The Orphins

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The Orphins
The Orphins (Drowning Cupid Promo Pic
Background information
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Genre(s)	Indie rock, Dance
Years active	2000–present
Label(s)	Goodnight Records and Rob's House Records
Members
Thomas Barnwell Daniel Upton Max McDonough Jen Wyrick

The Orphins are an American Indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Conscious misspellings, a melancholic sense of humor, familiar, danceable rhythms coupled with complex textures and sounds -- and it all changes with the next phrase of music. A bubblegum riff easily transitions into disco dancing, just to dive into dissonant syncopation. Still, the music is totally self-contained -- an Orphins song is instantly recognizable. Lyrically, the band is more intriguing than other bands that are out to keep crowds moving, spinning narratives of lonely outer-space camps and personified animals that allude more to older R.E.M. than the typical make-up/break-up tunes.

Guitarist Thomas Barnwell grew up around his parents' bluegrass only to join a death-metal band called Narcolepsy^[1]. Barnwell met guitarist Daniel Upton to start nearly a decade of musical experimentation, leading to their current dueling guitar structure, held down tightly by Jen Wyrick's quick bass lines and Max McDonough's steady, up-beat drumming. The intentional misspelling of their name was the result of several misdesigned flyers for their early shows. Because there were numerous bands already using the moniker The Orphans, the band decided to continue using the incorrectly misspelled version of the name. Since 2000, the band has played through nearly all consequential Atlanta venues and punk rock houses, with groups such as Erase Errata, Go Go Go Airheart, Numbers, and Volcano, I'm Still Excited!, earning a reputation as a band that other bands respect and relish.

In 2003, The Orphins released a split 7" with The Liverhearts on Rob's House Records that sparked an appearance on Georgia State's 88.5 FM WRAS Georgia Music Show. In 2004, The Orphins released their first full length CD entitled Drowning Cupid on Goodnight Records the following year. The album was released nationally by RedEye distribution, and promoted heavily by Team Clairmont promotions. The album charted well on many radio stations on the CMJ charts, as well as finding a number one spot on radio stations WRAS in Atlanta, GA, as well as KTRU in Houston, TX. The Orphins have completed the recording of a second full-length, to be released at an unknown date on Goodnight Records.