music EXPLORING new music by the Skukmello crew BY ECLEEN CARABELLO Skunkmello, a raw-sounding and eccentric band, released their first full-length album on Sept. 16 and it smells like a success already, according to the group. With unique sounds that reflect what the band members themselves desire to hear today, they’ve maintained a following of people that have the same vision for the future of music. Jono Ori, drummer and vocalist for the band, is also a student at Columbia’s School of Journalism, with a masters in media production from The New School, and works with the university’s School of Continuing Education. Hailing from New Jersey and currently residing in Astoria, Ori is a lover of Queens. “The cool thing about Queens is that it’s not cool,” he said. “Cool by other people’s standards is not quite cool for me.” As areas in Queens go through a process of gentrification, Ori continues to enjoy the simple pleasures in his community, including the diversity of foods and, believe it or n ot, the lack of overflow of rising artists, he said. Yet there’s no denying that the band’s new album, “Stars & Stripes,” is “cool” by many listeners’ standards. Its mellow and unique vibes form a conglomeration of sounds that keep listeners intrigued. According to Ori, the band plans to expand their horizons and are open to including anything from rap to 60s rock in their upcoming projects, primarily “in an effort to not get bored,” he said. Ori, alongside Matt Barlett on lead vocals, guitar and harmonica, as well as Ed Cuervo on bass and vocals, have had this project in the works for the past 11 to 12 months and are pleased with the outcome. For Ori and the band, studio time went from being a way to blow off steam after work to a non-negotiable part of their day. Their music has captivated many and taken them to various parts of the United States, including Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Maryland, keeping Barlett’s “beat-up Jeep Cherokee” jam-packed with gear and their hearts content. Prior to their new album they released their debut EP, “Whiskey & Oatmeal,” in November 2012 and the follow-up EP, “Lowlife Dreams,” in June 2013. Ori said that for the band, performing live is the best part of the whole thing, and they enjoy feeding off of the energy of crowds. Skunkmello has evolved and grown since it was first formed in 2012, yet the band still sees room for growth. They look forward to adding on backup singers, horn players and more, all in an “effort to not get bored,” and make music that’s crowd-pleasing and different than anything else that’s out there. For more information on upcoming shows—and how to get your hands on “Stars & Stripes,”—visit skunkmello.com.
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