Some songs don’t ask for permission, they just kick the door open. And Echo the Divide’s 'Orange Marmalade' is one of them. With its neon-soaked riffs, festival-sized hooks, and gut-punch emotion, the band’s latest single kickstarts a vibrant new chapter for them.
Written and recorded in a burst of instinctive creativity, 'Orange Marmalade' captures Echo the Divide at their most immediate and magnetic. The track’s alt-rock urgency and subtle synth-pop glow call to mind the cinematic drama of U2 and the modern swagger of The 1975, but it’s in the trio’s emotional honesty and dynamic presence that their true voice cuts through. It’s a song that could fill stadiums, yet still feels intimate enough to soundtrack a long, uncertain night.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
It was Guitar immediately. I remember going to the music store because my sister wanted to play the saxophone. As a total afterthought my parents asked me if I wanted to play an instrument. I immediately picked up an old used acoustic guitar they had and started strumming it and, without any knowledge or skill, fretting a few notes that sounded good to me. None of it good, mind you, but I fell in love with the instrument. I’ve always been willing to put the work in if I have fun doing it. Guitar has always been fun, even when it’s hard, it’s still fun.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
As a kid I was very much into the 80’s new wave bands mostly out of the U.K. and Australia. The Cure, The Smiths, Tears for Fears, U2, Midnight Oil, INXS, Men at Work… these bands dominated my listening hours. Then it was harder 90’s bands like Nirvana, Green Day, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins that drew my attention towards melodic interest bent around heavy guitars and angular riff based rock.
What was the first album you remember owning?
As a child my first cassette was Men at Work - Business as Usual. I played it on repeat over and over. It was about the same time I had The Beastie Boys - License to Ill - two very different records, but albums I still find relevant today. U2’s Joshua tree was my first CD, and man, I still love that record!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
There are so many… Almost anytime I hear a simple yet extremely clever song I think, “Man, I wish I wrote that.” Because that’s the genius right? Simple yet clever. I think some of the best painters do their best work when they limit their colour pallet, or restrict themselves to a specific method. It’s the same with music, sometimes the best songs are two chords, but it’s all about HOW those chords are used and with a very smart lyric.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I convince myself to just start. Like a writer putting pen to paper. You have to just crap out a bunch of ideas and get the creative juices flowing. You can make it good later. When starting a new song I like to just let an idea happen naturally. Maybe it’s a verse and a chorus, or just a chorus, or simply a riff… just get the idea out. I’ll then go back and listen to it and decide where to take it. I think it’s very important to simply listen to what you've recorded. Sometimes things can be so fun to play that we forget that it should also be enjoyable to listen to. That’s when you end up serving your “musician’s ego” and not the song; it’s a huge mistake. I like to use the “wife test”. I’ll record a demo and ask Mandy, “do you like this idea” and listen to her non-musician feedback like, “It’s good, but really repetitive” or “There are too many things happening at once and I don’t know what to focus on”. That last one is a big one for me, and once that takes restraint as a life-long musician. There is a tendency to overcomplicate things when we really should be looking at how to make them as simple as possible.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I listen to a lot of new music every week - as I’m also a radio programer for a group of radio stations here in New England. I like a lot of new bands out there, even if it’s just a debut single and then they disappear forever. I do have my go-to’s however. The debut record by Nothing but Thieves is an absolute gem! I’ve been listening to Young the Giant, Wilerado, The Band CAMINO, Metric, Royal Otis, The Maine, lovleytheband… the list is long and always evolving.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Full on dream world? U2. What an absolute honour that would be. I’d also be terrified. Not only of the pressure to perform at 110%, but in meeting them. It would be like meeting mythical gods face to face. What do you say?
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
It’s definitely performing live. There is no replacement for being in the zone performing for any amount of people. When the band is on stage, the lighting is right and the volume pumps through your bones… that’s nirvana. I love entering into that “flow=state” of performance where nothing except the moment matters.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Getting people to actually give you a chance or even care. Honestly, there is so much music out there, why should they care? It’s really hard to be over here waving your arms saying, “Hey! Look at me! I’ve made a song too! Where are you going? Come back…” It’s tough man. The music has got to be great, but after that, it feels like it’s just luck. Getting here at the right moment in someone's life where you connect. None of that can be planned or worked out in advance, it just has to… happen. Sometimes a song never resonates with you, you may even think you don’t like the song. But then, one cold rainy night you’re driving home and it comes one and, bam, it hits you. You love it now. It’s happened to me more times than I can count. It’s just luck really… right song, right moment. It’s frustrating because while YOU may like YOUR music, you need it to connect with OTHERS. You just need that moment to happen for them. It can’t be bought, planned or forced. Your entire career comes down to luck.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Focus on your own growth. You’ll never be happy always comparing yourself to others. There is always somebody better, gifted, more popular, attractive, etc. Just write the music you not only enjoy, but that you can believe in. When you practice your skills, get better than you were yesterday. Don’t worry how incredibly talented so and so is, just be better than you were, even by tiny amounts. It’s extremely easy to just give up if you compare yourself to others. This holds true in everything, not only music. Just look at social media, we only see the polished best that people put out there and we look at our own lives and get depressed. They all have the same crap to deal with too, but we don’t see it. It’s the same with musicians, they all put the work in, the hard hours, the not-so-great performances, but we only see the successes.
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Echo The Divide's new single 'Orange Marmalade' is out now. Check it out in the player below.