Local flannel rock band Orange Doors’ dropped new single, “Dungeon,” as part of the 2021 SceneSC Sampler playlist July 2.
The new track, home-recorded by singer-songwriter Ian Russell and bassist Michael Ewens, showcases the band’s signature psychedelic grunge style, beginning with an acoustic riff that is quickly swallowed by a deluge of echoey vocals. The dark and dreamy sound calls to mind In Utero-era Nirvana, yet the unpredictable changes in tempo and rapid drum kicks are thoroughly modern.
“Dungeon” was born of the solitude Russell grew accustomed to during the pandemic, an experience that shaped both the song’s mood and lyrics.
“It did hurt to not play live music and to see venues — one after another across the state — close their doors was heartbreaking,” Russell said. “After a while, we just started writing. For ‘Dungeon,’ a lot of it is about quarantine and being stuck at your house. The lyrics mostly consist of, you know, feeling isolated.”
The act of transforming the idea into a song began as it typically does for the band — Russell started with an acoustic riff and some lyrics. “[Then] I’ll bring it to Mike, he’ll put keys and bass on it, I’ll put drums on it,” he said of the songwriting process.
The duo is now in the midst of recording a studio version of the single at Charleston’s Fairweather Studio.
Once that edition of “Dungeon” is released, the band will work it into live shows, which, in addition to Russell and Ewens, include three other bandmates: keyboardist Cooper Russell, trombonist and tuba player Jackson Inabinett and drummer Paris Byars.
Orange Doors also has plans to put out a music video for the single and begin touring again in October this year.
“Just be on the lookout.”
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