Merely three weeks after The Vanderbuilts formed, the band won Syracuse University’s Battle of the Bands in October.

The band, composed entirely of students from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, has been writing, playing and recording ever since.

Its new EP, ‘Far From Here,’ will be released for free May 3. The band also has two free upcoming shows Wednesday at 10 p.m. at Nifkin Loungein ESF’sMarshall Hall and May 3 at 4:30 p.m. on the ESF Quad.

Max Newland, the bassist for the band, said he hopes to make a presence in the ESF music scene with the two concerts.

‘It’ll be nice to reach out to them a little bit,’ said Newland, a sophomore environmental studies major. ‘We want to show ESF we exist.’

Both the EP and the shows will be free, and drummer Grennan Milliken said the band members strongly believe in releasing free music.

‘When a lot of people haven’t heard of you before, you can’t spread your music by trying to sell it,’ said Milliken, a junior conservation biology major.

However, The Vanderbuilts are not a typical band — they use a combination of traditional instruments, along with the fiddle, banjo and keyboard, said singer Dave Riddell. Members write their own parts, but Riddell and Sam Kogon do most of the songwriting, he said.

Riddell, who plays keyboard and banjo outside of singing, said the variety of instruments is essential to the band’s music. 

‘Different instruments add more feelings and layers,’ said Riddell, a sophomore environmental science major. ‘It creates a fuller sound. We try to keep it a little more interesting.’

Aya Yamamoto, the violinist of the group,said her instrument adds aunique soundtothe band.

‘I think the fiddle is really good in places for giving texture, especially when we record, because we can overdub a couple times,’ said Yamamoto, a sophomore environmental biology major. ‘It’s definitely great to add a little complexity in terms of melody and counterpoint.’

But Sam Kogon, lead singer and guitarist, said all instruments equally play a vital role.

‘A lot of our songs wouldn’t be anywhere without the keyboard, banjo or violin,’ said Kogon, a sophomore environmental policy and law major. ‘It makes everything come to life.’

Milliken said many are surprised upon discovering the band members are from ESF, but he doesn’t want the band to be labeled as ‘an ESF band.’ He does not want The Vanderbuilts’ music and band members to be defined for the stereotypes that come with being from ESF.

‘A lot of these environmental problems are big issues for everyone, especially our generation,’ he said. ‘It’s an issue that’s relevant to us, not just because we’re from ESF.’

Kogon said their music diverges from the ESF stereotype because the band’s focus isn’t purely on environmental issues.

‘The EP isn’t in-your-face environmental, and we don’t want to be labeled as an environmental band, but it’s definitely our other passion,’ Kogon said.

Environmental issues do play a part in the band’s music, Yamamoto said. They’re part of the way the members think, she said, and are undertones in the band’s music.

Kogon said the band members don’t know what their future holds, but also said it is not a current concern. 

‘If we get bigger, great,’ Kogon said. ‘It’s just fun to share music with people. We’re just going with it right now, wherever it goes,’ he said.

Newland said they all acknowledge the time commitment needed to juggle the band with academic responsibilities.

Newland said: ‘I major in environmental studies, I minor in The Vanderbuilts.’

rjmarvin@syr.edu

Published on April 18, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Rob: rjmarvin@syr.edu