81355 is a rare supergroup not just in sound, but also in background. Forged at the onset of the pandemic by a pair of local-icon emcees, building on a collaborative album from the year prior, and a producer with a previous career in the neo-psych/freak-folk scene of the early 2010s, one of the project’s goals was to put the often-overlooked city of Indianapolis on the map shortly before Tyrese Haliburton laid similar plans.
But beyond the music—an entrancing blend of electronic-lullaby instrumentals and equally hushed vocals—the trio of Oreo Jones, Sirius Blvck, and David “Moose” Adamson (a.k.a. Sedcairn) also found a sense of family in each other’s company, one that would continue to grow as they took these songs on the road and added a full backing band to bolster Moose’s beats. Naturally, that evolution informed their latest album, Bad Dogs, a seamless transition from the bedroom hip-hop of This Time I’ll Be of Use to a road-tested ensemble featuring live guitar, drums, and bass.
Also like their debut, Bad Dogs largely overlooks the political turmoil it was born within to focus on the senses of comfort found in family—biological and otherwise—and historic Eastern Conference title runs. Ahead of the record’s release tomorrow, Oreo, Sirius, and Moose, along with their backing band members, took us a little deeper into the non-musical influences on Bad Dogs. Find their words below, and pre-order the record here.
Family chosen and unchosen
Moose: The “81355” name came from thinking about my son, Wally, and was meant to evoke being thankful for life. At times I feel a little pressure to calm down about trying to make music since I’m a father now—which is understandable, but I think it’s also important to show my boys “believe in your dreams,” “follow your heart,” and “never give up.” Aimee’s support has been unwavering. It’s hard to find time to be with my extended family, but I think about them everyday, and I know I’m privileged that they still welcome me when I see them. And my chosen family of fearless geniuses in 81355 are such a precious treasure to find in this world.
Ntozake Shange
Sharlene Birdsong (bass): While recording Bad Dogs, I was going through a poetry bender and repeatedly was hooked on Ntozake Shange’s The Love Space Demands (A Continuing Saga). I found a used version online and was surprised to see Shange’s signature scribbled on the title page. Her words are all about love, sex, power, and music. She had a thing for falling in love with musicians and liked to write heartwrenching lines like, “What makes you think my spine is your own personal San Andreas fault?” Ugh! It gutted me. I like to get nice and emotional before making some music, and Shange had me drowning in my feelings. In the best way.
The Indiana Pacers
Pat “Ostry” Okerson (drums): The Pacers are out here reppin’ where I’m from, and that’s inspiring to me. I’ve always loved the sport, and I feel like top-notch NBA play is some of the best sport viewing on Earth. The Pacers have always had this us-against-the-world mentality and it’s infectious. I’m always energized to rep my city and grind even when the lows are low.
Oreo Jones: To echo Ost, I think it speaks to how the culture is here in Naptown and how we approach anything. The story is way more intriguing coming from somewhere you least expect, especially if it’s from a community that’s always counted out all the time.
RRR
Sirius Blvck: In the studio, we have movies playing on silent while we record the album, and the one film that I think floored all of us was RRR. Watching that movie while listening to the mixes throughout the day, smoking big doinks with our engineer Matt [Riefler], was a euphoric experience. We were locked the fuck in, eyes of the tiger.
Morning walks
Dimitri Morris (guitar): What began as a practice in exercise and routine quickly evolved into a sacred space for introspection and self-reflection. Walking with the sunlight cresting over the trees as fog rises from the water is a unique beauty. Sounds of flower and fauna guided my steps and thoughts as I breathed in the crisp morning air. My blood begins to circulate and my mind starts to wander; tomorrow’s queries drift on the breeze with each passing inhale and exhale. These pockets of contemplation have served to calm me, to ground me, and to foster inspiration and growth in many aspects of my life.
