Local musicians Chris Ledbury and Jessica Denniston from the band Berries recently joined host Dustin on this episode. The trio discussed the origin story of Berries, which started as Chris’s solo project in high school before evolving into a full band. Jessica joined after showing up to practice with random instruments like an Omnichord harp.
Jessica and Chris spoke about their upcoming double album “To Autumn Sun” and “To Autumn Moon,” which will feature 22 songs inspired by the fall season. The album has been 10 years in the making, with Chris compiling instrumental demos over the years and eventually adding vocals and finishing the songs. He originally only wanted to record in the autumn months to capture that seasonal feeling, but pragmatism led her to extend the recording period.
The group reminisced about a recent fun show in Richmond, Virginia where they got to fully “let loose” and play an extended impromptu set with their friends in the band Whitehall. They discussed the challenges of crafting a cohesive 30 minute set when playing shows with bands of a different genre, trying to select songs that fit the vibe. A resolution for 2022 was to learn their entire catalog so they can variate their sets and keep things fresh.
An overarching theme was the close friendship between the bandmembers and how that translates on stage. Jessica and Chris both emphasized how playing music comes so naturally when they’re together and how it’s evolved into its own beast live compared to the studio recordings. They strive to put their own flair on the songs and “add cheese” to the live performances.
