AZ, Ellen the Felon and Max Bravo do an outdoor, Memorial Day podcast with Peter and Charmaine of Dichro with a wild array of new music.
In April 2020, amidst the chaos of a world in flux, Peter Guellard, renowned bassist of Pittsburgh’s industrial rock legends Venus in Furs and former member of Mace and The Electric Hellfire Club, embarked on a unique musical experiment. Bringing together a cadre of local musicians, Guellard orchestrated an online cover of the iconic but “industrialized” folk classic “Man of Constant Sorrow,” infusing it with an electronic edge that left listeners electrified and from this virtual collaboration emerged Dichro, a dynamic quartet poised to redefine the boundaries of darker types of music. August 2020 marked their official debut with a mesmerizing cover and accompanying music video of Dead Can Dance’s “The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove,” a bewitching rendition that captivated audiences with its exotic allure. Guellard is joined by guitarist Dirk Miller (Rusted Root, Uprooted), drummer and an established percussionist Tracey Whorton (Venus In Furs, Jenn Wertz Band), and singer/songwriter/dancer/actress Charmaine Freemonk, back in the Pittsburgh area after several years spent touring with the Amazing Acro Cats and moving from Austin to New Orleans to Atlanta.
She most often performs outside the band as a solo artist or as a professional stilt-walker and fire/LED flow artist and who appeared in the Netflix series “Cat People”.
Fueled by the symbiotic creativity of Charmaine and Peter, Dichro embarked on a journey of sonic exploration, crafting a debut album titled “Stained Glass” at The Church Recording Studio and later in Psychotribe Studio in Pittsburgh. From remote demos to studio sessions, their collaborative spirit breathed life into each track, resulting in a collection of songs that push the boundaries of anthemic darkwave. The band’s debut single, “One Lane Bridge,” accompanied by a haunting music video reminiscent of “The Blair Witch Project,” serves as a stark reflection of the anxiety and fear wrought by the Covid virus. With a message urging vigilance in the face of uncertainty, Dichro captures the frustrations of a world in turmoil. Following the success of their debut, Dichro unveiled “Strangled,” a poignant exploration of “taxation without representation” from Charmaine’s perspective.
With each release, Dichro delves deeper into the complexities of the human experience, weaving a tapestry of sound that resonates with audiences worldwide. Signed to Distortion Productions label in March 2024, Dichro is poised to unleash their debut album “Stained Glass” on the 23rd of August 2024, promising a sonic journey unlike any other. Blurring the lines between music and visual art, their live performances feature bespoke video backdrops and customized light shows, transforming each show into a transcendent experience. As they venture into the pre-production stage for their third single and music video, “Mercy,” Dichro continues to push the boundaries of music, infusing their anthemic darkwave sound with elements of goth, ethereal, industrial, trip-hop and alternative.
BAND MEMBERS:
Charmaine Freemonk: vocals, electric uke, keyboards
Peter Guellard: bass, upright bass, programming, keyboards, guitars
Tracey Whorton: drums and percussion
Dirk Miller: electric guitars
Adrian Adioetomo: electric guitars, slide resonator guitar