Purple Apple

“Take Five” focuses on Chicago’s ever-growing music scene by giving you insight to the city’s best local acts via the best source possible: the artists themselves. Here is the latest installment featuring Purple Apple.
At the tender age of eight, most kids are playing video games and eating way too much sugar. However, the young ladies of Purple Apple started a band, wrote music and lyrics, and got noticed.

Just a few years later, Olivia (lead vox and rhythm guitar), Madison (bassist, keyboards), Nonie (lead guitar, backing vox) and their babysitter Devin (drums) have Chicago rock legend Scott Lucas as a mentor, and Purple Apple have released their first EP in addition to playing some of the biggest venues in town. All this before their freshman year of high school.


Named after the band’s favorite color and Apple Records (the girls are Beatles fans), the members of Purple Apple may laugh and goof off like true teens, but when it comes to music, their knowledge and passion rivals that of any band out there. Seriously, folks, pay attention because these lovely ladies are going to blow your mind.

In between photo shoots and TV appearances, these talented young women sat down with Loud Loop Press to talk about music, the band and what it’s like being young in the Chicago music scene.

LLP: So how did you all get together?

Olivia: Maddie and I have been friends for the longest time. We had playdates in diapers, used to live across the street from each other. We just wrote silly songs as kids. We would write them on the bus to school. Noni played guitar and we thought that was the most awesome thing in the whole world and we thought, “Lets start a band.” So we were 8 years old and in a band. Devin was our babysitter and we needed a drummer and I asked her one day in the kitchen, “Hey, you want to come be in a band?” and it came to be.

LLP: What’s it like being so young and trying to break through?

Olivia: It’s kind of hard. You’ve got four girls in a band and scheduling is tough. We try and play a lot of shows. We play around Chicago a lot: the Hideout, the Metro, Schubas. It’s tough, but we can do it.

Nonie: I think things become a little easier in the summer because school is out of the way. During the school year we all play sports and you have to be there for it and your team. So, scheduling is hard and we have late night and busy, busy weeks and weekends, but we love it.

Nonie: As far as breaking into the Chicago music scene, one of our troubles is being taken seriously because we’re almost kids. That’s the thing. We want to be taken seriously because we’re a real band.

Devin: We have a lot of bands that are friends and just them being there and supporting us is helpful.

Nonie: The band Caviar, who aren’t together anymore, but those guys along with Scott Lucas would always support us.

Devin: Our manager friend Jason [Batchko], he plays keyboards in Scott Lucas and the Married Men and he’s great.

Nonie: So it’s those people and Scott are our little support system.

Olivia: I wrote a song with Scott about two years ago. I was at his apartment and sat down with a guitar. We were watching a zombie movie, that scary black and white one. We sat down with guitars and wrote a song together.

Nonie: Scott is cool though, we like hanging out with him.

Olivia: In terms of being young though, it’s hard to be young. People have called us babies and said, “Oh, they’re so cute.” But we’re not cute, we’re serious musicians.

Devin: But mostly we have support and they like our story and they like our songs.

Nonie: Whether they think of us as young kids or adorable, they always say, “Oh you guys are a legit band.” You think we’re cute? Cool, as long as you like us as a band.

LLP: Do you consider yourselves role models?

Nonie: We have a few girls that are friends with the band and one was telling me that when she was asked in school who her role models were she said it was us. And I found that to be a big surprise! I’m 14, I’m supposed to be looking for my role models. So to be role models to anybody is crazy. Especially to little kids, that’s one thing you can’t push away. As far as other bands go, we’re on the younger end. So I feel that we look at them more as role models. Even though they’re older, they’re trying to follow their dreams. It’s easier for us because we have the support of our parents, but they’re doing it on their own.

LLP: Where did your sound come from?

Madison: Our influences, we like a huge variety of bands. Going to Lollapalooza broadened our horizons. We liked Band of Horses, Muse, Kids These Days, Coldplay.

Olivia: We’re all interested in the same kind of music.

Devin: We like a variety of rock music. From the 60’s to now.

Nonie: Cage the Elephant, I love them. I think we’re always looking to broaden our horizons though. I don’t reject any form or type of music until I know a lot about it. I listen to any type of music and it’s a - Loud Loop Press

“Take Five” focuses on Chicago’s ever-growing music scene by giving you insight to the city’s best local acts via the best source possible: the artists themselves. Here is the latest installment featuring Purple Apple.
At the tender age of eight, most kids are playing video games and eating way too much sugar. However, the young ladies of Purple Apple started a band, wrote music and lyrics, and got noticed.

