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Concerts are out, so band takes music online

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Web Manager Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

(Left to right) Ditte Kuijpers, Alex Whitcher, Ian Kelley, Peter Harrington and Chris Boitz arrived here from different parts of the globe. Once in Portland, they found each other and now write and perform music about their new home. Photo courtesy of Driving for Peaches

The drive for peaches has been a long one. Even spanning oceans.

In 2017, Driving for Peaches (DFP) band members Pete Harrington, guitar, came from the UK and Alex Whitcher, guitar, arrived from New Zealand.

Ditte Kuipers, vocals, had hit the Portland soil a few years prior. Ian Kelley, drummer, is originally from California and works at Extracto. Chris Boitz, bass, grew up in Oregon and has spent most of his life in Portland.

“DFP’s music is inspired largely by escape, road trips and relationships and the freedom of driving wherever you want… the journey. The peach is the often unattainable thing you are striving to reach at the end, whether it is the perfect destination or something connected to a loved one or relationship,” Pete said.

DFP has written and rehearsed all of the group’s first songs during COVID-19 lockdown.

“The Pacific Northwest is relatively new to most of us in the band, so we are inspired a lot by the energy, landscape and people of this place. Our music is steeped in the vibes of this beautiful part of the world,” Alex revealed.

“Our first releases channel the energy of different parts of the state – salt: Oregon coast, head straight: Willamette National Forest, blisters: high desert,” he added.

Most of the writing has taken place at Pete’s home, where they also recorded their first three tracks. It’s the only option during lockdown.

“We now practice with the full band at Cerimon House, where they have been amazing. Based on the COVID-19 restrictions and the fact they aren’t able to hold formal events, they were willing to let us use the space for our practices,” Alex explained.

It’s anybody’s guess when playing regular shows will be a reality. As such, DFP members are focused on what they can control – writing and recording music and creating a steady cadence of releases that people can get behind.

Internet presence and building DFP’s following without being able to play live much is important to the band members.

They invite people to follow them on:

  • Spotify at bit.ly/SP-DFP
  • SoundCloud at bit.ly/SC-DFP 
  • Instagram at bit.ly/IN-DFP 
  • Facebook.com/drivingforpeaches

Tamara Anne Fowler is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a sof ter, gentler approach to editing and coaching. Her personal editors – Armani, Max Factor and Spicey’D – are also her cats. Visit her at EditKitten.com or contact her at Tamara@EditKitten.com.

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