Frankel

Michael Orendy, a Los Angeles native, created Frankel as his solo musical outlet and chose the name to honor the oversized retainer he wore throughout fifth grade. After accumulating years of experience as a bassist across several Southern California groups, he started the Frankel project in 2006 and relied on his pop instincts along with his abilities across multiple instruments to perform and capture every part himself. The debut EP Chatterbox surfaced that year, with the complete album Lullaby for the Passerby following in 2007. Although piano and acoustic guitar formed its core, Lullaby for the Passerby also featured eccentric touches such as toy instruments and Theremins. Piano stayed central on the 2009 release Anonymity Is the New Fame, whose richly layered orchestral pop reflected a clear admiration for Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman.