Tribe Society

Falling somewhere between MTV and LSD, Tribe Society has created a refreshingly classic sound that is entirely their own. Featuring lead vocalist Gavin McDevitt, Rory Given on bass and guitar, Bradford Alderman on synthesizer and keys, Phil Boucher on drums and Seth Hachen on flute and synths, the New York-based alternative-rock band fuses many genres and influences together from industrial grunge rock to hip hop, to create a completely unique sonic experience. About the band’s sound, Alderman says “we want this music to grab you and let you look at things in a way you may have never looked at them before.” Their cover of Young Thug’s Stoner, released in early 2015 by Lokal Legend under Island Records,definitely grabs. It’s more of are-imagination than a cover; a wholly unique tribute to an Atlanta underground track that recently became a hip hop anthem.

Their inspiration seems limitless: the guys cite everything from 80s anthems to psychedelic rock to gangster rap to dreamy electronic pulses. “We grew up in the 90s,” says Given, “so we love riff rock and heavy music that is really guitar-focused, but we’re also driven by our love of synths and raw hip hop beats.” All of these seemingly conflicting styles have helped create a signature sound that seems to transcended classification. They aim to be seen as a culture of artists exploring sound and rhythm rather than be defined by a single genre or style. “We love to take conventional stuff and do it in an unconventional way” adds Alderman.

Their original songs showcase their unique sonic signature while lyrically pursuing topics about investigating life and searching for deeper meaning. Sounding philosophical often in an ambiguous way, their tracks make people think. Kings, their first original single released, is an intense anthem featuring thunderous beats and haunting vocals which underscore the lyrics that focus on self-reinvention and pushing beyond established limits. Ego, a dreamy original, paints a beautiful dichotomy showing the pursuit of letting go of self-importance by describing a metaphorical murder scene of a person who has just "killed" their own self-destructive thought patterns by becoming aware of them. It’s a heavy message, but one that sticks with ease. Both tracks beg listeners to live life by their own rules. "We like to make music that just feels good when you crank it up but also has depth if you choose to examine it."

Tribe Society is a true collaboration; each song is a sum of the band’s parts. “If one of us wasn’t involved in a particular song it would feel incomplete,” says Given. The band is a tightknit group who has been living together and making music since they met almost a decade ago. “We’re together pretty much every single day,” says Given. “So we’re basically one collective mind, writing music all the time. We really love what we do.” This cooperative spirit is evident in their music. It’s tight and distinctive using an elaborate arsenal of production techniques and instruments. One unconventional rock instrument is Hachen's flute, of which he says, "We’re constantly finding new ways to use it in modern music. It might be a new type of melody or just the way we record it and process the sound".

Following the release of Stoner and Kings, the group plans to release a mixtape consisting of original music and additional covers (including The Beatles’ Here Comes The Sun) which will be 30 minutes of seamless continuous music reminiscent of the way Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon transitions from track to track. Scheduled to drop March 23th, the members of Tribe Society want their sound to speak for itself. They’re enigmatic and deliberate in their message: “Our music is this thing that’s constantly evolving and we want listeners to be part of that experience. We have a lot more to discover and create.”