op of the Orange is an American rock band formed in Mobile Alabama and consists of members Jason Breland, Brandyn Ulmer, Ryan Campbell, Chad Sutley and Kevin Hurt. Top of the Orange has not stopped since dedicating themselves to putting Mobile on the rock and roll map!
With new songs “Who Turned Off the Sun”, “Unchanged”, and most requested “Let Me In!”, Top of the Orange again and again proves they are a force to be reckoned with. In the midst of writing, recording, producing and touring, the band continues to draw new fans far and wide, sharing the stage with the likes of 3 Doors Down, Staind, Shinedown, Three Days Grace, Saving Abel, Theory of a Dead Man and many more. As of 2009, Top of the Orange has gone back to the studio again, this time in Nashville, Tennessee, in hopes that the new tracks they lay down will be the ones to bring them out of the Gulf Coast and into the rock and roll spotlight! Guided by the song “Let Me In”, Top of the Orange will soon be… on TOP OF THE WORLD!
On Sat., Sept. 12, a throng of musically inclined high school students from the area descended upon the Mobile Civic Center for BayFest’s “Music Industry Education Program.” Industry figures such as composer Robert W. Smith, guitarist Dennis “Finger Roll” Nelson, percussionist/session musician Blair Shotts and 3 Doors Down guitarist Matt Roberts provided the students with their takes on how to make in today’s music industry.
Attendees were also treated to a performance and panel session from a Mobile making their way up the industry ladder. From opening up for 3 Doors Down to drastic line-up changes, Top of the Orange has had their share of career misadventures over the band’s five-year existence, but judging from their impressive performance at the seminar, founding members Brandyn Ulmer (Lead Guitar), Ryan Campbell (Bass) and Chad Sutley (Drums) appear to have found a solid link with their most recent addition of Jason Breland (Vocals) and Kevin Hurt (Rhythm Guitar).
“It’s the connection being with each other and being able to read off of each other,” Campbell explained. “We really just enjoy being together. With that, good things happen.”
“Coming from the standpoint of a new guy, there was such a solid foundation when Kevin and I joined the band,” Breland added. “These guys have been through so much already. They’ve really been able to bring us up to the level that they’re at, and that’s helped so much to develop me and Kevin as well as far as musicianship and work ethic and everything else. It’s just a really good fit.”
This aural cohesion could be seen in their performance of “Let Me In” from their upcoming, untitled release, as could their evolution beyond their former Neo-Southern Rock persona.
“That song from beginning to end is in your face, straight-up rock and roll,” Hurt said. “There are guitars everywhere and vocals. It’s exactly what we were wanting to do and what we’re going for, and I think that we achieved everything we wanted to with that song. That’s why we’re trying to push it the most as far as with what we have now.”
This song was recorded in Nashville, where they traveled to track four songs and remix another four. They feel these new sounds are among their best and will appeal to music lovers across the genres.
“It’s the most mature work that we’ve ever done,” Ulmer said. “Having the five-year tenure that we have as a band, we really stepped up to the plate, and I think we’ve brought it to the level to where we actually wrote the songs in a purity form. They are what they are, and they are exactly what they’re supposed to be. If you listen to it, then and only then will that statement make any sense whatsoever.”
Even with their solid line-up and new music, Top of the Orange has found an obstacle in getting signed to a major label. It is not their sound or stage presence that has prevented their launch to superstardom. The music industry has been feeling the nationwide economic crunch and major labels have thrown full album contracts to the side. Previously frowned upon by musicians, the “360 Deal” has become an industry standard with labels taking an unprecedented cut of concert revenue, merchandise and endorsement with less financial concentration on making records. This has forced Top of the Orange to remain vigilant when it comes to getting the deal they want.
“We want something that’s going to definitely establish us and get us the right amount of airplay that we’re looking for and the album quality with a real producer that we’re looking for as opposed to something being thrown together cheaply and then it not working out the way we expected it to, and that’s our shot, and it’s over with,” said Breland. “We’re holding off for that right deal that works for us.”
“Really, we’re being shopped around to the higher-ups at the labels, and a lot of the problems that we’re running into is not a talent thing, it’s not a look thing, it’s not a material thing,” added Ulmer. “It’s a, ‘You boys are awesome. It’s just that we’re not in a position to sign new artists right now.’ A lot of the artists that you see breaking are ones that were signed two or three years ago that are just now breaking onto radio.”
Until their big break, Top of the Orange sees this career challenge as a driving force behind their music, and the BayFest masses will witness this firsthand when they take the Pepsi Stage.
“If you come to a Top of the Orange show, we’re going to be full on, rock-and-roll the entire time, because that’s where we’re at right now,” Hurt said. “Being on the cusp makes every show important and every person at the show important.”
Ryan it was fun teaching u how to do the cupit shuffle > you guys was great at doc bigloves! and ya tryin to sing like a chic wasnt all that bad!!!! hope to catch another one of yalls shows again soon! also it helped that the lead singer was a LSU fan!!!!
HEY!!!!! YALL ARE AWESOME. I LOVED THE MUSIC. YALL ARE THE ONLY REASON I CAME BACK THE SECOND NIGHT. WHEN YALL FINALLY DO GET A CD OUT I WILL BE FIRST IN LINE. WE WOULD LOVE FOR YALL TO COME BACK TO DOCS REALLY SOON
Hey Guys!! I miss yall haha it feels like I havent been to a show in years. But when I get up and going again yall will be tired of seeing my face haha.
It seems that Christmas time is here once again, and it is time again to bring in the New Year. We wish the merriest of Christmas to you and your loved ones, and we wish you happiness and prosperity in the year ahead. Yola
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