What is a band to do if it isn’t making music?
The question bore the weight of the world to math-rock band Run Dorothy, which pushed them to curate three years’ worth of sonic creations to release an EP this year.
Run Dorothy has a strikingly similar sound to the vintage Paramore and Hey Monday tracks that the members probably grew up listening to. But working around deconstructed and dissonant song measures, they are in a journey of establishing their own distinct sound.
“It’s a convoluted story,” vocalist Dee Cruz tells Super when asked about how the band was formed.
“We got a new member to fill up a spot whenever it was vacated, though some did not stay long. There were some who stayed, some switched roles,” Cruz shared.
With the constant leaving of members and shuffling of roles since the band got together in 2010, Run Dorothy was only able to define its current identity with Cruz on vocals, Felix Basilio and Bogs del Rey on guitars, Ino Tiglao manning the bass and Jepoy Santos taking care of the drums.
The word “sanguine” can be synonymous to hope, but for Run Dorothy it’s embodying the optimism it needs—fearlessly taking on what is to come ahead.
Excerpts from Super’s interview with their vocalist:
Why choose to make music in the math-rock genre?
With every lineup change that happened, a change of sound consequently comes with it. We crossed many different genres, and it felt like we haven’t really made a solid sonic identity, so we went on hiatus. We got to explore more types of music, then decided to pursue this creative direction because it really felt natural. It was fairly new to most of the members, but also strangely familiar.
How would you describe the music you create?
We honestly don’t know how to describe our sound. We just make songs that are inclined to the audial aesthetic that we want. But, it’s primarily a sound that relies on melodic guitar work and time signature changes.
When did your band feel that it was time to release an EP?
There was a point when our progress as a creative unit plateaued. We were on a very stagnant state. It was alarming for us, because what is a band to do if it isn’t going to make music? So we talked and set a deadline for an EP release, to give ourselves a big push and set things back into motion.
Tell us about your EP. What should your fans expect?
It’s a five-track EP titled “Sanguine.” It’s about our vulnerability during our somber times, our struggle to move forward, and how we eventually gathered courage to finally press on.
Physical and digital copies of “Sanguine” are available in aspurofthemomentproject.com and https://bandcamp.com.