Orange Grove - Eindhoven, Netherlands
These Days - Virtual CD review
By Pat Ferris

Before you start reading this review, get yourself in the headspace of Orange Grove and let your mind go where they take you.  CLICK HERE to visit their page at MP3.com where you can stream their music. If you're not registered, it takes less than a minute, and is worth the time spent.

I was first introduced to Orange Grove in the Summer of 2002 and found a band that was creating a groundswell of online followers.  

I reviewed their first effort, a virtual CD released through MP3.com,  called These Days. in September, shortly after my first encounter with their music.

(see http://www.hotbands.com/reviews/20020922review.php )

With founding members from the Eastern Caribbean island of St. Maarten moving to Eindhoven (approximately 2 hours out of Amsterdam), Orange Grove's sound is an example of how cultural influences create new genres.

As a relatively new band, Orange Grove's primary target market has been completely shaped by the Internet.  They were selected and contracted to write a 'jingle' for Heineken based exclusively on their MP3 tracks and home-burned CDs.  The bottom line is this...whenever you see a band that has over 100,000 unique listens,  you've found a band that deserves further research.  Orange Grove doesn't disappoint!  

I hooked up with Michael Twems, vocalist and songwriter for Orange Grove, for an online interview about 'Who is Orange Grove'

<HotBands> Let's start when the beginning happened for each of you... Where are you originally from, how did each of you fall into the music trap, and eventually find each other?

<Orange Grove> I came to Holland with Jacob (guitarist) in 1996 from St. Maarten, West Indies. Jacob was already playing guitar for some years and had just begun playing in Main Attraction...a local Soca band on St. Maarten.

<HotBands> So you're both from the West Indies originally?

<Orange Grove> Jacob, Touche (bassist) and I are all from St. Maarten..a VERY tiny island (36 square miles if you can believe that!)

<HotBands> What brought you to Amsterdam?

<Orange Grove> Jacob and I used to just jam together acoustically...freestyle stuff. We came to Holland in 1996 to further our studies. There aren't many good options for higher education over there, so after high school, students usually either take off to Holland or the United States. St. Maarten is a Dutch colony, so going to Holland is very easy and much cheaper than the United States, and the education is very good as well.

<HotBands> I see! So it wasn't because they have hash cafes on every corner?

<Orange Grove> Hah! That had a little to do with my decision of course, so we got here not knowing what the hell we wanted to do...we just knew we wanted to play music but that was still just a hobby back then

<HotBands> After you got to Amsterdam, how did you gravitate to each other? Three of you came from the same place, two of you knew each other to start... what about the others?

<Orange Grove> After a few years of jamming and playing our own stuff, we decided we had the talent to start a real band, judging from the crap we were hearing in the mainstream...especially the European mainstream! Jacob suggested we get Touche to leave St. Maarten and come do something serious here in Holland. The bands on St. Maarten are good but they can't go anywhere because the island is too small...they just end up playing covers in bars. Touche saw the potential in our original material, so we were able to get him to come over, got our first drummer and added Jasmir (female vocalist), who was already living in Holland and sang with Jacob in Main Attraction...her voice on the back-ups was perfect.

<HotBands> So, your studies were toast and you were heading down the path of music?

<Orange Grove> Yep! By that time we knew it wouldn't be long before we dropped out of school. We found Rocheteau, our drummer, at the music school went to after dropping out of our (Jacob and I) marketing management studies. the Rock Academy ...a very small music school up here that focuses on popular music. Touche and Jacob are still in the school. The rest of us dropped out last year

<HotBands> At least you had the incentive to get out of St. Maarten, and school is as good an excuse as any.

<Orange Grove> Exactly! By this time, it was 1999, and we began practicing...making new songs....and then we started doing little gigs it seemed like we got the crowd going crazy at every show...from the beginning....so that made us a bit more confident on where we could go with it

<HotBands> As far as your recording goes, when did you first get in the studio, cut your first recordings and how has the response been with what you've released?

<Orange Grove> Right in the beginning...before we even did our first show I think. We started recording at home on a little 4-track minidisc recorder. Our first tracks were These days, Hurtin and Caroline.

