Seryn are a rare kind of band: Their brand of indie folk is immediately accessible, yet it still grows on you with repeated listens.
Layers of beautiful instrumentation make This Is Where We Are a rich debut from these Texans, but the sublime fusion of guitar, ukulele, accordion, bass, viola and banjo only tells half of the story. The group's true appeal lies in its chilling harmonies, with each member playing an equally important role.
The Denton Record-Chronicle called one of Seryn's recent live performances "so dynamic that you could feel the key changes in your feet, through the ... concrete floor!" The Fort Worth Star-Telegram described the same performance as so impeccable that it must have been an auditory magic trick, or "sleight of ear."
You'll be able to hear for yourself on June 9, when Seryn come to San Diego's Tin Can Ale House. In anticipation of the show, check out this video of their performance at Paste Magazine's SxSW party. The band was also kind enough to provide us with a list of influences, which you can find below.
1. Max Klinger: 19th-century German artist. Really amazing stuff, and he was kind of a prodigy as well. Pre-dated Freud with his series on fetishism, most notably The Glove -- Nathan Allen (guitar, guitar, geeeter, banjo and guitar. And some mouth sounds.)
2. Free Willy: The ultimate human triumph film about an animal. Bonus: MJ is on the soundtrack -- Aaron Stoner (bass, trumpet, cello and bear roars)
3. Cerulean: Not a real color; it's a pigment. Everyone in the band's favorite crayon, and such a cool word -- Trenton Wheeler (ukulele, banjo, accordion, sings the sung songs)
SoundDiego
Music. Community. Culture.
4. Ties: They really help to pull an outfit together. What was once mere clothes is now an ensemble -- Chris Semmelbeck (drums, banjo, pump organ, guitar, accordion, bells, earthquake stomps)
5. e.e. cummings: His poetry is like a painting or a song on paper. It unravels me -- Chelsea Bohrer (violin, percussion, and bird chirps)
T. Loper is a writer and photographer for the San Diego music blog Owl and Bear.
