Capturing Delaware in 7 Day Farmers Market: An Interview With Death By Indie
(Photo submitted by Death By Indie includes members Isa Teixeira (She/They), Declan Poehler (They/Them), and Mike Edwards (He/Him) Drums)
Wilmington indie rock band Death by Indie has had a short but busy and electrifying existence. They spent their first three years recording and releasing four EP’s and one LP and playing fifty shows across six states. Now the band is touring through the Northeast with stops in Philadelphia and New York, then ending their run at Arden Gild Hall for the release of their sophomore album, 7 Day Farmers Market. We snagged a moment from their busy schedule to talk about new music and the love-hate relationship of DIY in music.
How and when did the band form?
We met at Oddity Bar at oddball bingo in 2021, we recognized Mike Edwards from his other band Bad Eyesight and quickly bonded over similar odd music tastes and shared sense of humor. We had started to consider playing live shows and a solid drummer was the only thing holding us back, Mike was the perfect fit!
(Album Artwork by Yarissa Luna)
What inspired the latest song “Love Like Lava”?
Our newest single…. "Love Like Lava" is the greatest departure from our previous releases yet. Dancey driving bass and booming drums provide backing to angular guitar rhythms and gentle vocal harmonies. It was inspired by a high pitched tiny keyboard club song idea Isa pitch shifted for bass, which we later adapted to a full band setting. The lyrics touch on love, change, growth and cleansing the body of inner evils. The percussion truly is the heartbeat of the song, plus we love any excuse to play the vibraslap.
What was different about “7 Day Farmers Market” compared to previous records from DBI?
This is our most collaborative work as a band so far, most songs were written through a process of trial and error during shows and at practices, tracked live shortly after they were finished. Some songs are written by a single member, others just two, a couple were made up and recorded on the spot. It's the most "Delaware '' album we've made yet, featuring some beloved local businesses and inspired by daily life.
What was one of the biggest challenges you all faced recording this album and how did you overcome it?
Our biggest challenge was how to keep up with "industry standards" on a diy budget. Everything we did was recorded in basements, bedrooms, cars, sometimes with a single microphone all by the band, mixed and mastered by the band. We have no interest in making pop music, but sadly agreed it should at least be of appropriate listenable levels for our friends to blast in their cars. We don't have a manager to book shows, aren't partnering with a label for promotion, we know our music is great, but getting others to listen is the biggest obstacle when there are so many other great diy bands out there and so few places to play.
What are you most excited about as a band right now? Can be music related but doesn't have to be.
We're most excited to have this music out in the world so we can get to the next batch! We have an ever growing backlog of song ideas in addition to songs they play live that just don't have a home yet. We think this is our best work yet, but we view it as a stepping stone into the ever evolving future, the music will lead the way. We're incredibly grateful to have a show coming up at the Arden Gild Hall, it's been a key feature in our Delaware music experience and we couldn't think of any better place to celebrate something so dear to us.
Get tickets to celebrate the release of 7 Day Farmers Market with Death By Indie at Arden Gild Hall alongside Mavis The Dog and Perennial on May 4th here.
