluck show and The Summershine Popfest. I'm looking forward to playing the New York Popfest this May!

DALE: Definitely the Summershine Popfest in Ventura in 2008. Playing with the likes of Phil Wilson, Silver Screen and The Tartans, it was surreal. I had my June Brides records signed by Phil, and Silver Screen liked our set! A close second was the Half-Steps Toward Bright Skies gig in Malabon, in 2007. It's a real small venue, but it was packed with friends and familiar faces. But I think this coming New York Popfest would be a blast!

New York Popfest Poster Ad: May20-23, 2010

What was the band's very first composition?

RYAN: "Wide Awake".

DALE: Which is now available from our bandcamp page.

Listen to "WIDE AWAKE" by clicking the CD Single Cover:

How do you go about the entire process of producing your songs, EP, albums etc.?

RYAN: We never rehearse. Sometimes, when a song is already written, either one of us will record each part first, then the other, until we build multiple tracks and go from there, really. There are times, when we have a drum beat that we like, one of us will record a guitar part or a keyboard part over it, develop a melody and build more tracks til we make a good song out of it. That's how we produce the songs but in the old days, we use a 4-track tape recorder like we did in "A Hiding Smile". That was harder because our sound was too limited, we would have a maximum of seven tracks for all our parts. We sounded like kids playing but we enjoyed the lo-fi quality though.

DALE: Recording at home has been quite an experience. We've had experiences working in a recording studio as Apple Orchard and with our other bands, but home recording has made us more intimately connected with our music. We've learned to explore a lot of different sonic structures and textures because of it.

Can you share your experience on being part of the MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY CD compilation?

RYAN: The recordings were a lot of fun... Good times indeed.

DALE: Everyone were friends with each other. We knew each other from playing gigs during the Awakenings and No Zone scenes in Club Dredd, and Buzz Nights. It was like that early '90's term that described the London-Thames Valley scene: "the scene that celebrates itself".

Both of you have a lot of side projects aside from APPLE ORCHARD. Does it affect the band's status? Where do you get those inspiration and energy to do these side projects.

DALE: Like Ryan said earlier, we're big music fans. And we're inspired easily. However, the music we do with our other bands doesn't affect Apple Orchard's status in any way.

You guys are one of those who continue inspiring a lot of Pinoy Indie Bands up to date. So how was it being one of the moving force of the Filipino Indiepop Scene today?

RYAN: Not sure about that, but thanks! :D

DALE: I really wouldn't call us that, we're just one of a number of Filipino bands who play indiepop music.

I guess that's a lot of great information for you regular visitors of my little blog regarding my KABAYANS from the band called APPLE ORCHARD. I asked DALE if he could give me a headshot photo of their band's releases to spice up this exclusive blogpost of mine regarding the band which he gladly did. I also included the entire Discography of APPLE ORCHARD so here it goes!!

APPLE ORCHARD releases

DISCOGRAPHY
Last Wednesday Cassette EP (Popgun Recordings)
Paris Was A Daydream Cassette EP (Best Kept Secret)
Across Haymarket And The Triangle Cassette EP (Best Kept Secret)
A Hiding Smile 7" (Humblebee)
That Happy Glow 3" (Cloudberry)
Half-Steps Toward Bright Skies (Haymarket)
Turning Point 3" (Edition 59)
Leafy Lanes EP (Haymarket) Pebble (UK) and Fraction Discs (Sweden)

Compilation appearances:
Mutual Admiration Society (Definition)
Stamp Collecting (Secret Crush)
We Are Not Alone Vol. 6 (Best Kept Secret)
Dashboard Teddy (Dorothy)
Endless Summer (Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams) - compilation included with the Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams zine
Holly, Ivy And Mistletunes(Christmas 2009 compilation)

I have featured the FILIPINO INDIEPOP SCENE here in my blog before and if you missed it then CLICK THE PHOTO of Miss Susan Roces to enter my blogpost about it and download some mp3 from Pinoy Indie Bands that included Apple Orchard and the brother's other side projects.

CLICK PHOTO:

Summer Escape
Strange Carousel
Under The Covers
Music To Hold Hands To

Well, after a couple of years creating music and having songs included on a lot of compilations, finally Apple Orchard released their debut album under their band's own label HAYMARKET RECORDINGS entitled "HALF-STEPS TOWARD BRIGHT SKIES" back in 2008. We are also fortunate that RYAN and DALE shared some music files for you to listen and download here in my blog. YUP!! It's for your listening pleasure. THANKS again Dale and Ryan!!

LISTEN TO "Is There An End To The Bad Days" HERE:

DOWNLOAD THE SONG HERE:

LISTEN TO "Coffee Morning 6am" HERE:

DOWNLOAD THE SONG HERE:

LISTEN TO "For All Things Beautiful" HERE:

DOWNLOAD THE SONG HERE:

LISTEN TO "Hearing Voices" HERE:

DOWNLOAD THE SONG HERE:

LISTEN TO "Summer Memories" HERE:

DOWNLOAD THE SONG HERE:

Any message for the people who have supported APPLE ORCHARD through all these years?

RYAN: Hello there and we appreciate your support and we thank you whoever you are! Thanks, Dr Rhod.

DALE: Keep on truckin'!

I've also included three MUSIC VIDEOS of APPLE ORCHARD here on my blogpost to make things more interesting. I hope you'll enjoy watching it!!

WATCH the Music Video of "Half-Steps Toward Bright Skies"

WATCH a Fan Made Music Video of "The Saddest Perfect Ending"

I guess that's all for today's blogpost guys!! YUP!! It's "The Dr. Stirring Rhod Way" of giving tribute to my KABAYANS who create and make good music up to now. They are APPLE ORCHARD!! THANKS for dropping by and I hope you enjoyed your stay here. THANKS again RYAN and DALE for trusting my blog to feature APPLE ORCHARD!! MABUHAY kayo!!

CHEK OUT APPLE ORCHARD's MY SPACE by CLICKING the band's name: