The band was assembled over a few years by front man Damien James with the help of old high school friends Luke Benedict and Lydia Joy and the rich Philadelphia music scene which Damien says exposed him to different sounds and possibilities.

Damien came to the Philadelphia area with a music degree from Lebanon Valley College in Annville Pennsylvania. He started out playing open mic nights and meeting his future band mates thru friends and shared musical interests. He had been writing melodies with violin and cello parts because he felt the cello was seriously under used in contemporary music when he met Alyssa Almeida, an accomplished cello player from Temple University.

He claims the partial description of folk because his writing approach is classic cords-lyrics-melody and he embraces the dark because none of his songs are in a major key.

The songs, although not “edgy”, have an edge to them. The band prides itself in making dynamic exciting songs with uncomfortable changes that aren’t necessarily “clean” or “resolved” and can be traced to an alt-rock aesthetic.

My Familiar is finishing up a concept album called Demons. The songs on the album are inspired by, but not literally about, the seven deadly sins. As Damien found himself at a crossroad in his life and trying to understand what he was going through he found that a few of his songs that he was currently writing seemed to be thematic so he decide to stretch himself and see where it would take him. He has enjoyed having a vision for the whole project.

Damien James - Vocals/Guitar

Lydia Joy - Vocals

Luke Benedict - Drums

Brian Clarke - Bass

Alyssa Almeida - Cello

Chesy Tronchoni - Violin

Check out their new song “Demons” on Facebook and youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5_aTzjJZXU