The hallmark of an exceptional artist lies in their versatility, and the music industry is saturated with talented artists who can craft the most distinct musical stylings, creating their mold within the music industry. Poems is a band of talented artists pushing the boundaries of music-making while garnering the support of loyal fans and the music industry.
Based in San Diego, Poems is an indie music band taking the industry by storm with sheer artistry that captivates music lovers worldwide in an entirely sonic experience. The group consists of Philip Ernest – vocalist and guitarist, Cody Dodd – bassist, and Grayson Hagopian -drummer.
At first, the music band had only Philip and Cody, who would spend their weekends working out melancholic melodies and chord progressions that Philip had written throughout his youth. On one of such weekends, playing the nostalgic songs drew the attention of sound engineer Zae Howell while he was attending a party in a small suburb of Seattle, WA. The melodic tune stopped Zae mid-sentence and drew him to the basement, where he heard the band’s first single, “Desdemona,” in its barest form. That was the beginning of the music band “Poems.”
After listening to the music sample, Zae became entranced and decided to onboard his skills and talents as a sound engineer to help the emerging group find a foothold. With him, Poems found new momentum and gathered enough steam to seek out a friend and drummer, Grayson Hagopian, whose brilliance on the drums solidified the project you hear about today.
In 2021, the band released its first single, “Desdemona,” a track romanticizing the more complicated parts of a true love story, all the while eluding to the Shakespearian tragedy of “Othello.” The debut single was an instant hit with the audience, who were excited about what the band would offer next. After gaining some traction with this release and playing some venues around the greater Seattle area, the group decided to move to San Diego, CA, to be a part of the vibrant market more suited to them and their listeners.
Not to be mistaken for a one-hit-wonder, the beginning of 2022 marked the release of the group’s latest single, “She Set The Sun.” The song is a nostalgic story about the moment one gives up while holding on at the same time and the challenges that it brings forth.
With “She Set The Sun” still hot on the music charts, Poems is already back in the studio. In the coming months, they are looking to expand on their discography by exploring different sonic elements and ear worming melodies that keep the listener engaged. The band sets out to share and achieve emotional freedom with these songs, which is a quality so loved by fans of poetry.
Poems draw influences from a wide variety of projects, whether it is the catchy guitar riffs and lyrical melodies that can be heard from the indie alternative group Hippocampus or the melodramatic vocals from New York City’s rock outfit, Interpol.
The dynamic trio focuses on delivering a performance that stands on its own while also bringing elements from bands that have inspired them from the beginning. Since the project has lifted off, Poems is aiming high to make its imprint on the Indie Alt world.
