August to August: How One Spokane Musician Is Reimagining Community Through Lo-Fi Sound
- Jenna Mitchell
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
How One Spokane Musician Is Reimagining Community Through Lo-Fi Sound
The Spokane music scene is thriving, and at the heart of it, you’ll find artists like August to August: a one-man band whose passion for creativity, connection, and community pulses through every loop, beat, and key. What began as a personal challenge in a living room has grown into a project that embodies the DIY spirit and neighborly heart of Spokane’s music community.
“I was a drummer first,” says August to August’s Jayson Orth, recounting his early years in the scene. After moving to Spokane in 2010 to attend Gonzaga, he quickly became immersed in local music. His former band, Boat Race Weekend, toured the West Coast and put out several albums before its members eventually scattered in different directions.
What came next wasn’t part of a master plan—it was a quiet pivot.
“...I made it a goal for myself to learn piano a little more, and with no expectation of it becoming anything,” he admits. “So I set this personal goal: one simple song a month for a year. Just me, a $50 Casio keyboard, and my iPhone.”
Though he didn’t quite make it to twelve tracks, the resulting eight-song collection sparked something that started August to August.
That humble project laid the foundation for a new chapter. “I guess I was trying to step away from, you know, having a perfect album or perfect job,” he says. That mindset still drives August’s approach today. After teaching himself more piano and experimenting with recording, he leaned into loop-based live performance, building full songs on stage using drums, keys, and samples.
According to his artist bio, August to August is a one-man band from Spokane, WA that mixes acoustic drums with ambient synths, guitars, keys, vocal samples, and more to create an ethereal lo-fi hip hop sound. He’s best known for his captivating live performances, where he switches between and often simultaneously plays keys, a Roland Octapad, and an acoustic drum kit—crafting layered, emotive songs in real time.
After a decade of drumming and touring with bands across the Pacific Northwest, Orth launched this solo project not with commercial goals, but simply to push himself creatively. What started as an experiment turned into something he wanted to share with the community. That “something” became “Slow Down,” his sophomore album, released independently on February 9, 2024, on vinyl and all streaming platforms. Every note—written, performed, produced, mixed, and mastered—was done by Orth himself.
Now, his performances span everything from traditional venues to art galleries, farmers markets, and family-friendly festivals. And it’s not just about the gigs. August’s shows often become community moments. His wife and daughter can attend his performances, and he’s found a deeper appreciation for the ecosystems that support local music. “Sometimes you'll end up meeting someone and talking to them way later down the road, and you'll realize, oh my gosh, that too was like a really big deal,” he says.
That sense of connection runs even deeper when you consider his day job: Orth is also a high school math teacher. “It [the music] influences different parts of my life. I like the things I learned from the music community I bring back to my classroom. And, I wanted to build community there.
His music—instrumental, experimental, and often laced with a quiet, hopeful energy—offers audiences a moment of calm in a loud world. “I guess I want people to walk away with, you know, that's different and that's kind of funky and unconventional,” he explains. “And I hope that encourages people to go out and be creative, even if it looks different.”
“In high school, I really liked a band called Listener…And then fast forward to when I was in that band called Boat Race Weekend, one thing led to another and we ended up playing a house show with Listener.” Orth explains in talking about his upcoming show. He will be playing in Spokane next week at the upcoming show opening for Dan Smith (of Listener) at The Big Dipper on July 22. “And I get to share the stage with Dan Smith as this new August to August project. That's like that's like the perfect full circle moment… just talking about it gives me chills.”
Through it all, Orth remains grounded in the bigger purpose behind August to August: connection, vulnerability, and the courage to create. “There’s no barrier,” he says. “I’m just a guy doing my thing. I might screw up, but it’s live music. That’s what it’s all about.”
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