The coming together of talents often comes from unpredictable circumstances. An excellent example is how fate had played its part when Zae Howell attended a party in a small suburb of Seattle, Washington. In what can be described as a serendipitous moment, the sound engineer accidentally overheard the early stages of what is now known as the project “Poems” by Philip Ernest and Cody Dodd.
Originally the brainchild of guitarist and vocalist Philip Ernest, Poems started out as a Notes app side project. Philip’s stripped-down guitar licks and vocal melodies caught bassist Cody Dodd’s attention, and in 2019, Cody decided to work with Philip as a mere weekend hobby.
Zae was undeniably impressed with the two’s melancholic melodies and unique chord progressions that Philip had written throughout his youth. One had even stopped the sound engineer mid-sentence, drawing him to the basement where he heard the band’s first single, “Desdemona,” in its rawest form. At that moment, Zae knew that this was the beginning of something remarkable and that he had to be a part of this journey.
With the talented sound engineer on board, the band started seeing its true potential. Eventually, Poems decided to recruit their friend Grayson Hagopian as their drummer. This further solidified the project their fans and supporters hear today. Through sheer hard work, determination, and love for their craft, Poems was finally able to release their first single, “Desdemona.” Aptly named after the Venetian beauty of the Shakespearean tragedy Othello, the song is about romanticizing the harder parts of a true love story. The band’s magnum opus was a huge hit. After gaining traction with their release, Poems went on to perform in many venues around the greater Seattle area. In pursuit of their dreams, Poems made the difficult choice of moving from Washington to sunny San Diego, California, where the vibrant market would suit their music more.
Ironically, at the beginning of 2022, the band released their latest single, “She Set The Sun.” The captivating song is a nostalgic story of the struggle of letting go and holding on at the same time and the challenges the decision entails. The track was an immense achievement that further ignited the band’s relentless desire to create more engaging songs.
Now driven by their passion for experimenting and exploring their limitless potential, Poems is ecstatic to be back in the studio where they can broaden their range by discovering innovative sonic elements and melodies. From experimental guitar riffs to haunting lyricism, the band draws inspiration from various projects by other indie alternative groups, such as Hippocampus and New York City’s Interpol. Furthermore, Poems aims to share and achieve emotional freedom through the stories they tell in their songs, a trait that lovers of poetry would appreciate. Merging elements from their favorite bands as inspiration with their authentic creative sound, Poems is determined to make its imprint on the Indie Alternative industry. It’s truly exciting to see where the band ends up in the coming years.