<HotBands> I'm listening to 'These Days' right now. Man....your bassist is sweet!!!

<Orange Grove> Yeah...that's why we got Touche! He even makes his teacher jealous! You haven't seen Touche until You've seen him live....he's extremely good.

<HotBands> I can tell he's right on the money and tight. Really good lyrics on 'These Days'! As a songwriter, what inspires you to write? Would you say your songs are created around the music or the poetry?

<Orange Grove> Thanks! I wrote 'These Days' from the days I was in love. As far as writing goes, the way songs are created differs. Sometimes a song is created around a melody and lyrics I came up with, sometimes we just jam together during practice and come up with a cool beat and then I'll put lyrics to that...sometimes it starts with something as simple as a guitar lick or bassline.

<HotBands> What type of response have you had in your area with your music, and what is the live music scene like in your part of Europe?

<Orange Grove> The music scene in Holland is very interesting actually. The musicians over here are very talented and there are a lot of skilled bands, but everybody is trying to make music with an international appeal...music that will hit the United States

<HotBands> So as far as your music goes, do you just write what you write, or do you actually think about creating International appeal? Do you see the US as the 'Mecca' of where you want to target your music, and is that why you sing in English? or is that your native language? And does that have an effect on your local crowd?

<Orange Grove> 98% of bands here write in English, and sing in English, but the truth is they don't have it in them (native English language) so everything ends up sounding kind of silly. Both of my parents speak English, everybody on St. Maarten speaks English. I learned Dutch in school...St. Maarten is a Dutch Island, but the spoken language is English. As far as my writing style goes...I write what I write. It usually starts with a topic I want to cover, whether it be love, life situations, sex...whatever I feel.

<HotBands> Is there a thriving live original music scene in Amsterdam, or is it discos, cover bands, etc...

<Orange Grove> There are live bands doing really well, and there are MANY live bands with lots of skill....but there aren't many with good songs

<HotBands> Is your band getting out in the live music scene much in your area?

<Orange Grove> We've actually been quiet, and we're still working on new songs. We've been together a short time, but have had great response with what we've released online.

<HotBands> You've gathered a large following online, with over 130,000 downloads on your MP3.com page. How do you see the Internet influencing your band?

<Orange Grove> For us unsigned bands it's perfect! We get exposure all over the globe! I've received emails from Indonesia, Israel, Brazil, Scotland...all from people that want to BUY our CDs! From our perspective, the Internet is a very good thing!

<HotBands> You have the sound of a band that is totally happening. Do you see the direction of Orange Grove focused on live shows and touring, or recording and utilizing the Internet to market and distribute your own product?

<Orange Grove> We're working with some management right now to help us secure some larger venues and festivals, and we're also re-recording some of our songs.

<HotBands> What gave you your first big push at Mp3.com to get people hearing your music?

<Orange Grove> In the beginning I pushed it a lot. I got it played on all the rotation stations at MP3 as well as radio. Back home on St. Maarten we already looked upon as celebrities. Our music is being played on the main stations down there, and because we're the first local band with international potential, people down there are really psyched. 

Heineken brought us down to play for the Regatta last March as well as bringing us back down in July to do a Heineken/Orange Grove Island Tour. Can you believe they called it a tour on a 36 square mile island?! Heineken is putting a lot of money into the music scene right now, and our daily listings increased 500% during their last promotion.

<HotBands> So, what are your next plans as far as the band is concerned? Do you have intent for tours next year, new CD release?

<Orange Grove> 'These Days' is our first release, and was done totally through the Internet. We want to finally finish recording so we can get our official first real CD release and get on the touring circuit.

<HotBands> How about something for the readers? What was your inspiration and what keeps you going?

<Orange Grove> Explore the independent music scene! There are lots of good bands out there who you've never heard of simply because they haven't gotten the connections yet. Of course there's lots of crap out there too. But I think finding bands you like on your own is much more fun than just listening to what MTV shows you. To the musicians: Play what you like, and What you feel! You'll be much better at it than playing what somebody else wants you to play.

<HotBands> Thanks Mike! I look forward to watching your band grow in the next year!

<Orange Grove> Thank you Pat! We'll see you online!

For more information on Orange Grove, CLICK HERE

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