“Holding On” represents an important step for Lone Tree, an African rock band with diverse international roots. Scheduled as the first release in a series of new singles for late 2023 and early 2024, the track is co-produced by Devon Allman, a legendary blues/rock artist and son of Gregg Allman. George Murphy, from Martin Terefe’s Eastcote Studios in London, handled mixing and mastering, adding a touch of prestige to the production.

Led by the sibling duo of Teresa and Patrick Sanders, who handle vocals and guitar respectively, Lone Tree showcases their ability to seamlessly blend modern sensibilities with the rich history of rock n’ roll on “Holding On.”

In this interview, we get to know more about them and their journey as a band. From their beginnings as middle school classmates in an international school in Nairobi, these musicians have come a long way. We also learn about how they combine different musical styles from their respective countries to create a unique sound that sets them apart from other bands. Get ready to dive into the world of Lone Tree.

The first thing we want to know is how the band members met, being from such distant places.

We all met as classmates in middle school. We’d been at an international school in Nairobi so being from all sorts of countries was something we were always around with our peers. Gabe and I had begun jamming together in sixth grade and gradually we started jamming with more of our friends and my little sister. That eventually formed itself into Refuge and then Lone Tree.

I lived almost 10 years in Bolivia and they have a very particular, very sweet, native musical style. And of course, the other members of the band must make their contributions with other styles from their countries. What has it been like to combine all these styles?

That’s awesome! Lots of different kinds of music from Bolivia have influenced me. My uncle, Rene Ferrufino, is a renowned charango player in Bolivia. He had taught me many musical concepts at an early age which has influenced the way I understand and perceive music. The other band members can attest to how their countries’ music influenced them but it’s a unique blend. Gabe’s background from Ethiopia and Eritrea had heavily influenced me as well since I had been a big fan of Ethiopian jazz. Gabe helped open my mind to a lot of other music from his background.

What is the story behind the band’s name?

We had originally been called Refuge but as time went on we wanted to start afresh in some ways. Therefore Lone Tree was born. It was named after the road to our studio, where most of these coming songs were written, was on.

“Holding On” is a love song, but can you tell us about the inspiration behind this single? What motivated the creation of this particular song?

Though Holding On is a love song it is open to interpretation. We do love to hear the different ways fans and listeners interpret the song in their own lives.

It was first inspired by a hard patch in a relationship I had been going through in 2022. That riff had been running through my mind for days prior to writing the first few lyrics. But once I got a hook, I remember Teresa had been overhearing me playing it from another room and started adding some lyrics of her own to it. We both through experiences of our own brought different feelings to it which turned into a whole new vibe than what I thought initially. But that’s truly what making music is about; when you work together you begin to see new paths you’d never before.

For the last few years, the band has been working on creating a rhythm that defines or identifies it. What has that process been like and how has each member of the band contributed to the task of achieving it?

Creating our sound and what identifies us is something that has come rather naturally. Something we all abide by is a mindset for experimentation and not being afraid to incorporate something unconventional; or what may appear at first glance out of place but rather fits the song. With this approach, this unique blend of catchy rhythms, sweet melodies, and rock n roll energy has transformed itself into something unique but is simultaneously on a path of growth and change. We all contribute differently in the creation of the music but we all add our unique touch and feel.

“Holding On” has a unique sound that blends various genres. How would you describe the musical style and influences that contributed to it?

Thank you for recognizing that. We’ve always attempted to expand our sound and reach new frontiers with our music. So blending genres is something that’s come naturally, and unintentionally at times, for us. “Holding On” is a rock n roll track but we tried to add a more interesting rhythm and bass section in order to bring out a more danceable feeling. We had attempted to add a bit of a reggae feel in some original demos for the track but it began to lean on a more alternative rock sort of as production went on. But most of all, the more conscious inspiration was to find an experimental sound that is our own.

You assured that a new single from the band will be released every month. Is there a common thread that connects these songs or will they be stories about different topics?

When we began writing these songs, we planned to have them be a collection of tracks that follow a similar stream of thought. They all connect to similar themes and derive from connected stories. But most of all we want the listener to take their own message from them. We attempt to keep our lyrics abstract and free to interpretation but in writing these thoughts of broken love and nostalgia came to mind.

What have been the obstacles that have arisen along this musical path, specifically in the production of these songs that will be released shortly?

The production of these songs had gone quite smoothly but like any project obstacles arose. We attempted new sounds that we hadn’t previously. Initially, we found challenges in breaking routine in how we songwrite but pushing ourselves to think outside the box was crucial to adding the feeling we wanted to emit.

FOLLOW LONE TREE

INSTAGRAM | SMARTLINK