Author: Ryan Alexander

A few hours before their first Firefly set, soul pop duo Lawrence previewed an upcoming weekend and what to expect next.

O&A: Have either of you been to or played Firefly before?

Lawrence: I went the first year and it was actually the first festival I had ever been to. So, this is a special return for me. I was going as a fan, It had been the first time I had gone to a festival as a performer. The first year, so that must have been back in 2012.

O&A: Any fun memories or memorable sets from that first year?

Lawrence: Oh yeah, tons of memorable sets. I remember the Black Keys were really good. I remember seeing John Legend and he was really good. There was this band called Kids These Days and it was a hip hop band with Vic Mensa. A lott of those guys are close with Chance the Rapper and some are in his band as well. Same drummer and some other people.

O&A: Are there any other local shows you’re playing?

Lawrence: We have a couple shows in the works that we’re figuring out right now. We’ve done a ton of touring in the North and MidWest. We’ve mostly been doing festivals and working on our new material. We’ve been on tour with Lake Street Dive. We always have shows in New York, but we promise we’ll be back in Delaware as soon as we can.

O&A: For those who are new to you, what could they expect at a Lawrence show?

Lawrence: I would tell them to expect a party. When we started out, we were just playing cafes in New York, years ago. But for the past few years that we’ve been touring, we’ve had a full band on stage. Eight people. It is a staple of the sound we go for. It has become a part of our identity. Lawrence: This clown car of friends and musician piling onto a stage that is too small for us. We get up there and we bring the house down.

O&A: Are there any other Firefly 2017 artists that you know personally or recommend?

Lawrence: Let me take out my Firefly App! If you’re talking about people we compare ourselves too, most notably, I get told on a daily basis that I look like Lil Dicky. I will be around the festival to confuse all of his fans. OK Go is a band that their lead singer went to the same college as us, Brown. We love them for all the crazy innovative stuff they do with their music videos. Misterwives is a band that people compare us with. They’re young, vibrant, and energetic, in the same way that we are. Then lastly, we went on tour with Andy Frasco. You have to check that out. You will leave differently than when you came.

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Lawrence is a youthful soul pop group, sister and brother, Gracie and Clyde Lawrence. Gracie hits the falsettos while Clyde dazzles on the keys. They will be playing a second set at Firefly Music Festival at the Treehouse stage on Sunday. Also, you can stay updated for new releases by following them on their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawrencetheband/

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Having dropped their first full release, Philadelphia’s Ill Fated Natives discuss Arden, festivals, and upcoming shows.

O&A: How long have you known each other and how long have you played together?

Ill Fated Natives: At least four years. We’ve been in two bands since 2012. The first band diffused in 2013. So, we’ve been Ill Fated Natives for about four years now. Bets and O were in high school together. We came together after graduating, after brief run-ins playing music with each other. We met Joey on the way, building to that first band. Through the rise and fall of everything, we’re the three who remained.

O&A: Are there any Delaware venues you have played and what do you think of them?

Ill Fated Natives: Yeah! I have played so many churches in Delaware. World Cafe Live in Wilmington. I’ve played there a couple times. As Ill Fated Natives, this won’t be our first time as a band playing in Delaware. Arden! Yeah, Arden is in Delaware. The Gild Hall, right? That was such a great show. That whole community is awesome and they all gather around their events. They were good to us.

O&A: What do you think of Firefly Music Festival and the festival scene in general?

Ill Fated Natives: It’s always an amazing experience. The first time you’re going somewhere, especially if you’re playing it. The first time we went to South by South West, we played it. So, to have Firefly upcoming, I think it’s great. To get so many great acts together, it’s important to get them all in one space. There are a lot of different festivals, whether you’re talking about Okeechobee or a local one, Roots Picnic. You get a bunch of acts that usually don’t come through the city, and you get them all in one place.

O&A: Are there any other Firefly bands you would like to give a shout-out to or have been listening to recently?

Ill Fated Natives: That are playing this year? Yeah! There are a couple from Philly that I would definitely look out for. Chill Moody is going to be there. Hardwork Movement, they’re a dope band. A whole bunch of Philly family are going to get there and it’s going to be great for all of us. Vista and the Wolf. They’re doing great things. The Lawsuits are playing. Joie Kathos too!

O&A: Do you think streaming services, like Spotify, have had a negative or positive impact on the music industry?

Ill Fated Natives: It’s a double-edged sword. I think on one end, you can get your music out to people who typically wouldn’t be able to get it. But on the other hand, it totally revolutionized the record industry. So, now it’s a lot more difficult for an artist to get paid. So, I think it’s good and bad. If you get those plays up, you will get returns from Spotify. There is a little bit of compensation for the artist. Not like buying an album. You have to get it where you can.

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Ill Fated Natives are a boldly charged collection of artists, self-described as a “tribal trio.” Their controlled chaos of hard rock sound is well-complemented with bluesy vocals. Be sure to check them out if you’re down at Firefly this coming weekend. Their sets are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. See more photos: https://www.instagram.com/illfatednatives/