Local band Motorist looking to break through

Featuring an experimental sound and a group of young and motivated musicians, Motorist is looking to make its way in the Seattle music scene. The local band features two UW music majors: drummer and 2007 alumnus Jess Alldredge and guitarist and current senior Luke Bergman. Alldredge and Bergman are joined by lead singer Robbie Johnston and keyboardist Garrett Sand.

The band recently released their first album, Sleep Aid, an EP featuring six tracks that demonstrate the band’s cohesive sound and diverse musical arrangements. Although the root of Motorist’s sound is provided by the classic combination of guitar, bass and drums, the addition of Sand’s highly synthesized keyboarding and everything from wind chimes to violins create a truly unique listening experience.

It’s no surprise that Motorist has such a diverse sound given the scope of its influences.

“I think a lot of what we do comes from a desire to fuse romanticism with art-rock, but more tangibly, I’d say our main influences are Air, St. Vincent, Radiohead, Stravinsky and Pet Sounds,” Johnston said.

Although Motorist has been together for only a year, the band members have known each other since attending high school in Ellensburg. All of the musicians have been involved in other projects along the way, and the collective experience is apparent in their well-formed sound.

Bergman cites the band members’ familiarity with one another as a benefit to the group dynamic.

“Having known one another for so long, we were comfortable around each other from the start, whereas it can be detrimental for some groups when the members are too mysterious,” he said.

The self-described art-rock outfit is working hard to break into the local scene. They produced Sleep Aid themselves, having recorded it at a church in their hometown. The band utilizes a MySpace page to help circulate the EP, which has received airplay on KEXP.

In addition to recording, Motorist has played a few local shows at venues such as Fremont’s ToST Lounge and Egan’s Jam House in Ballard.

“I think we all have a full album in the backs of our minds, but for now we’re pretty focused on just playing good shows around the area,” Bergman said.

Although Motorist began as a means to simply enjoy making music together, the band is not without the motivation to continue to develop its potential.

“The group is for fun, but we all have a desire to make a living through music,” Johnston said.

Bergman, who is graduating this spring with a degree in jazz studies, is looking forward to having more time for Motorist, as well as other groups with which he is involved.

“With school I don’t have a lot of time to devote to these projects, so I’m looking forward to a more full-fledged commitment,” Bergman said.

With the necessary time and funding, a full-length album or tour could be on the way from Motorist. However, for now the band is content to focus its efforts on gaining recognition in the Seattle area.

“The scene is a bit saturated, so we’re looking for opportunities to break through,” Johnston said.