Initially formed in late 2019, we began as a trio comprised of Alexander Dillon on drums, Hayes Cummings on guitar, and Aaron Clarke on guitar. The initial touchstone for this band was simple: the three of us wanted to play good, original music with friends. Our journey from jam sessions, to unserious rehearsals, to full on recording sessions was incredibly organic and continues to be centered on that founding principle.

Having a background in and love for various styles of music, we find ourselves gravitating to a primal, intense interpretation of music in a jazz-meets-hard-rock landscape. Drawing inspiration from groups as diverse as Sun Ra, Led Zeppelin, and The Decemberists, our goal is to present a music which is equal parts chaotic, fun, and artistically satisfying. Each member contributes compositions of their own, as well as ideas about the compositions of others, running in contrast to the abundance of groups centered around one individual's artistic vision and compositions. In shaping the songs on this EP, we would bring in sketches, workshop them together in a highly collaborative process, and develop songs which, while the brainchild of one individual, represent the creative energies of our group as a whole.

The tracks on this EP are all single takes, with no overdubs; moreover, most of them are first takes. That aspect is incredibly important to us: the live energy of these songs, we hope you’ll find, is one of their most compelling and attractive features. Alex’s compositional approach is centered around a love for groove and the occasional abnegation of it, paired with an extended group free improvisation. Hayes’s piece evolved as an amalgamation of several genres, drawing equally from jazz, rock, and minimalism to create a catchy and driving tune. Finally, Aaron’s tunes utilize a range of uneasy harmonies and ethereal sonic atmospheres, while maintaining a deep appreciation for hard-hitting rock music.

One of the phrases we lovingly use to describe our band’s genre is “chaos jazz.” It is with great irony that we find ourselves releasing this EP in the midst of a year which is, to put it mildly, chaotic; prescient indeed! Within our own group, we have already made a transitional growth: beginning immediately, we have recruited our friend Hunter McKay to join the group, adding a saxophone and rounding out the group as a quartet (which in turn required a rather convenient name change, from AHA to AHHA). We hope that, despite the general discontent that accompanies this year, our music will serve as a kind of escape, and remind you of what is truly enjoyable in life.