Artist On The Rise: Priory

By Erendira Franco on March 2, 2015
Priory album released on April 7. Image via Instagram

Priory album released on April 7. Image via Instagram (@prioryband)

Get to know Brandon Rush and Kyle Sears of Priory, the indie-pop duo responsible for the über catchy weekend anthem appropriately titled “Weekend.

Priory makes the type of music that anyone can easily get behind. Some songs, such as the infectious “Weekend,” come off as anthemic, while others, like “Lost Gold,” are a bit moodier, but catchy none-the-less. Since releasing “Weekend,” Priory’s gained momentum, earning some radio play and they will be touring North America with the Kaiser Chiefs in the spring. Priory will be releasing their album “Need to Know” on April 7.

Uloop: Tell us about yourselves first. How old are you both? Where are you from? How’d you first get started making music together?

Priory: How old are we? A lady never tells. I grew up in downtown Portland and Kyle in Yakima, Washington. Kyle and I met in 2004 while living in a hovel of a bachelor pad in NE Portland with 5 guys. We both had rooms filled with music gear, leaving very little space for beds or clothing. I guess you could say we starting creating music through our similar decorating styles. We started writing music and it was a natural flow. We were both creative types and we had common ideas. Eventually pursuits with monetary gains sent us in separate directions. I went to Farrier College in Oklahoma and Kyle went to work for a record label in Seattle. We reconnected in Portland in 2008 and began writing songs, while overindulging in homemade beer. The music was present and we both decided to quit our day jobs and became Priory.

Uloop: What’s the significance of the name Priory?

Priory: Originally we named the band Priory because we were a group with common life goals and aspirations and we devoted ourselves to music. Upon further research we learned that the Franciscan Friars used to only leave their Priory to get supplies etc. Ironically, as a band, we have often been known to lock ourselves in to the studio and pretty much throw away the key for weeks at a time.

Uloop: You’ll be touring this spring with Kaiser Chiefs. How does that feel? How are you preparing for this tour?

Priory: The Kaiser Chiefs are real players and we are huge fans. We are stoked to share a stage for the upcoming tour. Currently, we are practicing our asses off. We are also designing a badass merch line.

Uloop: “Weekend” was such a hit, but pretty different from some of your other songs. What are your musical influences/inspirations both in terms of lyrics and sound production?

Priory: ”Weekend” is an ode to the working class. The song is about being marginalized, and in turn, acting out. The making of the song, like all our songs, happened organically through instrumental improvisation and without known outside influence. We really do lock ourselves in and throw away the key.

Uloop: How do you connect your lyrics with the music to make your own unique sound? What’s that process like?

Priory: Our songs almost never start the same way, but it is always very organic. Often we just pick up instruments and screw around until a sound starts to happen. Other times we start with a three or four note melody, record it, loop it and start building. If we come up with a good idea, we try to capture the recording in that moment. This approach gave us the ability to critically listen to the song’s elements in context. This process works for us but is often tedious because we are continually reevaluating and re-recording elements. I’m sure from the outside the way we operate in the studio would seem Schizophrenic, but we have acclimated to our version of crazy. We can go for hours barely saying a word to each other. We instinctively know what the other one is thinking. It’s the same when we’re performing live. Basically we spend way too much time together.

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