Fraternal Twin’s Medicine Is Working
Article by Trina Wong // Photo Courtesy of Abbie Huynh
On a rainy Thursday evening at the Cobra Lounge, New York City-based Fraternal Twin took the stage following fellow New York band Ditch, as well as local acts Lonnie and Patter. Fraternal Twin is composed of frontman and primary songwriter Tom Christie, drummer Marco Spodek, guitarist Mariah Houston, and bassist Forrest Philpot. Just before starting their tour earlier this month, the band released “Medicine”, the latest single off their upcoming album, Halo Fell Forever, out on September 4, 2026.
Spearheaded by Christie, Fraternal Twin started as a solo project in upstate New York in 2013. Over the years, the project has evolved through several lineups before settling into its current four-piece formation. Around the pandemic, Spodek joined the project. The two moved to New York City, where they quickly became immersed in the city’s music scene. Through that community, they met Houston and Philpot, and the chemistry was immediate.
Fraternal Twin’s sound is deeply rooted in the slowcore bands they admire. At the same time, the band draws from the artists surrounding them in New York. Their community is filled with musicians and artists, and much of their inspiration comes simply from watching one another perform. The influences that shape Fraternal Twin are often quite different from the music they ultimately create, resulting in a sound that feels distinctly their own. More than anything, it’s clear that the band is deeply committed to their craft.
That attention to craft is especially evident in Christie’s approach to songwriting. These days, he spends more time refining his lyrics, working through iterations until the lyrical puzzle feels just right. Christie describes “Medicine” as a deeply personal song that emerged after a long period of writer's block and a years-long bout with depression. It touches on the decision to take medication to find a way out of the rut he was stuck in. Writing “Medicine” opened the floodgates, reigniting Christie’s desire to write and giving way to a new body of music inspired by the experiences and sounds around him.
On differences between recording and touring, Spodek noted that Fraternal Twin tends to play louder and heavier on the road. Coming from a jazz background, he also enjoys the improvisational nature of touring and never plays the same set twice. Watching the band perform, those sentiments came to life. Their live sound was louder, heavier, and carried a grungier edge than their recordings.
The intimate crowd at Cobra Lounge only heightened the feeling of closeness, with their tourmates Ditch front and center in the audience. The friendship between the two bands was evident as Fraternal Twin had also been supporting Ditch from the front of the room earlier in the night. Fraternal Twin’s music feels deeply sincere, and their commitment to creativity, collaboration, and community adds another dimension to the band’s appeal. There’s a sense that the music exists not only as something to be heard, but as a way of connecting with the people and creative community around them. Be sure to catch them when they’re in town—no two shows are ever quite the same.