Downtempo, space disco, house, tech, b-boy era electro, hip hop, soul, and funk – if you can move, Orchard Lounge will back you up. Formed in Chicago around 2000, OL is the collective of Ben Silver, Bethany Lokken and Spencer Lokken. This versatile trio has enlightened dance floors nationwide with their eclectic mixes, from sunset chill-out to bass-dropping tech house, among an array of other futuristic sounds. Theirs is a democratic mission: to expose as many people as possible to the artists they admire and respect. What sets Orchard Lounge apart from other club DJs is, well, you won’t always find them in the club. In recent years they’ve built a reputation as a hard-touring festival act and set-break crowd favorite, frequently playing alongside acts like The Disco Biscuits, The New Deal and Future Rock. They’ve also spun with heavyweights Bonobo, Lindstrøm, DJ T, Jamie Jones, Booka Shade, Metro Area, and Kevin Yost. As The Disco Biscuits’ de facto hype men (and woman), they’ve had the rare pleasure of performing for thousands at world famous venues like Red Rocks and the Hammerstein Ballroom, constantly keeping the crowd engaged with a unique mix of turntable and live-band improvisation. Outside the booth, the members of Orchard Lounge continue making music: Spencer is a classically-trained violinist and regularly plays with a chamber ensemble in Chicago; Ben has studied guitar for more than ten years, and is currently experimenting with different techniques to implement his instrument into DJ sets. Bethany has spearheaded the effort to get into the production game. Despite their affinity for live music, OL’s focus hasn’t shifted since the group’s inception almost a decade ago: to provide sophisticated and stylish DJ sets that are appropriate in a variety of settings, from the dancefloor to the couch.
Orchard Lounge is thrilled to have been selected one of Smartar’s resident DJs for 2010, and they look forward to spreading their unique brand of electronic funk to the masses.
