Beneath the Surface: Unearthing The Anticline's Unique Sound

Photo by April CK

The story of The Anticline is, in many ways, an organic one. Unlike many bands born from deliberate auditions or pre-conceived notions, this quintet came together through the natural progression of friendship forged in the halls of college. "We’re friends from college," explains the band, "We didn’t really plan on being a band, we just jammed." This spontaneous beginning speaks volumes about the band's ethos – a focus on genuine connection and the joy of creating music together.

For many of its members, music has been an intrinsic part of their lives, long before The Anticline took shape. Hassan Ali, the band's drummer, recounts a lifelong connection: "I always wanted to play music or be in a band for almost all my life. My family is musically inclined, so growing up around that made my passion for music grow." His journey through orchestra and band classes solidified a deep-seated desire to explore music creation in a rock band setting, a dream he has now brought to fruition. Grace Kelley, the bassist, echoes this sentiment, stating, "Yes! since I was little. I’ve played instruments since I was in 3rd grade." Steven Londono, a guitarist, pinpoints a specific turning point: "Probably since I was 12, I would listen to Red Hot Chilli Peppers and I wanted to be like John Frusciante." This early exposure to music, whether through family, formal education, or personal discovery, laid the groundwork for their collective musical endeavors.

When asked why they chose to be in a band, the responses are as varied as their musical influences, yet united by a common thread of enjoyment and camaraderie. Hassan’s unwavering passion for music and his lifelong dream of being in a band are evident. Steven's answer is a simple yet profound "It’s fun, why not do it," highlighting the inherent joy of the creative process. Grace beautifully encapsulates the band's core dynamic, stating, "I love hanging out with my friends & I love music so it all mashed together into this beautiful thing." This emphasis on friendship as the bedrock of their musical journey sets The Anticline apart, demonstrating that their bond extends beyond the confines of a rehearsal space or a stage.

The Anticline's sound is as dynamic and evolving as the band itself. When pressed on their musical genre, they offer a nuanced response, indicating a refusal to be neatly categorized. "We have different variations of playing styles," they explain, "But, we found what best works for our sound is an indie rock, ambient, and… folk?" This initial description hints at their experimental nature. However, they've been pushing their boundaries even further, revealing, "We’re mostly indie rock but more recently we’re incorporating drain gang elements and some opium shoegaze." This willingness to explore and integrate diverse influences, from the ethereal sounds of ambient music to the experimental nuances of "drain gang" and "opium shoegaze," suggests a band committed to pushing creative boundaries and forging a unique sonic identity.

A significant marker of their artistic growth is their commitment to original music. While they previously incorporated covers into their sets, The Anticline has now fully transitioned to showcasing their own compositions. "We actually had stopped playing covers!" they proudly declare. "We mainly focus on playing our originals to showcase who we are as a band." This dedication to their own material is a crucial step for any aspiring band, allowing them to carve out a distinct space in the music scene. Fans eager to hear their recorded work won't have to wait much longer. The band is currently "in the process of mixing and mastering some songs that we had recorded at Sill and Glade Cabin," with the promise of new music "soon!" This upcoming release is highly anticipated, as it will provide a definitive sonic snapshot of The Anticline's evolving sound and artistic vision.

Photo by Smittycreatives

In today's music industry, especially for independent artists, self-reliance is key. The Anticline exemplifies this by handling all their own promotional work, a challenging but ultimately rewarding endeavor. "I think the most difficult part of this was creating a brand for ourselves," they reflect. This involves everything from photoshoots for major shows to developing merchandise, creating engaging content for TikTok and Reels, and curating posts from their dedicated photographer, April. The absence of released music has presented its own set of hurdles, with opportunities lost due to the lack of a tangible sonic portfolio. "Reaching out to venues without music released does kind of hurt us," they admit, "We lost opportunities to play with other bands solely because we don’t have music released. So, branding was the only way we have." This insight underscores the competitive nature of the industry and the importance of a strong visual and online presence even before a single track is officially out.

Despite these challenges, The Anticline has already begun to make waves, performing with a "decent amount of other bands," including the well-known Easy Honey. The experience of sharing the stage with other artists is profound for the band. "Playing with others feels surreal," they express. "Seeing these artists perform is a different kind of feeling of appreciation for what we are doing and how lucky we are to do what we are able to do." This sense of gratitude and camaraderie within the broader music community is a powerful motivator, fueling their desire to continue their artistic journey.

