Young, Inventive Band Ready to Grow Up

Marseilles is a harbor town on the southeast coast of France. “Marseilles” is a group of multi-talented college musicians from Schaumburg whose pivotal moment has arrived.

Composed of five members—Ray Green, Chris Heller, Brandon Louro, Ian Noble and Bryan Tyrpin—the band has finished recording its debut album, “Post Modern Heart,” which is set for an early November release.

“We really became something as a group during the last two years and it really reflects in the music,” said Green, 20, who goes to DePaul University. “It’s really important for us.”

With an A-Side and B-Side, the 10-track album blends electronic, guitar-driven sounds with rock, pop and indie layering. In addition to writing songs, Green, Heller and Louro contribute vocals, guitar and keyboard on the album. Noble plays bass and Tyrpin works the drums.

“It’s the first full-length CD I’ve been a part of,” said Louro, 20, who also attends DePaul and sings in the school’s only all-male a cappella group. “We learned how to channel individual bits of creativity to have the cohesive quality of talent and tastes.”

Those tastes include “Radiohead,” “Grizzly Bear” and the “Born Ruffians.” But on the band’s site, their influences expand to “everything and everyone.”

Since becoming a group in the summer of 2006, “Marseilles” has encountered its fair share of obstacles—namely, finding time to rehearse and play when all but two members are at separate schools.

Noble goes to Truman State University in Missouri, Tyrpin attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Heller studies at Ontario College of Art and Design. While they can’t play as many shows as they would like to, the distance gives the band a solid network that reaches different parts of the country. They’ve even had radio time in Toronto.

While members continuously write and share their own music when they’re away from the group, breaks from school in the winter and summer allow them to reconvene and rehearse Tyrpin’s basement in Schaumburg—where Dr. Pepper and ginger ale flow like wine.

But recording the first album allowed “Marseilles” to legitimize itself and take a major step forward.

Providing a critical, outside perspective, Luke Johnson, 21, of Downers Grove produced and mixed “Post Modern Heart.” And after spending the summer recording with the group, Johnson is convinced of its talent.

“If this album takes off, they’re a band,” he said.

Johnson studies sound recording technology in DePaul’s School of Music and sings in the same a cappella group as Louro. He first heard “Marseilles” at Reggie’s Rock Club, where the group has played twice.

“They work well together,” said Johnson. “What one person lacks, another can make up for. They really understood the concept of an album versus making the next one-hit-wonder.”

The group plans to play in Madison in December and hopes to play other venues—at colleges, open mics or otherwise—when it can.

“We’ve always wanted to get to Toronto,” said Louro.

As for the first album, Johnson sees a bright future ahead. “It’s something I could listen to on repeat.”