The RHODES: Barreling down in your school bus…

SCV: Do you have a specific process structured to how you write or do you find that it varies from song to song? 

D.D: A song like “How Long” is heavily reliant on the Motown movement whereas a song like “Call On Me” is heavily reliant on quick, straight-to-the-point pop. “Call On Me” didn’t take long. “How Long” took months. Sometimes you can tell and sometimes you can’t tell.  

SCV: So there’s part of it that’s structured and another part of it that’s mysterious?

D.L I would say its a very, very spontaneous, kind of random thing.  

SCV: What do you think it is about The Rhodes that’s better anyone else out there right now? The songs? Performance? 

D.L: I never said it was any better than everybody else… 

D.D: Well. I would say that it’s better. And I really don’t have any problem with saying that.  

SCV: Is there any way to explain what you feel it is that you’re doing that no one else is doing right now?  

D.D: We’re bringing soul back to pop music. We want to show that great music is performed and written by young people and can be. It’s been three years, but we’re still developing ourselves. It’s always… an effort to get better at what we do.  

SCV: At Mountain Jam The Rhodes were introduced as ‘One of the best dressed band’s you’ll see today.’ There’s interest in your uniforms on stage. Do they reflect the aforementioned ‘Motown business model’ in that appearance is important in performance? D.D: Absolutely. It gives the impression that it’s more of an event. When we dress uniformly, it makes us a group. There’s a forethought that goes into our music. And a forethought that goes into how we present ourselves. 

D.L It’s essentially a desire to be the best at what you do. 

SCV: After playing at Mountain Jam and getting more notoriety, does it feel exciting that you’re getting nearer to where you’re aiming or frustrating that it’s not soon enough? 

D.L: I think both at the same time. I’ve been working pretty much day and night for the last two and a half years of those three and a half years. There’s no sure way to do it. So you pretty much gotta put it all out there and hope that one of the million ways that you’re trying to become the biggest band in the world -because really that’s the whole point – is gonna work.  

In the large rearview mirror above Dave at the school bus steering wheel, I watch the reflection of the three Rhodes in the vinyl seats. Their youthful faces cannot convey the immensity of their talents – managing the wise musicianship of people twice their age – or their sleepless nights over it. 

It’s evident, there in the music, in their gathering fan base. The soulful sound of real pop music, that snaps your heart and still catches you by the feet. It’s there in the audience members climbing atop each other in packed NYC venues, moving wildly to the dashing sounds of a good old guitar band with a great new sound. There sooner or later in your living room.

The Rhodes are playing next at the Make Music New York Festival at The Waterside Plaza on June 21st.

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