Hassan Ali, a self-professed follower of bands across the country, offers a unique perspective on the artist-fan dynamic. Having experienced music from both sides of the stage, he finds the newfound attention exhilarating. "Honestly, being on the opposite end of the spectrum feels surreal," he shares. "We had people come in from hours away to watch us play at one of our shows and honestly having people listening to us feels so lovely." His humility is striking, as he concludes, "I don’t really have any expectations, but lucky we get to do this." This grounded perspective, a blend of appreciation and genuine enjoyment, is a hallmark of The Anticline's approach to their music.

The commitment to their craft is evident in their practice routine. While life and college schedules can sometimes interfere, the band aims to practice "once a week." Crucially, they emphasize that "It never gets serious as the moral of our playing is extremely important. Why play if we’re not having fun." This playful yet dedicated approach to their music ensures that the creative process remains enjoyable and sustainable.

Teamwork is another cornerstone of The Anticline's success. When asked about their roles and definition of a team player, the band members highlight effective communication and equal contribution. Hassan views a team player as "being a piece in a puzzle that fits perfectly. Everyone’s role is super important. We don’t really have designated roles, we all just communicate effectively." Steven adds, "We all contribute equally, it helps that we’re all invested in the band," while Grace affirms, "It’s definitely an equal endeavor which makes it really fair and fun." This collaborative spirit, where every member's voice is heard and valued, fosters a harmonious and productive creative environment.

Beyond The Anticline, the individual members possess diverse musical backgrounds that enrich their collective sound. Hassan's seven-plus years in orchestra and band, along with experience in other bands and gigs, provide a strong foundation. Grace also brings formal training, having "played trumpet since the 4th grade" and having been "in a different band in the beginning of college." Steven's involvement in two other bands, Abbi Jean and Valentin Prince, and his extensive experience with jazz and avant-garde music, introduce a layer of sophisticated improvisation and experimentation to The Anticline's sound. This amalgamation of varied experiences contributes to the band's unique and evolving musical identity.

Photo by Smittycreatives

For the members of The Anticline, music transcends mere entertainment; it is a profound emotional outlet and a vital part of their lives. Hassan describes it as "an outlet for me to express a part of myself." He further elaborates on its positive impact outside the band, stating, "Outside of the band, I look forward to gigs or even practices. And enhances my mood." Steven finds it "very hard to describe something that important," hinting at the deep, almost ineffable connection he has with music. Grace echoes the sentiment of emotional uplift, saying, "Finding a good song feels amazing." Even with her recent inclination towards podcasts, she affirms, "it still feels great to listen to some great artists." This shared understanding of music as a source of solace, expression, and joy reinforces the strength of their artistic bond.

Balancing the demands of a band with the rigors of college life presents a unique set of challenges. The most frequently cited obstacle is the "lack of time." Hassan explains, "We are all in different majors and of course those will take priority. So it can be difficult to find time to practice, songwrite, or for gigs." Steven corroborates this, emphasizing the importance of meticulous scheduling: "Definitely the scheduling, we’ve learned that we need to schedule a week, at minimum, in advance for our rehearsal." Sam succinctly summarizes the core issue as "work and life balance…" However, Grace also highlights a significant "pro": "Having practice one a week is a good outlet for the stress of college and jobs." This underscores the therapeutic and stress-relieving power of collective music-making for the band members amidst their academic pursuits.

Having officially started in January 2024, The Anticline's rapid ascent has exceeded their initial expectations. "We did not think we would impact / reach this point in any of our careers," they humbly admit. "Opening for known artists and leaving the house show scene had been a big step for us. We’re just so appreciative of where we are." This remarkable growth in such a short period is a testament to their talent, dedication, and the undeniable chemistry they share both on and off stage.

When asked to define passion, the band members offer insightful and personal interpretations. Hassan views it as an internal "fire" that fuels continuous growth: "Passion to me, is a feeling inside kind of like fire. Fire that keeps you going and the more you do it the more the flame kind of rises." Steven, while acknowledging a personal sense of gratitude, admits, "I don’t feel very passionate, I’m very lucky to play with my friends so I mostly feel grateful." Grace, on the other hand, sees passion as the daily excitement derived from pursuing one's loves: "Passion means getting excited to do the things you love every day. it's important to have that for me when I get super busy and need motivation." These varied perspectives on passion reveal the different driving forces that unite them in their musical endeavors.

