Biography
Dendrons fuse the jagged guitar lines and fractured rhythms of post-punk with the clever melodicism of indie pop, yielding music that delivers bracing force while remaining danceable and rich in hooks. The Chicago-based ensemble first reached listeners through their 2020 self-titled debut album, a collection of concise tracks whose guitars could shift from chiming tones to sharp attacks. By the time of 2022’s 5-3-8 the lineup had grown from four to six members, allowing the more intricate arrangements to exploit a wider instrumental range and a surer approach to songwriting.
The group played its inaugural concert on New Year’s Day 2018 after longtime friends Dane Jarvie and Zachary Sprenger resolved to launch a new project despite possessing only a handful of songs and still performing as a trio. Jarvie handled guitar and lead vocals, Sprenger played drums, and mutual acquaintance Matt Kase covered bass. Before issuing any recordings, the band embarked on tour, reaching Texas and South Dakota through connections with fellow musicians. The roster soon expanded to a quartet when Sprenger switched to guitar and keyboards and Nick Togliatti assumed drumming duties; the revised lineup self-produced and self-released the digital EP Aliens. Continued road work led the group in 2019 to Phoenix, Arizona—Jarvie’s hometown—for a two-week session at Highlight Recording Studio. Additional tracking took place in Evanston, Illinois, yielding the completed full-length Dendrons, issued in May 2020 by the independent Earth Libraries imprint.
Extensive touring had been scheduled, including a first European run, yet the COVID-19 pandemic halted international travel and shuttered venues worldwide. With schedules cleared, the musicians focused on writing and demoing fresh material while bringing two new members aboard—John MacEachen on guitar and sampler, plus second drummer Stef Roti. Once in-person rehearsals resumed, the expanded ensemble confronted an extensive backlog of more ambitious, densely layered songs. Recording for the second album took place at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, with final touches added at Highland Recording. A partnership with Innovative Leisure was secured for the release of 5-3-8—its title drawn from the lyric “Fifths, thirds, octaves only”—which appeared in August 2022.
The group played its inaugural concert on New Year’s Day 2018 after longtime friends Dane Jarvie and Zachary Sprenger resolved to launch a new project despite possessing only a handful of songs and still performing as a trio. Jarvie handled guitar and lead vocals, Sprenger played drums, and mutual acquaintance Matt Kase covered bass. Before issuing any recordings, the band embarked on tour, reaching Texas and South Dakota through connections with fellow musicians. The roster soon expanded to a quartet when Sprenger switched to guitar and keyboards and Nick Togliatti assumed drumming duties; the revised lineup self-produced and self-released the digital EP Aliens. Continued road work led the group in 2019 to Phoenix, Arizona—Jarvie’s hometown—for a two-week session at Highlight Recording Studio. Additional tracking took place in Evanston, Illinois, yielding the completed full-length Dendrons, issued in May 2020 by the independent Earth Libraries imprint.
Extensive touring had been scheduled, including a first European run, yet the COVID-19 pandemic halted international travel and shuttered venues worldwide. With schedules cleared, the musicians focused on writing and demoing fresh material while bringing two new members aboard—John MacEachen on guitar and sampler, plus second drummer Stef Roti. Once in-person rehearsals resumed, the expanded ensemble confronted an extensive backlog of more ambitious, densely layered songs. Recording for the second album took place at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, with final touches added at Highland Recording. A partnership with Innovative Leisure was secured for the release of 5-3-8—its title drawn from the lyric “Fifths, thirds, octaves only”—which appeared in August 2022.
Albums
Singles
