Foreign Oren
Foreign Oren Promo PicWebsites
Members
- Brandon Lozano - Drums
- Blake Panter - Guitar/Vocals
- Derric Bonnot - Vocals/Guitar
- John Sletten - Bass/Vocals
About
The land between Dallas and Ft. Worth straddles a line that separates two distinct geographies and climates in the United States. The Southern U.S. with its trees and good-natured culture, morph into the Southwest and its open treeless range somewhere right west of Ft. Worth. It is in this transitional prairie that the members of Foreign Oren are continually defining themselves outside of labels.
"We grew up in the land of the contemporary mega-church, so the old- school style of music and culture is something we never really came from," says lead guitarist, Blake Panter. "We're very intrigued by people who dont feel a part of something; people who step out on their own and be themselves. We identify with that, so those people are welcome in our book."
Foreign Oren shares this mentality with other Interstate-35 alumni, including the Flaming Lips from OKC, and Bob Dylan from Duluth, Minnesota. Both artists are constantly in change and progression, and Foreign Oren is no different. The group began leading youth services at a 20,000 member mega-church north of Dallas when they were freshmen and sophomores in high school. Blake Panter and Derric Bonnot began by playing as the youngest members of the youth band with Blake on guitar and Derric leading. John Sletten would join the band in a different form a few years later. They watched their youth group grow from 60 to over 1200 people in a period of several years. It was here where the group developed a penchant for playing more popular songs from the radio that would match up with whatever the message was for the night. The band finally gelled into its final form when Brandon Lozano took over drums and elevated the band to a new level.
"We definitely learned a lot by playing other people's songs constantly. Eventually, those parts that other people wrote suddenly start to seep into the things you do, things you love, and things you think could be done differently."
Foreign Oren began to branch out by playing clubs and bars in the area. It was here where they began their never dying sense of development. Always considering new and exciting ways to communicate, they branched out by using their own homemade lighting systems made out of Home Depot parts. At one show a 6-year old boy was invited onstage to run lights during a song. They are not scared to try something new. . .
"Derric has actually been starting shows from the back of the audience to kind of give people no hiding place from whats going on onstage. Its been working pretty well so far."
Their shows are becoming less about hearing the music and more about EXPERIENCING the music . . . whichever means necessary. In the studio, they hope to continue that process.
"I am constantly running across songs on old records that are attached to specific memories from growing up; songs that put words to feelings I didnt know what to do with", says lead singer and rhythm guitarist Derric Bonnot. "Hopefully, pouring ourselves into these songs and shows are creating opportunities for people to share in that same experience and have a voice for themselves."
After the boys were signed to Simple Records in 2005, they embarked on a college tour while their debut album was being made.
"Our album was an unusually long process. We write consistently and recorded in bursts. Every time we made a trip to record, wed have 5 more new songs that would just blow away what we already did. So in the end we ended up with almost 30 songs."
Although this first album might leave a lot to live up to for the follow-up,
"At least we don't have to worry about writing our next album, or our second album, or maybe half of our third album."
This is an amazing feat, especially for guys who have barely made it into their twenties. The real story of the band has yet to begun, as what shapes next is a full-length debut due at the end of summer. Just never expect Foreign Oren to file where you want them to. There's a reason very few people are named Oren, just as there is a reason Texas is not really Southern and not really Southwestern.
"We grew up in the land of the contemporary mega-church, so the old- school style of music and culture is something we never really came from," says lead guitarist, Blake Panter. "We're very intrigued by people who dont feel a part of something; people who step out on their own and be themselves. We identify with that, so those people are welcome in our book."
Foreign Oren shares this mentality with other Interstate-35 alumni, including the Flaming Lips from OKC, and Bob Dylan from Duluth, Minnesota. Both artists are constantly in change and progression, and Foreign Oren is no different. The group began leading youth services at a 20,000 member mega-church north of Dallas when they were freshmen and sophomores in high school. Blake Panter and Derric Bonnot began by playing as the youngest members of the youth band with Blake on guitar and Derric leading. John Sletten would join the band in a different form a few years later. They watched their youth group grow from 60 to over 1200 people in a period of several years. It was here where the group developed a penchant for playing more popular songs from the radio that would match up with whatever the message was for the night. The band finally gelled into its final form when Brandon Lozano took over drums and elevated the band to a new level.
"We definitely learned a lot by playing other people's songs constantly. Eventually, those parts that other people wrote suddenly start to seep into the things you do, things you love, and things you think could be done differently."
Foreign Oren began to branch out by playing clubs and bars in the area. It was here where they began their never dying sense of development. Always considering new and exciting ways to communicate, they branched out by using their own homemade lighting systems made out of Home Depot parts. At one show a 6-year old boy was invited onstage to run lights during a song. They are not scared to try something new. . .
"Derric has actually been starting shows from the back of the audience to kind of give people no hiding place from whats going on onstage. Its been working pretty well so far."
Their shows are becoming less about hearing the music and more about EXPERIENCING the music . . . whichever means necessary. In the studio, they hope to continue that process.
"I am constantly running across songs on old records that are attached to specific memories from growing up; songs that put words to feelings I didnt know what to do with", says lead singer and rhythm guitarist Derric Bonnot. "Hopefully, pouring ourselves into these songs and shows are creating opportunities for people to share in that same experience and have a voice for themselves."
After the boys were signed to Simple Records in 2005, they embarked on a college tour while their debut album was being made.
"Our album was an unusually long process. We write consistently and recorded in bursts. Every time we made a trip to record, wed have 5 more new songs that would just blow away what we already did. So in the end we ended up with almost 30 songs."
Although this first album might leave a lot to live up to for the follow-up,
"At least we don't have to worry about writing our next album, or our second album, or maybe half of our third album."
This is an amazing feat, especially for guys who have barely made it into their twenties. The real story of the band has yet to begun, as what shapes next is a full-length debut due at the end of summer. Just never expect Foreign Oren to file where you want them to. There's a reason very few people are named Oren, just as there is a reason Texas is not really Southern and not really Southwestern.
