It`s so good to be friends with Gemma Clarke. Not only is she one of the coolest drummers in the country, a genuine rock star (her band JW Paris is one of my all-time favs), but she also has impeccable music taste. It was Gemma who introduced me a few weeks ago to a trio from Swindon – I See Orange – and I immediately got hooked.
“La Bruja” single cover
Official bio: With one foot in the grunge era, another in modern musical times, another in the realms of classic rock and yet another in more pop-aware, college rock territory. It is no wonder that I See Orange makes such a deft and ornate sound. The music may be heavy, but it always retains sight of the fact that the best songs should balance groove with grind, grit with grace, and power with poise.
If you are a grunge elder like me you will immediately appreciate a rather familiar concoction of melodic guitars, fierce vocals delivered with such a gusto it sends shivers down your spine and a cacophony of drums and percussion to top it off. It is a formula patented in the Pacific Northwest that conquered the world.
I may have mentioned a few times over the years on this blog, that the Seattle scene (especially in the 80’s and 90’s) was incredibly diverse and did not consist solely of lumberjacks dressed in flannel hammering musical instruments for maximum noise. The so-called “grunge” could be poppy, radio friendly and very commercial. People like to forget that the Seattle region is a home to a very strong Latin American community with artists such as Africa Violeta, Cactus/Terror, the unforgettable Mia Zapata/The Gits or Acid Tongue. We even have proper banda – Banda Vagos – taking quite a spin on traditional brass band and German schlager music. If somebody kidnapped I See Orange from the UK to Emerald City, the trio would have a hard time making it back as Seattle would simply pretend, they have always been a part of the local scene.
Well, Seattle`s loss is London`s gain. I See Orange consists of Giselle Medina (vox/ bass), Cameron Hill (guitars) and Charlie Hart (drums) and they have been active since 2002. They released a four track EP (“Lonesome Joy”) last year and three singles: “Simply”, “Fairy” and “La Bruja”. Outside the band, Giselle has quite a successful career as a solo artist under the name Giselle Medd with a full album (“Creepyland”) and an EP (“Carne y Hueso”) that came out in 2023.
I See Orange brings a much-needed variety to the British scene oversaturated with lads bands. You could describe them as Mexican/English or multinational act and they are part of a larger pattern that you can observe on an independent circuit. Like Japanese/English Re:0 or French/English A VOID, they redefine what it means to be a rock band in the post Brexit era, proving that isolationism rarely works, especially in arts.
I See Orange picture by the band
Released on Halloween – “La Bruja” (The Witch) is a deliciously wicked piece of musical genre – bending. A potent elixir of punk, psychedelia, progressive rock and grunge. Not a single note is wasted, not a second of a filler. Built over a singular (and returning) riff, the single slowly works its way into your brain like an insect where it proceeds to multiply. I only planned to give it a few spins, now thirty plays over and I still want more. And the drums in this song! I absolutely love the way they were tuned on “La Bruja”. Good drumming is the make or a break of a song. In this instance, it is the beating heart of a powerful beast.
“La Bruja” is promoted by a simple but very creative video. Imagine The Blair Witch Project, only Wednesday Addams being part of the kids in the forest. You will know what I mean once you see it.
The band`s singer Giselle Medina possesses quite a unique vocal range that immediately attracts attention. Because of that, Medina has been compared to the likes of Julieta Venegas Percevault and Ceci Bastida (in her Mexrrissey period) due to her ability to effortlessly move between low and high octaves, without even stopping for breath. She ranges somewhere between contralto and a mezzo soprano or maybe even a lyrical soprano. If those categories don’t tell you much, think this: Tracy Chapman is a contralto, Tarja Turunen (Nightwish) is a mezzo soprano, while Daniela Villarreal Vélez of The Warning is a lyrical soprano. Giselle Medina can do all three interchangeably the same way Gillian Anderson changes accents!
I See Orange has also a very strong stage presence, inspired by all things Halloween, autumn and morbid. Giselles penchant for minimalist dresses and Doc Martens brings to mind Rita Guerrero of Santa Sabina (known for her dark image inspired by gothic subculture), Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star/Warm Inventions) or Diamanda Galas. In addition, Cameron Hill and Charlie Hart follow suit with matching James Dean jackets or flannel shirts paired with metal tees. If it wasn’t for their young age, you could easily be fooled into thinking that they remember Soundgarden`s first gigs. I am always a big fan of bands that pay attention to such details as stage presentation and costumes. It gives their music and art another layer and way of expressing themselves to the audience.
I`ll be honest. I do read reviews on artists I am writing about; it is always good to know what other music journalists think. Most of the time it is formality, but I will admit it was a bit strange when it comes to I See Orange. Maybe I am old fashioned, but I am of the opinion that anyone publishing lines like: “a strikingly attractive Latino girl” or comparing a female musician to a Chinese video game character should be hexed on the spot or at least sent away for a week to Silent Hill.
I See Orange auto portrait
Why concentrate on somebody`s appearance when the music is this good and the band this original? Surely music journalists can observe more than just good looks. Like the fact that the independent circuit in the last few years gained some incredible Latina front women: Maria Theresa Rodriguez(British/Colombian) of MeMe Detroit/Fuzzbox or Spanish/English Nadia Sheikh to name a few. Is it too much to ask for?
I don’t want to end this review on a bad note. It was our birthday on 29th of October and both Rita and I consider “La Bruja” a suitable present for our 45th. Add I See Orange to your playlists and bands to watch out for lists. You won’t be disappointed.
You can follow the band on socials:
https://www.facebook.com/ISEEORANGE
https://x.com/ISEEORANGEMUSIC
https://www.instagram.com/iseeorangemusic
https://www.tiktok.com/@iseeorangemusic
https://www.youtube.com/@iseeorange
https://soundcloud.com/iseeorange
https://iseeorange.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6cJ25fDskdm7xKrfr9TL6A
Additional reading:
https://devizine.com/2024/10/30/la-bruja-new-halloween-single-from-i-see-orange
https://theinkswindon.substack.com/p/would-banning-smoking-in-pub-gardens?open=false#%C2%A7making-a-scene
Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 