Several members of The Anticline are pursuing majors in music or art-related fields, prompting the question of how this contributes to their music and industry understanding. Hassan, a Media/Film major with a minor in Music Industry, highlights the practical benefits: "It helps me understand more of what I am doing and with my major it taught me how it is to market and focus on our online presence." Steven, a general music major, acknowledges the difficulty of comprehending the industry but emphasizes his focus on "solely music and not the industry aspect," while still being "aware of the relationships in the music industry." Grace, a Creative Advertising major and Music Industry minor, finds direct benefits from her studies: "Lots of stuff I learned in Music Industry classes has helped me, even if it’s just connections and inspiration." This academic grounding provides them with valuable insights and tools for navigating the complexities of the music world.

Photo by Smittycreatives

The dream of being signed by a label is a common aspiration for many bands, and The Anticline is no exception. Their responses reveal a unified excitement at the prospect. Hassan would "jump right on that" as it aligns with his dream of "Making music with the people I love… forever." Steven views it as a significant step towards his goal of "live off music." Sam unequivocally states, "id join in a heartbeat!" Grace, despite a recent job acceptance, would "absolutely make it work because I love music and the band." This collective readiness to embrace a major label opportunity speaks to their ambition and commitment to a career in music.

When it comes to collaborations, The Anticline looks to both local talent and established artists. Hassan and Grace express a strong desire to collaborate with local Harrisonburg artists like Abbi Jean and Babe Lewis, aiming to "push our sound more and curate something new." Steven specifically mentions Terry Fang, a local artist and friend, praising his fun personality. Sam's aspirations reach further, hoping to collaborate with Dogwood Tales from Harrisonburg or even the critically acclaimed Big Thief, if the band achieves widespread recognition. These varied aspirations demonstrate their appreciation for both their immediate musical community and the broader landscape of artists they admire.

Stage presence is a crucial element of live performance, and The Anticline draws inspiration from various sources. Hassan, as the drummer, looks to Whistler from Hippo Campus and Devon from Flipturn, noting that their performances taught him that "performing is more than just playing music, it is putting on a show." Steven humorously admits to a "lack of it" but notes that "people tell me that my lack of it is fitting for my character." Sam looks to iconic guitarists like The Edge from U2 and Buck Meek from Big Thief. Grace finds inspiration in local artists and the energy of music festivals like Macrock, emphasizing that she "just get inspiration from the music itself." These diverse influences contribute to the unique dynamic of The Anticline's live shows.

Beyond musical inspiration, the band members look up to individuals who embody qualities they admire. Hassan admires Nathan Stocker from Hippo Campus for his "online presence and his guitar playing," describing him as "seemingly multi-talented with a stage presence like no other." Steven's musical inspirations include Keith Jarrett and Bill Frisell, whom he praises for their ability to "listen to what’s going on and they play so beautifully." Outside of music, he looks up to UFC fighter Alex Volkanovski. Grace cites The Warning, a band whose "presence and sound always impresses" her, despite their different musical style. These diverse inspirations highlight the broad interests and values that shape the members of The Anticline.

Photo by Smittycreatives

Finally, reflecting on a life without music, the band members offer poignant insights into its profound impact. Hassan believes music has "taught me to live in the moment," suggesting that without it, he would be "trying to find a distraction." Steven imagines a path in "physical arts," while Sam believes he "definitely wouldn’t be as confident in myself." Grace sums it up concisely: "Less excited and connected." These responses underscore the integral role music plays in their lives, not just as a creative pursuit, but as a source of meaning, connection, and self-discovery.

As The Anticline continues their journey, navigating the exciting challenges of independent music, their story serves as an inspiration. Rooted in friendship, fueled by passion, and driven by a relentless desire to create, this young band is poised to make a significant impact on the indie rock scene and beyond. With their upcoming releases and continued dedication, The Anticline is a band to watch, offering a refreshing blend of talent, authenticity, and an unwavering love for the music they make.

Written by Mckenzie Blaasi