With more and more incredible artists taking over the music industry, establishing a good reputation therein is no longer just a matter of having the necessary talents and skills. In order to create a meaningful and long-lasting impact, one must not only have the voice and creativity but must also be able to demonstrate a strong sense of passion and dedication. Such is the case with indie band Poems, a purpose-driven project that was brought to life by Philip Ernest and Cody Dodd.
On a mission to bring its melancholic poetry to the music industry, Poems was first discovered by Zae Howell at a party in a small suburb of Seattle, Washington. According to the sound engineer, he was not expecting to come across such amazing talents until he accidentally overheard the early stages of what is now known as the project “Poems” by Philip Ernest and Cody Dodd.
Widely acknowledged for the insightful messages that it conveys to its listeners, Poems was originally constructed by guitarist and vocalist Philip Ernest. The visionary revealed that it only started out as a Notes app side project. However, his stripped-down guitar licks and vocal melodies caught the attention of bassist Cody Doddy. After realizing the beautiful music that they could create together, the duo decided to collaborate sometime in 2019.
In an interview, Zae Howell shared how impressed he was with the two’s melancholic melodies and unique chord progressions that Philip had written throughout his youth. As a matter of fact, 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 purest form. This moment convinced the sound engineer to give Poems the breakthrough that they deserve.
With Zae Howell empathically onboard, Poems found new momentum and gathered enough steam to seek out friend and drummer Grayson Hagopian, who has played a significant role in solidifying the project and transforming it into the must-watch force it is recognized for today. Together, the team has been unstoppable at their game, reaching greater heights and establishing themselves in the industry.
With their unwavering commitment and unyielding determination, Poems was able to release their first single, “Desdemona,” a track the harder parts of a true love story, all the while eluding to the Shakespearian tragedy that is “Othello.” After being at the receiving end of numerous praises for this release, the group started playing in some venues around the greater Seattle area. Later on, they made the big decision to move to San Diego, CA and become part of the vibrant market that is more in tune with their style.
At the beginning of 2022, Poems released their latest single, “She Set The Sun.” The said song is a nostalgic story that speaks of the struggle of letting go and holding on at the same time and the challenges such a decision entails. The track turned out to be an immense achievement that further ignited the band’s relentless desire to create more engaging songs. With no plans of slowing down anytime soon, they intend to continue tugging at the heartstrings of listeners worldwide.
