But who exactly is Miss Fairchild? Think of her as your favorite aunt: flashy, freewheeling, funky as hell, and most importantly not your parents. She was born in 2004 on a spit of land 30 miles out to sea. Only she isn’t a flesh-and-blood person, she’s an idea—a muse for a band.
Songwriting partners Travis Richard and Schuyler Dunlap—along with renowned producer/DJ, Sammy Bananas (Fools Gold Records)—started MF as a recording project at a time where home studio resources were newly available en masse. Tucked away in a basement on Nantucket Island, MA, they developed a unique sound and singular sense of cool, putting their own spin on Pop-oriented Funk and R&B. But the studio could not contain them; Richard was destined to be on the bandstand interacting with a live audience.
Taking his cues from genre-defining heroes James Brown and Sly Stone, Richard applied his care for songcraft and music production to the development of an engaging live show that balances polished arrangements with off-the-cuff vamps and grimacing Funk breakdowns.
Some of the most sought after players in New England were assembled to help realize his dream. Guitarist Dan Thomas, saxophonist Jeff Fennell, and drummer Jimmy Robitaille—all hailing from Western MA—are regularly featured in some of the funkiest and most reputable bands in New England (The Valley Moonstompers Society, Beau Sasser & Friends). Original MF bassist Patrick Johnson returns from hiatus to dress the rhythm section in heart and soul, authenticating the sound.
The year 2021 saw the band emerging from a pandemic-induced creative slump, complete with new material and a renewed sense of purpose; people need Miss Fairchild today. Their new album, Déjà Vu (release date TBD), which reunites the band with songwriter/guitarist Dunlap, rockets through the atmosphere fueled by instant Party-Funk classics (“Tryin’ For The Weekend”) then floats amongst the stars with sexy, slow-burn numbers (lead single “Body Right, pt. I & II”).