Deep within Washington D.C.’s politically overrun environment holds one of music’s most prolific cities, at least in terms of artist greatness. And the same is true for the surrounding suburban areas, where bands create tracks so catchy it’s hard to believe they’re local. Reporters at the FairFacts sat down with MLEMON, an indie experimental band local to Fairfax, and discussed their journey into music, the influence of a residential space, and their new album.

Asher and McKinley are the couple that makes up MLEMON, a duo whose creative talents know no bounds. Between the both of them, they have the instrumental skill sets and music software understanding to create songs that seem like full-scale band productions. And they do. Their latest album The Legend Of opens with heavy electric guitar and intense drum pounds, only for a later track to be almost entirely in synth keyboard and violin. Both Asher and McKinley share a love of genre-mixing and genre-defying, this (to them) being a key reason why they function perfectly. McKinley noted, “I think it’s really hard to find musicians who are open to actually playing other genres. Which is wild to me, because most people don’t just like one genre of music, so the fact that bands sort of religiously sort of just play within one genre strikes me as really strange. So being able to make music with someone whose interests are as diverse is also like, kind of a big deal.”

The love the two have for each other is evident, especially as their eyes rarely left one another’s as they spoke. They’ve written over “a cool dozen” songs about each other, though not all of them have been put out for the public. Asher described how he views “the Prophecy albums as [kind] of about us. I see it as like a fantastical version of it.” The Prophecy album he’s referring to are The Legend Of saga-project where The Legend Of is “side one of The Prophecy of Magnet Minds,” and the twin album will continue to tell the “interwoven sides of a single story.”

Aside from their devotion to each other, both Asher and McKinley have a complicated semblance of love for the Fairfax region as well. While both grew up in the area (or just outside of it) they each got a chance to explore other cities for themselves before ultimately returning back here. Asher explained what it was

s like making music back in Fairfax, “But coming back here, it’s not just revisiting the music that we liked growing up. It’s also like revisiting who we were and the things that made us the way that we are now. Older. More mature, supposedly. It almost feels like the spiritual continuation of the music that we wish we could have made when we were younger, living here, not knowing anyone, not able to play music.” To broadcast their sound,

the couple hosts album release parties where they have CD’s available for the public.

There’s a lot more to MLEMON than simply being a local indie band. They’re a dynamic example of the lengths talent can take you, a duo that projects the sound of the six-person band all while still constantly playing, singing, and developing their already talented minds.

During the time of writing this article, MLEMON has released a mini album titled Fruit Snacks in anticipation for the saga-project for The Legend Of.

Yashavi’s Top Five MLEMON Tracks:

1. Dancing with Deer in the Headlights
2. In Bocca Al Lupo
3. Ouroboros Ring
4. You’re a Full-Time Position
5. Be My Bonsai

Callie’s Top Five MLEMON Tracks:

1. Should I?
2. You’re a Full-Time Position
3. I Seen My Love in a Crystal Ball
4. Boomtown
5. The Last Wonderful War

Find MLEMON on Spotify or Bandcamp