Ghost Funk Orchestra is the brainchild of composer/multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum. What started as a one-man recording project has now evolved into a powerhouse live band. It’s a sonic kaleidoscope that defies genre specification, but draws heavy influence from the worlds of soul, psych rock, salsa, and beyond. Their unique blend of genres has attracted praise from the likes of NPR, Bandcamp, KUTX, Brooklyn Vegan, Earmilk, and more. Local NY blog Post-Trash described their sound as a ‘psych odyssey of traditional sounds delivered in a non-traditional fashion.’ Bandcamp’s Editorial Director J. Edward Keyes praised the band’s ability to ‘leave no funk-adjacent genre unexplored.’ Experimentation is the key, and unpredictability is what has been attracting folks from all corners of the globe to see what GFO pulls off next…
I had the chance to catch up with Seth ahead of the April 26th show at The Bur Oak here in Madison. We talked about the differences between what is hear don one of GFO’s albums versus a live show. We got into the making and process of the latest album ‘A New Kind Of Love’ out now on Colemine Records. Within the conversation about the record, we explore how this group of people is on the cusp of many genres, and how that widens the pool of ears, and makes them a perfect fit for greenarrowradio. We take the talk of that latest album into what songs Seth would choose to build a setlist around and he gives a few tracks for consideration budling on top of those. Get ready to stretch with GFO wherever you can catch them. Which reminded me actually of the recent shows Ghost Funk Orchestra had a chance to be a part of with the legendary Brazilian Tropicalia group, Os Mutantes. I had to listen to how Seth’s voice changed a little bit while going into what that experience was like.
