DONATE
The experimental Indiana hip-hop group 81355 has a new album out titled "Bad Dogs." The group’s critically acclaimed debut, “This Time I’ll Be of Use,” was issued in 2021 and featured rappers Oreo Jones and Sirius Black, along with the multi-instrumentalist and producer David Moose Adamson.
Since then, the trio has expended into a full band, adding bass, guitar and drums. WFYI’s Kyle Long recently spoke with 81355 to learn more about their evolving sound.
This interview has been edited for style and clarity.
David Moose Adamson: Hey, this is Moose from 81355.
Oreo Jones: Hey, hello, Oreo Jones, here with 81355.
Sirius Blvck: Hello, my name is Nicolas Askren, aka Sirivs Blvck. I'm in the band 81355 with my brothers.
Kyle Long: Moose, you produced the album "Bad Dogs." How did bringing in this trio of instrumentalists change the sound of this record?
Adamson: Yeah, I think it totally changed it. We wanted a full band to make the live shows exciting. When we were figuring out the first album’s songs with the full band, the band was adding all these new elements that were really fun and exciting, and so it just made sense to continue to work on the second record with the full band.
Long: “Bad Dogs” is being released by Joyful Noise Recordings, a label based here in Indianapolis. Is there a synergy there, working with a label in your hometown? I know you've all probably had some kind of relationship with Joyful Noise in the past.
Oreo Jones: What's been cool about Joyful Noise is their roster is so eclectic, and I think they still hold on to those, like, old school, I don't want to say old school, but like a vintage mentality of a record label that it doesn't matter what your follower count is, or these, like weird metrics that everyone is really salivating over now.
We just want to put out good music, and we want whoever is behind it, we want them to, you know, believe and try to let everyone know that we're not insane. If that makes sense,
Sirius Blvck: Like, “Oh, you see, they hear it too. It's not just me.”
Long: The new album is titled "Bad Dogs." Is there any significance behind that title?
Sirius Blvck: Our sound, sonically is just one that I feel like can't be domesticated. It’s really a wild and free sound. It moves fluidly in and out of genre, and sonically, we're untrained dogs. We're not good at being domesticated, sonically. We kind of just like to move about and roam where we roam.
Long: Oreo, earlier you mentioned that your label, Joyful Noise Recordings, doesn't judge your artistic merit based on the conventional metrics of Spotify followers and Instagram likes. In light of that, what are your hopes for this record?
Oreo Jones: The hope is just that people listen to it and really digest it, you know? Keep on putting more fuel in our creative tank and get more opportunities to play across the country and keep on jamming with with my fam.
Long: The record sounds amazing. Thank you all so much for taking time to do this today. I sincerely appreciate it.
Sirius Blvck: Thank you Kyle, every time. I appreciate you.
Long: "Bad Dogs" is out now on all streaming platforms and 81355 will be giving a free live performance at Luna Musicv on July 20th at 5pm.
Support WFYI. We can't do it without you.