The Faces Behind Oryx & Crake

Olivia Jones (2015)

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to Rebekah Goode-Peoples.

She’s been at Woodward for two years and has already left her mark as the style-forward, kind-faced, welcoming journalism teacher people have come to know and love. However you know her, whether as a student on the staff of the yearbook or just as a regular to the Silent Voices coffee house meetings she hosts in her room, undoubtedly you’ve encountered her smiling face curled up in her signature chair where she oversees her classes and works on her laptop. It’s not hard to imagine that this woman could do something impressive -- and she has.

By day, Goode-Peoples is an accomplished journalism teacher, but by night, she is a member of a folk rock band. Yes, you read that right. Mrs. Goode-Peoples and her husband, Ryan Peoples, began their music-making journey under the band name Oryx & Crake (a nod to the classic Margaret Atwood novel) with a debut album in 2010. Just a week ago on September 25th, the band released their second full album, Marriage. As the title suggests, Marriage “[explores] commitments and how they shape our lives,” according to O&C’s website. Along with their unique, folk/pop sound utilizing a plethora of instruments, O&C manages to produce some of powerfully poignant lyrics. With all of their songs, (including my favorites “Too Many Things Went Wrong Too Often,” “The World Will Take Care of Me,” and “Strange as You Are,”) the O&C team really delves into the questions of what makes us human and how do we, as humans, interact with each other and this world.

This album continues their commitment to producing unique, emotional music. Oryx & Crake continue in Marriage the strong musical foundations they have built over the years.The five years between these albums undoubtedly contain everything from triumph to heartbreak, and the Goode-Peoples duo takes these experiences and puts them to music, even creating a music video starring their son, Sebastian, for their song “The World Will Take Care of Me.” Marriage is already leaving its mark on the music scene, with Creative Loafing, PopMatters, and Paste magazine praising their sounds.

Balancing the year-long yearbook production, publication of The Blade and acting as the sponsor of the Silent Voices literary magazine, the duality that is Mrs. Goode-Peoples’ life is staggering. Not only does she lend her vocals to the songs, Mrs. Goode-Peoples also plays Moog and Prophet synthesizers, proving yet again that there’s always more to her than meets the eye.

Oryx & Crake will next entertain audiences with their Georgia shows at the High Museum of Art on November 20 and Ponce City Market on December 3. Their music is available to buy on vinyl, CD, and iTunes.