Marble House may have come together by chance, but the eclectic group stayed together after winning the Musician’s Guild annual Rock n’ Swap competition in November 2023.
In the Rock n’ Swap competition, musicians are randomly grouped into bands. Competing under the name Wicked Pizzahs (with the original five members), the group took home the win with an original song and cover of Paramore’s “Fences.”
The indie-rock group rebranded prior to their first performance at the 193 Coffeehouse, known among University of Rhode Island students for its cozy atmosphere and mosh pits. The name Marble House has roots in Rhode Island history, a reference to the band’s origins.
“We’re a Rhode Island band, we should play on that,” fourth-year drummer Leah Popovic said. “We got to talking about the Newport mansions, and I love Marble House. It’s my favorite one to tour.”
The band’s name isn’t the only thing that’s changed since Rock n’ Swap, according to Popvic. Picking up second-year bassist Victor Paulino along the way was also an influence on the new name.
“It’s a really fitting name because we’re like a revolving door of people,” Popovic said.
Paulino also plays bass for URI band Rose Tint, and was called up to play with Marble House after Popovic fell ill last semester.
“It was always the six of us after that,” Popovic said. “It was fate that Vic got put in as well, because Vic was meant to be in this band.”
The coffeehouse performance introduced the rebrand, which the band says was met with positive reception.
“I feel like it could not have gone any better,” first-year lead vocalist Gwen Kavanaugh said.
The group performed a blend of original songs and covers, sharing their second spin on a Paramore song “That’s What You Get.” Paramore’s discography heavily influenced Marble House’s indie-rock concentration, according to third-year keyboardist Abigail Orlando.
As far as original songs go, the band falls more into the indie genre. Kavanaugh and Popovic are credited with most lyrical work, while members Orlando, Paulino and second-year guitarist Aidan Sullivan are responsible for musical structure.
“Aidan really carries with all the musical technique aspects of the originals,” Orlando said.
The band also gives credit to URI’s Musician’s Guild for their influence and inspiration on original tracks.
“I honestly do take a lot of influence from everyone who surrounds me in the Guild and listening to what they’re writing and producing,” Popovic said.
The Guild’s executive board also got their flowers from the group for curating the original Rock n’ Swap lineup.
“Everybody is so talented at what they do in the band that it makes sense for us to be together in my head,” Kavanaugh said. “I feel like we could not have asked for better people to be in the band.”
After five months together, Marble House doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
“We have a lot in our minds that we want to do,” Popovic said. “I feel like we’ll continue to be a group.”
Dreams for their future include possible recording time, writing more original songs and playing more coffeehouse shows, according to Kavanaugh. Covers aren’t out of the realm of possibility for the band, with covers they aspire to do including songs from Origami Angel, No Doubt and Phoebe Bridgers.
“I’d want to do some rock rendition of ‘Motion Sickness’ by Phoebe Bridgers,” Kavanaugh said.
Between making music, publicity and photography, there’s a spot for anyone and everyone in the Guild, Popovic said.
“We’ll explain everything to you and get you involved right away,” Popovic said.
With a URI essential 193 Coffeehouse show on their resume and indie-rock melodies in their future, Marble House is one to watch.