The Accidentals

The Accidentals, an indie folk trio based in Traverse City, Michigan, specialize in melodic compositions that incorporate a wide range of instrumentation. High-school classmates Katie Larson on cello and Savannah Buist on violin launched the group in 2011 after teaming up for a class assignment at Traverse City West Senior High School. Both musicians, raised by professional pianist fathers and vocalist mothers, absorbed diverse musical influences during childhood and have cited the Beatles, Andrew Bird, St. Vincent, and Sufjan Stevens as key inspirations. Equally skilled across several instruments, the pair auditioned successfully in 2012 for a singer/songwriter curriculum at Interlochen Arts Academy and soon began joint projects. That same year they self-produced and issued their debut full-length release, Tangled Red and Blue. Their follow-up album, Bittersweet, appeared the next year while they remained enrolled in secondary school.

In the band’s initial two years the members maintained a steady touring schedule that included opening slots alongside Andrew Bird, Rodriguez, Brandi Carlile, and Rusted Root; contributed guest performances to other recordings; composed the soundtrack for the independent film One Simple Question; and placed their material in advertisements, additional indie films, and various compilations. The track “The Silence” drew the interest of singer/songwriter/producer Marshall Crenshaw and his production partner, Grammy-winning engineer Stewart Lerman (Beck, Patti Smith), resulting in a four-album production agreement. Drummer Michael Dause joined the lineup in 2014, and the expanded trio continued extensive road work while developing fresh material.

Upon the contract’s renegotiation window the group declined the extended commitment and instead issued the Parking Lot EP as a gratis download in 2016. In January 2017 the Accidentals aligned with Sony Masterworks while completing their third studio album, which featured appearances by Jenny Conlee (the Decemberists) and Keller Williams. The band and Jason Lehning (Guster, Ivan & Alyosha) shared production duties, and Odyssey reached stores that summer.