Just a few years later, Olivia (lead vox and rhythm guitar), Madison (bassist, keyboards), Nonie (lead guitar, backing vox) and their babysitter Devin (drums) have Chicago rock legend Scott Lucas as a mentor, and Purple Apple have released their first EP in addition to playing some of the biggest venues in town. All this before their freshman year of high school.


Named after the band’s favorite color and Apple Records (the girls are Beatles fans), the members of Purple Apple may laugh and goof off like true teens, but when it comes to music, their knowledge and passion rivals that of any band out there. Seriously, folks, pay attention because these lovely ladies are going to blow your mind.

In between photo shoots and TV appearances, these talented young women sat down with Loud Loop Press to talk about music, the band and what it’s like being young in the Chicago music scene.

LLP: So how did you all get together?

Olivia: Maddie and I have been friends for the longest time. We had playdates in diapers, used to live across the street from each other. We just wrote silly songs as kids. We would write them on the bus to school. Noni played guitar and we thought that was the most awesome thing in the whole world and we thought, “Lets start a band.” So we were 8 years old and in a band. Devin was our babysitter and we needed a drummer and I asked her one day in the kitchen, “Hey, you want to come be in a band?” and it came to be.

LLP: What’s it like being so young and trying to break through?

Olivia: It’s kind of hard. You’ve got four girls in a band and scheduling is tough. We try and play a lot of shows. We play around Chicago a lot: the Hideout, the Metro, Schubas. It’s tough, but we can do it.

Nonie: I think things become a little easier in the summer because school is out of the way. During the school year we all play sports and you have to be there for it and your team. So, scheduling is hard and we have late night and busy, busy weeks and weekends, but we love it.

Nonie: As far as breaking into the Chicago music scene, one of our troubles is being taken seriously because we’re almost kids. That’s the thing. We want to be taken seriously because we’re a real band.

Devin: We have a lot of bands that are friends and just them being there and supporting us is helpful.

Nonie: The band Caviar, who aren’t together anymore, but those guys along with Scott Lucas would always support us.

Devin: Our manager friend Jason [Batchko], he plays keyboards in Scott Lucas and the Married Men and he’s great.

Nonie: So it’s those people and Scott are our little support system.

Olivia: I wrote a song with Scott about two years ago. I was at his apartment and sat down with a guitar. We were watching a zombie movie, that scary black and white one. We sat down with guitars and wrote a song together.

Nonie: Scott is cool though, we like hanging out with him.

Olivia: In terms of being young though, it’s hard to be young. People have called us babies and said, “Oh, they’re so cute.” But we’re not cute, we’re serious musicians.

Devin: But mostly we have support and they like our story and they like our songs.

Nonie: Whether they think of us as young kids or adorable, they always say, “Oh you guys are a legit band.” You think we’re cute? Cool, as long as you like us as a band.

LLP: Do you consider yourselves role models?

Nonie: We have a few girls that are friends with the band and one was telling me that when she was asked in school who her role models were she said it was us. And I found that to be a big surprise! I’m 14, I’m supposed to be looking for my role models. So to be role models to anybody is crazy. Especially to little kids, that’s one thing you can’t push away. As far as other bands go, we’re on the younger end. So I feel that we look at them more as role models. Even though they’re older, they’re trying to follow their dreams. It’s easier for us because we have the support of our parents, but they’re doing it on their own.

LLP: Where did your sound come from?

Madison: Our influences, we like a huge variety of bands. Going to Lollapalooza broadened our horizons. We liked Band of Horses, Muse, Kids These Days, Coldplay.

Olivia: We’re all interested in the same kind of music.

Devin: We like a variety of rock music. From the 60’s to now.

