Appearing manufactured isn’t a problem for the members of pop band Shy Gemini — they’ve already mastered the art of being themselves.
At just one year old, New Orleans-based Shy Gemini, composed of Taylor Dudenhefer, Seishin LeBlanc, William Theriot and Brennan Ory, are already cultivating a specific sound.
Shy Gemini’s debut single “Let Your Hair Down” is an upbeat pop song, and its members said they look forward to putting out more music.
LSU psychology senior LeBlanc said Ory set things in motion to create the band.
Music was a family affair for Ory and Dudenhefer, who are step brothers. The two grew up in bands together with their musically talented older brother. Ory, Dudenhefer, LeBlanc and Theriot were rotating in and out of other bands when they were in high school.
Then Ory, the youngest member of Shy Gemini, said he suggested they form what would become their own band.
“I reached out to Seishin, and then we were just like, Taylor plays bass and Will plays drums, this works,” Ory said.
As for the band’s name, no member is actually a Gemini, which LeBlanc said makes the name even better.
“We were thinking of names and different things to put in a name, and we thought of constellations, and the one currently in the sky was Gemini,” LeBlanc said. “So, we went with it.”
He said the “Shy” was added later because “Shy Gemini” had a nice ring.
In addition to providing vocals and playing instruments, the members of Shy Gemini write their own lyrics.
Theriot said one of the best parts of being in the band is the ear his bandmates have for music. The group’s influences range from Panic! At The Disco to Taylor Swift.
“The coolest part about it is we’re all versatile musicians,” Theriot said. “We can all play more than one instrument. We know what’s supposed to sound like what and what we’re really going for.”
Theriot said the group puts its heart into the music and doesn’t want to be defined by the first single in terms of sound.
Though they want to continue making pop music, LeBlanc said Shy Gemini will crossover and not uphold a firm label on what they create.
“We identify as a pop band 100 percent, but that doesn’t mean everything’s just strictly pop,” LeBlanc said. “We’ll definitely have some cross-genre stuff.”
In true pop band fashion, the group is already receiving enthusiastic, and sometimes creepy, direct messages from fans on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.
LeBlanc said he once had a fan repeatedly send him pictures of himself cropped out of other pictures that featured his bandmates.
Dudenhefer said he’s still surprised the band gets messages on social media. He said fans consistently inspire the band by commenting on how much they like their music and the progress they’re making.
“That makes you feel good. You’re like ‘Wow, somebody liked something that I put out,’” Dudenhefer said.
The members said they enjoy the fans’ excitement, especially at this early stage in their music career, and try to reply to everyone.
Ory said he took the liberty of handing out a fandom name.
“We want our fans to be called ‘gems,’” Ory said.
Through the tough process of balancing school with their musical aspirations, the group has maintained its sense of humor, and never take themselves too seriously.
LeBlanc used Drake to describe what he wants for Shy Gemini in the future, as he said he’d ultimately like the band to be “25 sitting on 25 mil.”