David Begin sits down with Jodi and Jeff of Echoes of Petra for Midday Records “Get to Know the Artists” feature. Echoes of Petra will be competing on Friday, January 24 at The Met in Pawtucket, RI for a chance to perform at the next Midday Social.

Midday Records: Let’s start off with the basics. Can you tell us a little about the band and the story behind your name, “Echoes Of Petra“?

Jodi: Jeff can probably explain that one best but here is a little history straight out of wikipedia; Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the southern Jordanian governorate of Ma’an, that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system.

Jeff: Petra was a city circa 1500bc and the entire civilization was lost. No reason has been found whether they abandoned the city or it perished. “Echoes of Petra” is homage to that civilization lost….Echoed in time.

Jodi: Our former guitarist, Nik Rooney, came up with the concept. We all loved it and just went for it!

MDR: You’ve recently opened for “All That Remains” at Lupo’s. How was that experience and how has shows like that affected the band?

Jodi: I’m not sure about anyone else but I’m pretty sure they all feel the same; it was a huge accomplishment for us and we were just happy to have the opportunity to play such a historical venue. I know I’ve been to a ton of shows at Lupo’s (even the old Lupo’s) and it has always been the best size club to see a band in the Providence area. Not to say there aren’t other great clubs out there but the capacity, reputation, and location is what makes it so special to me. Naturally, I was nervous. But the days leading up to the show I had far more butterflies than I did the day of the show. I said to myself “Jodi…..this is it…. game time. Time to sing your heart out with your friends and enjoy every moment!” That’s what I did. After our set I had an entirely different mind set. Let’s just say I had a few too many celebratory cocktails!

MDR: You have members that have been in previous projects with styles ranging from alternative to metal, how did you decided on your current sound and what artists influence the band?

Jodi: Well, Jeff and I decided to start a project and he was coming up with some different ideas. Due to the fact we’ve worked together in the past he was aware of my interests (which are pretty much a mish-mosh of different styles) and knowing the type of vocalist I was, he had a jump-start. I loved a lot of his ideas and it went from there. Gradually, we added members 3,4 & 5 and before we knew it we had an EP. The guys really helped me come into my own with that first EP. They were patient while I tried figuring out “my way” when it came to writing. They had all been such seasoned musicians in the scene and although I was a studio musician and huge local music supporter, this was a completely different animal. I love those guys! They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and inspired me to push through the fear……. wow, that sounded like either a Nike commercial or maybe an idea for my next song!?

MDR: Which of your songs do you enjoy playing live the most?

Jodi: Personally, I love to play “A Vacant Tide”, “Fault Lines”, and the occasional cover song. For me, “A Vacant Tide” is one of those songs I can completely lose myself in with all the emotion and meaning behind the song. “Fault Lines” is another favorite of mine because it has a little bit of everything that I love about music; a groovy beat, soft vocals, inspirational lyrics, loud vocals, climax, emotion and big ending. It allows me to show my low vulnerable tone as well as my high and emotional notes. When the song ends I’m usually feeling an adrenalin rush due to the power of the instruments and me being able to express myself along with this amazing power. The only downfall is that we play it last a lot of the time and I’m standing here (or on my knees) wanting more!

MDR: You’ll be competing for a chance to perform at The Midday Social, have you attended a Midday Social in the past or worked with Midday Records prior to this event? If so, what was the experience like for you?

Jeff: We have attended all 3 of the Midday Socials. We loved the first event and even got to play the 2nd time acoustically. Prior to that we had been on one of Midday Records compilations. We have been working with Midday for quite awhile and appreciate all they have done to motivate and stimulate the scene!

MDR: What can we expect to see in this upcoming year from the band?

Jeff: Our goals are simple: Finish our new record. Play some great shows. And have fun while doing it.