Nonie: Cage the Elephant, I love them. I think we’re always looking to broaden our horizons though. I don’t reject any form or type of music until I know a lot about it. I listen to any type of music and it’s a - Loud Loop Press

Purple Apple is three Chicago-area girls in their very early teens and their babysitter on drums. We know this sounds like some sitcom dreamed up by the creators of The Partridge Family but we swear this combo is legit. They hit the scene a few years ago playing simple but incredulously catchy power-pop and have since turned into a tight, rockin’ unit grizzled by years on the road. O.K., we made the “years on the road” part up, but we have enjoyed watching this quartet grow from a slightly timid stage presence into self-confident commandeers of the stage. They may be playing the Kidz Stage, but Purple Apple is the kind of band we think every little girl and boy should see to get them fired up about their own potential to be rock stars, and every adult will appreciate, mouths agape, since these girls are talented beyond their years. - Tankboy / Jim Kopeny - Chicagoist

Purple Apple is three Chicago-area girls in their very early teens and their babysitter on drums. We know this sounds like some sitcom dreamed up by the creators of The Partridge Family but we swear this combo is legit. They hit the scene a few years ago playing simple but incredulously catchy power-pop and have since turned into a tight, rockin’ unit grizzled by years on the road. O.K., we made the “years on the road” part up, but we have enjoyed watching this quartet grow from a slightly timid stage presence into self-confident commandeers of the stage. They may be playing the Kidz Stage, but Purple Apple is the kind of band we think every little girl and boy should see to get them fired up about their own potential to be rock stars, and every adult will appreciate, mouths agape, since these girls are talented beyond their years. - Tankboy / Jim Kopeny - Chicagoist

Becoming a teenager involves a lot of firsts: Your first time driving, your first kiss, your first boy- or girlfriend. But what about your first rock concert? Not just as a spectator but as the onstage act?

Local band Purple Apple hit that first just over a year ago. Purple Apple is a trio of 13 year olds: Olivia Eigel, Madi O'Brien and Nonie Andersen. They’re joined by Eigel’s 25-year-old nanny, Devin Owens.

Saturday night they plan on blowing the doors off the Hideout Holiday Music Hour on W. Wabansia in Chicago.

Purple Apple recently joined "Eight Forty-Eight" in WBEZ's Jim and Kay Mabie Performance Studio to play a set and to talk host Alison Cuddy about their music. - NPR-WBEZ

Becoming a teenager involves a lot of firsts: Your first time driving, your first kiss, your first boy- or girlfriend. But what about your first rock concert? Not just as a spectator but as the onstage act?

Local band Purple Apple hit that first just over a year ago. Purple Apple is a trio of 13 year olds: Olivia Eigel, Madi O'Brien and Nonie Andersen. They’re joined by Eigel’s 25-year-old nanny, Devin Owens.

Saturday night they plan on blowing the doors off the Hideout Holiday Music Hour on W. Wabansia in Chicago.

Purple Apple recently joined "Eight Forty-Eight" in WBEZ's Jim and Kay Mabie Performance Studio to play a set and to talk host Alison Cuddy about their music. - NPR-WBEZ

Chicago has produced its share of talented rock musicians, but few could say they headlined the Metro when they were still in middle school. That distinctive honor belongs to Purple Apple, an all girl band in which three of the four members — lead singer and guitarist Olivia Eigel, bassist Madi O’Brien and guitarist Nonie Anderson — weren’t alive when legendary Chicago group Smashing Pumpkins released their seminal double album Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. (We should note that group’s average age is propped up slightly by their 20-something drummer Devin Ulery, not that this makes us feel any less old.) The three girls are freshmen at Glenbrook South High School, and are getting ready to release their sophomore album.

The age angle is difficult to ignore when discussing Purple Apple, but no one would be discussing them at all if the group wasn’t so talented. Admittedly, we were hesitant to give them a chance. Pop rock performed by teenagers isn’t exactly the genre of music we’re often drawn to. But then we heard Purple Apple’s “Who’s That Girl,” which sounds like it could have appeared on an album by Sweedish group The Sounds. At that point, we were sold. All of Purple Apple’s music is crisp and precise, and features lyrics that are strong enough to stand against songs written by much older artists. Basically, if you didn’t know Purple Apple was composed of mostly teenagers, you’d assume you were listening to a group entirely made up of 20-somethings.

This Saturday Purple Apple will be performing at the Beat Kitchen in Roscoe Village (tickets still available, $10). We were able to catch up with the group’s lead singer, Olivia Eigel, and ask her about influences, future plans, and getting older audiences to take the group seriously.

