Orchid in the Ivy’s punk rock cover of the Midnight Oil classic “Beds Are Burning” could not have come at a better time, in light of ongoing global dynamics, despite coming nearly four decades after the original.
“The song explores the challenges Aboriginal Australians have faced, including the loss of land linked to developments such as coal mining,” says Brett Scharf, the guitarist and lead singer of Orchid in the Ivy. “There are echoes of similar situations here in the U.S., where people are also being forced to leave their communities. It felt like it was very relevant for the times.”
The three-piece band from Kentucky prides itself in playing a rocking live show of mostly original tunes, but “Beds Are Burning” is always a favorite. Adding a cover to the repertoire is a way to give listeners a bit of a familiar taste, but with a sound that is brand new.
“We wanted to make it sound a little more like us,” Scharf says. “This is really the only cover we have ever done. I don’t really like cover songs when they sound exactly like the original. To me, you can’t beat the original, so why try to do it the same?”
Scharf says that most fans will recognize the chorus when it hits, but Orchid in the Ivy’s rendition of “Beds Are Burning” incorporates a unique, faster, and harder sound. The response has been electric, garnering about 20,000 listens on Spotify since it was released last month. It is one of their more popular tracks to date, and the hope is that it turns listeners on to their originals.
“Beds Are Burning” has been in the works for years, as it was originally recorded more than a decade ago with a different singer in a project that preceded Orchid in the Ivy.
Scharf is the former guitarist of the band Spindle, which toured with renowned bands before they hit it big. He was signed with a management label, and everything was going well with a new record on the way. But suddenly there was a falling out between band members, and Spindle was no more.
Scharf returned to his hometown and formed the band Rosemary Device, where he met drummer Mark Schulte, who had been touring with the band Krinj across the Cincinnati area.
After the singer for Rosemary Device decided to abruptly call it quits just before the release of a new record, Scharf decided to try his hand at singing, and the rest is history. They recruited bassist Chris Saalfeld, who is a fellow Northern Kentucky University classmate of Scharf’s and was ready and willing to hop right into the band.
“We re-did all the vocals on that album, and that is how we kind of became the band that we are now,” Scharf says.
The newly formed group quickly started pumping out material under the moniker of Orchid in the Ivy in 2013, and Scharf says it is all about the energy they bring to the table that makes them special. Scharf says they are a true “powerhouse trio.”
“We put on a really good live show,” Scharf says. “We are good writers and have good songs. We’re really tight and have been together for a long time now. With our songs, we don’t try to fit into a certain time period, and with ‘Beds Are Burning’ it is kind of like it can go in any time period and still work out well.”
Scharf doesn’t necessarily like to compare themselves to their heroes, but they have musical influence from bands like Thrice, Alkaline Trio, Brand New, and Nirvana. Orchid in the Ivy is always working on new music, and right now they are putting together an EP called “Look on the Bright Side.” The band is releasing songs one at a time over the coming weeks, giving listeners a continuous taste of what is to eventually be the finished product.
“We’re trying to write songs that take the listener on a ride a little bit, so if you listen to an EP, it’s not just the same the whole way through,” Scharf says. “Sometimes that is hard to find these days.”
Be sure to check out “Beds Are Burning,” and follow the musical journey of Orchid in the Ivy on all platforms.
SPIN Magazine newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
