Treehouse basement stands out with its unique sound

As bands come and go throughout the indie startup scene, only a handful devise a unique sound and even less go on to make a name for themselves. Local rock band Treehouse Basement seems to be on the right path, putting in effort to make themselves stand out. 

Armed with a conglomeration of musical influences spanning over 30 years, among various genres, Treehouse Basement brings something fresh to the rock scene.

Officially formed only two years ago, the band technically began in high school when guitarist Tyler De La O and vocalist Jose Ortiz started practicing and writing songs together.

“The first song we jammed (to) was Hotel California,” Ortiz said. “Tyler knew the solo and I knew the chords. I guess you can say that’s how it started.”

Ortiz moved to Italy in the middle of his high school career, leaving the collaboration on hiatus until his return to Albuquerque in 2013. He has since referred to his travels as a positive influence, offering a unique perspective on songwriting.

Thereafter, the duo recruited drummer Casey Frew through mutual acquaintances, and bassist Nate Hewitt, whom they found on Craiglist. After pairing random words that eventually became their band name, Treehouse Basement was born in 2014.

Early recording sessions took place at The Sanctuary, a backwoods rehearsal space in the Cibola Forest. In indie fashion, Ortiz would often sing out of a guitar amp for both effect, and out of lack of proper equipment.

The Basement’s first EP, Nowhere Land, was released September 2015 and showcases a mix of surf, alternative, indie and lo-fi rock. The band’s sound is attributed to various factors, including the plentiful and diverse influences each member has to offer.

“Cheap Trick is my favorite band,” Hewitt said. “Bar none. I’m really into that old-school vibe. A lot of Queen, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys and Nirvana (as well).”

Hewitt's influences are  no surprise considering his energetic live presence and bass lines. His style blends fittingly with Ortiz’s modern influences, which include Arctic Monkeys, Cage the Elephant and Will Swan. 

However, it’s the lyrics that give Treehouse Basement their aesthetic. Ortiz’s rhythmic delivery between Frew’s drum patterns are reminiscent of groups such as Two Door Cinema Club and Alex Turner’s side project The Last Shadow Puppets.

“When I write lyrics I’ll come up with a chorus then work the verse around it," he said. “Most is written in a poetic format. Sometimes I’ll write a poem and years later use parts of it to build verses and a chorus. It’s extremely fun, and probably the longest part of writing the music.”

Recently the band made their live debut at UNM, performing at the annual Fight for Fiestas event last week. They worked heavily with Student Special Events, specifically cultural director Tatiana Solis, who first heard the band's music when they applied to participate in the battle of the bands. 

“I really liked their sound, it was so catchy and I knew that they would be would great. On the night of (Fight for Fiestas), they were really nice and incredibly easy to work with," Solis said. “It was so visible that the band loves what they do, and that was amazing to see.”

Treehouse Basement will be performing at Mountain Blood Fest 2016 from Mar. 11 to 13. Find their music at https://treehousebasement.bandcamp.com/.

Audrin Baghaie is a culture reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @dailylobo.