Beyond the buzz of campus life and Huskie athletics, a different kind of energy exists in DeKalb’s local music scene. For the band Remora Coraline, that means bridging their Rockford roots with the DeKalb community, one show at a time.
Remora Coraline, fronted by NIU freshman and singer/guitarist Miles Anderson, is bringing its unique tunes to Fargo Skate Shop for an all-ages show on Friday. For Anderson, an undecided major, it’s a chance to help build the scene he’s been looking for.
“I feel like the local music scene in DeKalb is largely confined to Fargo Skate Shop,” Anderson said. “I asked tons of people on campus if there were places on campus that we could play… a lot of them just tried to push us to the Fargo Skate Shop.”
While Anderson is the band’s NIU connection, its roots began in Rockford. Anderson and drummer Tyler Milo first met at a music summer camp a few years ago.
After the members played in different groups, Remora Coraline started to take hold about a year ago. The band is rounded out by guitarist Solan Buell, also from the camp, and bassist Evan McMaster.
Anderson commented on how the drive to perform grew from their personal connection to each other.
“It just started from friendship,” Anderson said. “It evolved into something bigger than that, where we just wanted to express ourselves and try out some new sounds, and maybe entertain some people in the process.”
When asked to describe Remora Coraline’s sound, Anderson described it as rock, encompassing all the members’ tastes. These range from Anderson’s personal band influences like “At the Drive-In” and “Radiohead,” to the other members’, who range from “The Beatles,” “DEVO” and “My Chemical Romance.”
Their evolution as a band is captured on their first EP, “Sapien Hymns.” Anderson described it as the birth of their sound and a sample of the path they’re headed on.
For their upcoming show, the band is focused on creating an energetic and appreciative atmosphere for the audience.
“It’s important, in my opinion, to let the audience know how much they matter,” Anderson said. “As far as our actual energy goes…we usually get pretty lost in the music. I, for example, tend to have some very energetic movements at times…I basically just let the sound of the song shape the way I perform and move it.”
For those looking to go to their show on Friday, doors open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7 p.m. The all-ages show has a $5 entry fee and will also feature Retalia from Rockford and Ira from Monroe, Wisconsin.
The show is just one part of a larger plan for Remora Coraline, who is already working on a full album. For Anderson, the recent Sapien Hymns EP is just the beginning of that journey, a journey he hopes the community will join.
“It’s really almost like a sample of the path we’re headed on,” Anderson said. “And hopefully people are there for the growth and by our side all the way.”
The Sapien Hymns EP is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. For updates on the band, follow their Instagram at @remora._.coraline.
