Apollo 13

<a href="spotify:artist:3tmdG78hf2OW2e3LFwtDAK" data-name="Apollo 13">Apollo 13</a> began as a songwriting outlet for Mike MacFarland and Shannon Savoie. When not touring with <a href="spotify:artist:0cEAbivoHfAomgJM1nCfgO" data-name="The Band That Saved The World">The Band That Saved The World</a>, they were in the studio, creating a stockpile of rock, pop and electronic material. To complete the songs, they invited bassist Will Dinkel (from the same band), and drummer Danny Rojas, who Mike knew from the legendary Bastard Squad.


The name was inspired by the poor reliablity of the band&#39;s studio computer. Cobbled together with scavenged components and aptly named &#34;Millenium Falcon&#34;, the machine was fickle and flaky. It took all of Mike and Will&#39;s troubleshooting prowess to keep it stable long enough to record the band&#39;s first album, <a href="spotify:album:1MmNihDnWHoeg5rQAnnJv8" data-name="Brave New World">Brave New World</a>. A common phrase heard during those sessions was &#34;Houston, we have a problem.&#34; Thus <a href="spotify:artist:3tmdG78hf2OW2e3LFwtDAK" data-name="Apollo 13">Apollo 13</a> was born.


The track <a href="spotify:track:2KffYm6Xya3QgVCM7r4QNg" data-name="Hero">Hero</a> from that album won the <a href="spotify:artist:4x1nvY2FN8jxqAFA0DA02H" data-name="John Lennon">John Lennon</a> Songwriting Competition in the electronic category. Riding high, the band followed up with their 2nd album, <a href="spotify:album:5gptsUePEIwhQYuUvU48pc" data-name="Lovebomb">Lovebomb</a>. Then life happened and the band was put on hold. Will was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma and needed treatment. Soon after his recovery, everyone had their first kids, all within the same calendar year. Priorities had changed.


Fast-foward to 2021: The kids were now tweens. Mike and Shannon were still writing. It was easier to release music, so the band elected to re-emerge with <a href="spotify:track:7zmZaMAGzzHcjDaqG3ADKO" data-name="Gold Leaf">Gold Leaf</a>. It has been streamed more than 50,000 times and is a playlist favorite. Their next single, <a href="spotify:album:4aIh3IQaRiq56jSqNSZWZU" data-name="Mr. Invisible">Mr. Invisible</a>, was released on Sept. 30th.