Ghost Funk Orchestra

A retro-toned combo traversing a number of different styles including psychedelia, jazz, soul, R&B, and Latin, Ghost Funk Orchestra emerged out of New York in the late 2010s under the leadership of producer/arranger Seth Applebaum. Initially an experimental recording project, Applebaum slowly built his endeavor into a dynamic live group supporting a series of small releases before making their label debut with 2019′s A Song for Paul. By 2022′s A New Kind of Love, their sound had grown to include orchestral pop.
Known for his work with bands like the Mad Doctors and Mom Jeans, Applebaum began Ghost Funk Orchestra as a personal side project, alternately playing all of the instruments himself and borrowing musicians from various New York bands to capture the gritty, heavily reverbed mood-funk of early releases like 2014′s The Haunt and 2016′s Night Walker. The project grew into a live band the following year with a series of shows in New York and the vibey, self-released Something Evil. By this point, their sound had evolved to include a series of female vocalists and a horn section. After signing with Colemine Records’ Karma Chief imprint, Ghost Funk Orchestra made their full-length label debut with 2019′s A Song for Paul. The group’s next album, An Ode to Escapism, arrived in November 2020 and featured guest appearances by Julian Applebaum, Kam Franklin, and Sean Pastorok. On their cinematic third LP, 2022′s A New Kind of Love, Applebaum steered the band’s sound toward mid-century exotica and classic orchestral pop. ~ Timothy Monger