New Ogden-based band Oaken Emerald drops first single ‘Don’t Go Outside’
Music News
Mindy and Seth Anderson, brother and sister music duo, of Oaken Emerald.
Ogden, Utah — New indie rock band Oaken Emerald—Mindy Anderson (vocals), Seth Anderson (guitar and vocals), Matt Trujillo (bass), and Caesar Bustos (drums)—all born and raised Ogdenites, released their first single, “Don’t Go Outside,” today.
”To say we are psyched is an understatement,” said Mindy Anderson, who co-wrote the melody and lyrics with her brother and bandmate Seth.
The lyrics for “Don’t Go Outside,” were written in the midst of the pandemic, Anderson explains: “Feeling the anxiety and fear about the scary world outside of our homes and having to tap into the higher self to be able to cope with all the crazy… it started off as a sort of spell or prayer to banish darkness and to use the light of one's inner amazingness to offer protection against the dark creatures in the night (or experiences in life) that could be lurking behind every corner and often are and overcoming them with your light.”
The debut single, released Wednesday, October 20, was recorded at Empire Studios in Ogden.
The song’s mid-tempo, spooky mood makes it a timely tune to celebrate October and the winter darkness ahead. And Mindy Anderson’s power pipes creep up on you in the best way. You may not want to go outside alone, but you will if she’s singing in the shadows. It’s a hauntingly sweet, highly-swayable track.
Although the four-piece band was recently formed, Anderson said the single release feels like a “long time coming,” because she and Seth had been playing music together for years “just jammin’ and messing around.” In 2020, the four came together with ease and clicked as musicians. The Anderson duo met Matt Trujillo through a mutual friend. Anderson says, “From our first jam we pretty much knew we wanted him to be in the band. Matt slaps.”
Trujillo soon introduced them to Caesar Bustos and they had their band—”It just felt right, and at just the right time,” she said.
”Don’t Go Outside” feels like the right song and just the right time.
You can see Oaken Emerald live at Lighthouse Lounge on November 24, at the Spearit Reunion Show.
Follow them on Instagram @oaken_emerald and most streaming services including Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music and Tidal.
“Don’t Go Outside,” released October 20, is Oaken Emerald’s debut single, recorded in Ogden at Empire Studios.
Photos courtesy of Oaken Emerald