Orchid and Hound Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 11th 2010 10:58AM by Cindy Wright
Comments

Orchid and Hound -- John Constantine and Lawrence Alarcon -- is a pop duo with classical influence. The duo formed their band last summer and had their first gig last September. Spinner recently spoke with Orchid and Hound about their music and upcoming appearance at the SXSW Festival.

Describe your sound.

John Constantine: I would say our music is pop. We've been called queer pop, but that is because we are two gay guys that sometimes sing about other guys. We've been told we sound like a stripped-down Queen. But at its core it is pop influenced by classical music and music theater.

How did your band form?

JC: Well, we have know each other for 10 years. We grew up together in art school in Los Angeles, and we started writing music together at a young age. We dated for awhile and we moved up to San Francisco together. We broke up, and then we started a band together.

What are your musical influences?

Lawrence Alarcon: I'd have to say mostly classical music, for me at least. Tchaikovsky, some contemporary. John really likes rock 'n' roll.

How did you come up with your band name?

JC: We were trying different things. We were trying to work off the duality of our personalities and what we each bring. One day we came up with Orchid and Hound. It seems to describe our music pretty well, and our personalities.

How does it feel getting ready to play SXSW?

It is pretty amazing. Our first show was last September. We haven't been playing music since then. We have been playing music our whole lives, but our first show as a band was only last September. So it is pretty amazing to be playing music only six to seven months into our career and to be able to play at the festival.

Yes, that is pretty quick.

It's a pretty good sign. We don't even have an album out yet and we are getting press attention. That is just a really great sign as musicians. It kind of inspires us to work even more. We aren't just delusional musicians -- we have something to offer and people enjoy our music.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Dark sunglasses, some throat-coat tea. We are actually pretty strict musicians. We will be going to bed early, drinking tea, practicing, warming up.

Who was your first celeb crush?

This is embarrassing. I don't even know if I should say it. Back when I was really little, like six, I saw 'Footloose,' and I had a huge crush on Kevin Bacon. I think, though, my true celebrity crush is Patrick Wilson.

Beatles or Stones?

LA: I'm going to say Beatles, because I know of them.

JC: My God, Beatles or Stones? I'm gonna say Stones.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

There was one time we got paid a lot of money to not even perform. It was five minutes before we went onstage, and some company shows up at the club and buys out the bar. They had their own DJ, so we paid the most we have ever gotten paid to perform, and we didn't even have to perform.