Melodime

We caught up with the talented dudes of Melodime. Learn about their sound, their history, and find out their advice. Read below:

How would you describe your sound? 

Jon - We're a rock band at the core, as we were all brought up on music like Tom Petty and Led Zeppelin. We also love Billy Joel and Elton John, which is why the piano has such a huge role in our music. However, we're from Virginia. Country music, bluegrass... it's everywhere here. We're definitely influenced by the story telling nature of those songs, as well as the instrumentation. I think it's helped us appeal to fans of both rock 'n' roll as well as country music.

Why would you say your style is unique in your genre? 

Sammy - Maybe mostly because we've never tried to have a style. What we play is how we play, both naturally and individually, and the sum of it is our sound. Since that factors into the formation and arrangements of our songs, through the recording process, and to the live performance, the end product is certainly our own and wouldn't be the same under the care of another 4 guys, or Brad and another 3 guys. That's the cool thing about a band-band vs a singer with a band. We're a band-band, and I think as long as you are honest with your art and not trying to emulate, than it's always going to be unique.  In more practical ways, there's not a lot of piano driven music in the country genre outside of the ballads. The big radio songs are usually guitar-centric so to drive uptempo songs with piano is fairly different I suppose. And finally, we don't do the Nashville co-writing thing which I think keeps our musical personality in check and gives us more of a raw element to our sound. (I say "raw" with equal parts positive and negative connotation). Co-writing's obviously a hugely strategic and successful approach, it just hasn't been ours, and so far we like that it sets us apart a little bit, for better or for worse.

How did Melodime form? 

Bradley - The band formed in 2006 when a childhood friend of mine introduced me to his drummer friend, Tyg. We were seniors in High School at the time. After a couple garage band jam-outs, Tyg's older brother, Sammy, swooped in to let us know we sounded like crap, but had some potential - haha. The 3 of us put in around 6-8 hours of daily rehearsal that first Summer and never quite looked back.

You guys currently just got off of The Big Wheels tour. What would you say your favorite thing about touring is?
 

Bradley - I really enjoy the traveling. We've been fortunate enough to see so many cool places across the country as well as internationally and have formed some great friendships with folks all over. 

Sammy - I like the traveling too. Our country has so much variation in all these different pockets on the map, from landscapes to food, pace of life, etc... We've seen more of it than most people ever get to, yet I feel like we've still only scratched the surface. 

Tyg - Once we are done loading in and it's time to play the drums.

Jon - I love eating the food and drinking the beers of each town we go to. Chicago pizza, New York pastrami... I'm eating my way around the country.

If you could go back in time to when you first started touring, what advice would you give yourself?
 

Bradley - I'd sit myself down and calmly say, "If the clearance on the bridge in Pittsburgh says 8'10'' and your shuttle bus is 9', don't try and drive under it... idiot!"

Sammy - "Hey buddy ol' pal, you know how you're really good at packing the trailer? Let's keep that our little secret." 

Tyg - Don't play cajon more than once or twice a week and to stretch before and after playing it to save your back.

Jon - Eat healthy and exercise. You won't be doing it regularly in 2016, but maybe if you start earlier, it will have more of an impact. Also, burn half your wardrobe and start over.