We receive tonnes of brilliant submissions every day here at Independent Music News, but it’s not often I get to say that I know the artists and bands I write about. In this case, however, I do.
I first met Dr Orange around two years ago on a night out in the beloved Liverpool venue, The Jacaranda. We were (and still are) both musicians, introduced through a mutual friend. That kind of meeting can sometimes be an oddly standoffish situation, and maybe this is down to fragile egos, or some amalgamation of defensive tendencies based in fear. However, this wasn’t the case with Dr Orange, AKA Chas Moody, who was almost instantly offering to buy me a drink and talking passionately and openly about music. I relaxed quite quickly, and we had a great conversation about the nature of the industry and ultimately agreed that the most important thing is often forgotten, and that’s songwriting. It might seem obvious, but believe me, a lot of people get so caught up in imagery and sounding like others. I’m not trying to belittle anyone by saying this; it’s just the way it is due to pressure from external forces, telling young people what they need to do to be successful.
Luckily, Dr Orange hasn’t forgotten this, and his debut single, Comes In Threes, is a fantastic and finely tuned piece of songwriting. Considering the drunken circumstances in which we met, what better way is there to interview him during lockdown than via video call as we both drink a few beers in a hyperreal simulation of the pub, dreaming of the days when we can return to the real thing?
In this interview, we discuss Comes In Threes, his plans for the future, the lockdowns’ broader effect on society, and how limitations can breed creativity. And yes, I did cut out the parts where I looked stupid. Check it out!
Listen to Comes In Threes here: