Blurring the lines between Southern Rock, Soul and Country, Orchard Sky’s fresh new sound comes from a combination of Krystle Dos Santos’s powerful vocals, and the hard driving work of lead guitarist Mitch Smith and bassist Andreas Wegner.
Dually based in Vancouver and Edmonton, Orchard Sky’s self-titled debut EP — out now on all digital platforms — includes their latest single “Rollin’ 7s” (featuring Clayton Bellamy of the Road Hammers), a blend of lipstick, dynamite and the roll of the dice. Already finding a home at Canadian Country Radio, “Rollin’ 7s” is a foot-stomping track that demands turning the dial up to eleven.
It follows on the heels of Orchard Sky’s 2022 single “Canadian Party Song” an instant country-rock anthem that Rogers SportsNet deployed as a the soundtrack to last year’s NHL playoff series between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. As SportsNet Music Supervisor Carson Illidge said, “It makes my job very easy when I’m pitched such great songs. This one’s a ripper.” Along with other heart-pumping tracks such as “Flashbang” and “Honest,” Orchard Sky’s EP delivers a sound guaranteed to fire up your soul.
Since Smith and Wegner teamed with Dos Santos early in 2022, everything has fallen into place. What Krystle brought to the band was not only her stunning voice, but also a creative energy that she’s previously displayed as a solo artist and stage performer. Along with earning two Western Canadian Music Awards, she has appeared in productions of Dreamgirls, The Chelsea Hotel: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen, and her own cabaret-style musical, Hey Viola!, a tribute to Canadian Civil Rights heroine Viola Desmond.
Krystle says, “I joined Orchard Sky when Mitch approached me asking if I knew any singers who might be interested. He and I had written songs for a few years at that point and I knew I liked his style. I thought it would be a great opportunity to sing and be in a band that played a style of music that I didn’t get to perform very often. I also felt that it was a very cool opportunity as a Black female, to create representation in an area of the music industry that we are usually not seen. It feels good to get back to the Alberta roots I grew up in and sing this catchy and fun music!”
Mitch adds, “When we write our songs, it’s mostly on acoustic guitar to start, so I think there’s always going to be those classic country and blues influences. But our vision is to put on a great live show as a full band, so there’s gonna be some high energy happening on stage that I know will resonate with audiences.”
Orchard Sky is indeed poised to become the next major country music export from western Canada, following the trail blazed by the many artists from that province who have come before them. For Orchard Sky, the sky is the limit.
Members of Orchard Sky are available for interviews and on-air appearances.
ORCHARD SKY / On Tour
Friday May 12 :: Surrey BC :: Surrey City Hall
Sunday May 14 :: Vancouver BC :: The Roxy
Wednesday May 17 :: Vancouver BC :: Guilt and Co.
Friday May 19 :: White Rock BC :: Beer Shack
Saturday May 20 :: Fort Langley BC :: Brewhalla Festival
