Under The Fretboard: Jocelyn & Chris Arndt

Continuing our trek through the undiscovered corridors of blues rock and genre-bending forces: meet Jocelyn and Chris Arndt. This sibling duo’s journey stands out for its blend of powerful vocals, retro-rock guitar, and emotionally resonant lyrics that span from vulnerable to venomous.  Jocelyn may be the most powerful vocalist nobody has heard of. Though self-proclaimed as high-energy original, modern alternative rock, there’s no denying the sound: blues rock with heart, a touch of soul, pop, and classic rock. I hope this catches your ear in this edition of Under the Fretboard.

Jocelyn & Chris Arndt: Sibling Synergy, Ivy League Brillance and Fresh Classic Sounds  

They first caught my ear during the early days of the COVID lockdown, when turning on the television felt like watching a funeral for our species. Each evening, I found myself exploring streaming mixes, and it seemed like every other “I like this” track led me to Jocelyn and Chris Arndt. They sealed the deal with their series of “Couch Concerts” on Facebook Live. Armed with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and a couch, they went live almost every evening, creating a real sense of musical community during a dark time for live music. The raw power of Jocelyn’s vocals paired with Chris’ blues-soaked guitar touched me in a way few artists ever have.

They hail from Fort Plain, a rural town in upstate New York. Growing up in a household where music was part of daily life, the siblings began performing together early on. Jocelyn gravitated toward voice and piano while Chris took to guitar. They started out at local talent shows and festivals in their early teens before catching the attention of producer/manager David Bourgeois, signing a development deal with Bridge Road Entertainment in 2013. Balancing their budding music careers with academics, both Jocelyn and Chris graduated from Harvard University one year apart.

Strangers in Fairyland, their seven-track debut EP released in 2014, offered a raw yet fresh take on retro-inspired indie rock. Jocelyn’s expressive vocals paired seamlessly with Chris’s dynamic guitar work, hinting at great things to come. The EP was mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Brad Blackwood. From the horn-accented opener “Cinderella,” to the rocking “Hitman,” and the melodic “Gaslight,” the record showcased an impressive diversity for a debut.

Edges, released in April 2016, drew praise for its hard-hitting sound. Emotional intensity and stylistic variety drove a powerful mix of 70s classic pop and jazz with 80s rock and funk. Standouts like “Shame,” “Too Much to Me,” “Cut the Cord,” “Jagged,” and “Where’s the Rain?” combined Jocelyn’s vocal range with Chris’s vintage blues riffs. “Hot” stood out with guest harmonica by G. Love, while the piano ballad “More Than I Say I Do” and the jazzy “Dry Cereal” underscored their versatility. Later that year, they released Still, a six-track holiday collection featuring the original title track.

In January 2017, they released their first live album, 30,000 Miles (Live), followed in May by their second LP, Go. 30,000 Miles captured performances from various locations, serving as audible postcards from their earliest public exposure. Highlights included “Gaslight,” “Where’s the Rain,” “Cinderella,” and a strong cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason.” Go further elevated their profile in the alternative scene, led by the single “Footprints on the Moon,” which became Billboard’s 5th most-added AAA track. Guest contributors included Danny Louis (Gov’t Mule), Beau Sasser (Kung Fu), and Bryan Barbarin (The Routine). “Red Stops Traffic” also gained traction, while tracks like “I’m Fine,” “Hollow,” “History,” and “My Heart Beat Yours” showcased both their pop leanings and Jocelyn’s powerhouse vocals.

2019’s The Fun in the Fight saw the return of Danny Louis and the addition of Cory Wong (Vulfpeck). “Outta My Head” landed on SiriusXM Spectrum’s 5 Songs You Need to Hear and the band performed it live on NBC’s Today Show. “Kill in the Cure” delivered raw energy, while “Witness” paid homage to artists like Prince, Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner, and Pink Floyd. From the rocker “Problematic” to emotional ballads like “Don’t Hang Up” and “Things I’ll Never Know,” and the cinematic “The Western,” the album highlighted their range.

In February 2020, they released One Night in November, an acoustic live album recorded at White Lake Studios in upstate New York. It featured the new track “Mercy Me” alongside stripped-down versions of favorites like “Outta My Head,” “Kill in the Cure,” and “Problematic.” These performances harkened back to blues’ pre-electric roots and, in hindsight, foreshadowed the “Couch Concerts” that became a lifeline during the pandemic.

Those live streams paved the way for Favorite Ghosts, released in 2022. While “Mercy Me” had appeared on One Night in November, it was the single “Sugar and Spice” that became their breakout hit, amassing over two million streams. “Run Away” also resonated strongly. The album balanced hard rockers like “Skeleton Key,” “Break Me Down,” and “Someone Else’s Blood” with lighter fare such as the playful “Popcorn” and the introspective “My Favorite Ghost.”

Though not a dominant force in the blues-rock world, Jocelyn and Chris have carved out a niche in alternative rock. They’ve consistently charted in the Billboard AAA Top 40 with singles like “Red Stops Traffic,” “Outta My Head,” “Kill in the Cure,” “Sugar and Spice,” and “Run Away.” Their albums Edges, The Fun in the Fight (which debuted at #1), and Go (debuted at #2) all spent time on the Relix Jambands Top 30 chart.

In June, the duo released a video cover of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.” Their slow, melodic take showcased Jocelyn’s vocals and has already surpassed 500k views on YouTube. Hints of a new album have surfaced on social media. Every now and then, I revisit a “Couch Concert” on Facebook as a reminder of how music can calm the soul in times of crisis. For me, Jocelyn and Chris Arndt will always hold a special place as a guilty pleasure tied to those memories. I hope you find them to be a refreshing, modern, and soulful take on blues rock.