Man Up Chicago: Who are some of your musical influences?
Olivia Eigel: We all listen to so many different bands…everything from Tom Petty to The Velvet Underground. We’re around some great Chicago musicians too like Scott Lucas, Jason Batchko, Peter Muschong, Blake Smith and Mike Willison. The classic bands like The Who, U2, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Joan Jett are influential as are Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Coldplay, Cage the Elephant. Throw a little country in there too and we listen to almost everything! Devin loves 50s and 60s girl singers and that’s a part of us too.

MUCh: Your lyrics don’t seem very age-specific — which we think is a good thing — so when you’re writing songs, do you consciously try to make sure the lyrics are relatable to people of all ages?
OE: We don’t really think about the audience too much when we write — I mostly write what my mood brings and what works musically. We’re fortunate that we have a broad audience and our music is liked by all ages.

MUCh: What’s your favorite song that you’ve recorded?
OE: That’s a hard one. We put so much effort into every song I really don’t have a favorite. I really love all of our songs but if we had to pick: “Maybe I’m Right,” “Lay Here” or “Bullets.”

MUCh: How did Devin end up getting involved the band?
OE: Devin is the sitter for my sister and brother and we needed a drummer in 2009. [She] is a drummer and spends a lot of time at our house so I asked if she would be interested in joining us. It worked out perfectly.

MUCh: Have you met fans that didn’t realize how young all of you are? If so, what’s been their reaction?
OE: For any shows where we are the opening band, very often they assume we’re older. Once we’re done and talking to people, they’re very surprised we’re 14. People have really gotten past our age and just like our music.

MUCh: I’m sure there are some people who are older who will just assume your music is not for them because of your ages. So what would you say to convince people in their 20s, 30s or older to come to one of your shows?
OE: Fortunately, for the most part, once people hear our music or see us perform, they don’t really care about our age. We used to hear, “they’re really good for being so young.” Now, we just hear, “they’re great musicians.” The age thing is out. If people are turned off by our age, maybe they’ll take a listen once we’re old enough for them. If you hear a song you like, does the age of the band really matter?

MUCh: Do you have any desire to play shows outside of Chicago and tour the U.S., or tour other countries? If so, is it frustrating that things like school obligations might prevent you from doing such things for a few years?
OE: If we earn the opportunity to tour the US or overseas, I imagine we can work out a situation where school will be managed. Touring the world is an education too for sure, it’s just not within the walls of our school. That’s an opportunity of a lifetime.

MUCh: What can people expect from Purple Apple this coming year, and long term, what are the plans for Purple Apple?
OE: Well, we will have a new EP coming out in the coming months and long term, we will be around for a while. We l - ManUp Chicago

Chicago has produced its share of talented rock musicians, but few could say they headlined the Metro when they were still in middle school. That distinctive honor belongs to Purple Apple, an all girl band in which three of the four members — lead singer and guitarist Olivia Eigel, bassist Madi O’Brien and guitarist Nonie Anderson — weren’t alive when legendary Chicago group Smashing Pumpkins released their seminal double album Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. (We should note that group’s average age is propped up slightly by their 20-something drummer Devin Ulery, not that this makes us feel any less old.) The three girls are freshmen at Glenbrook South High School, and are getting ready to release their sophomore album.

The age angle is difficult to ignore when discussing Purple Apple, but no one would be discussing them at all if the group wasn’t so talented. Admittedly, we were hesitant to give them a chance. Pop rock performed by teenagers isn’t exactly the genre of music we’re often drawn to. But then we heard Purple Apple’s “Who’s That Girl,” which sounds like it could have appeared on an album by Sweedish group The Sounds. At that point, we were sold. All of Purple Apple’s music is crisp and precise, and features lyrics that are strong enough to stand against songs written by much older artists. Basically, if you didn’t know Purple Apple was composed of mostly teenagers, you’d assume you were listening to a group entirely made up of 20-somethings.

This Saturday Purple Apple will be performing at the Beat Kitchen in Roscoe Village (tickets still available, $10). We were able to catch up with the group’s lead singer, Olivia Eigel, and ask her about influences, future plans, and getting older audiences to take the group seriously.

Man Up Chicago: Who are some of your musical influences?
Olivia Eigel: We all listen to so many different bands…everything from Tom Petty to The Velvet Underground. We’re around some great Chicago musicians too like Scott Lucas, Jason Batchko, Peter Muschong, Blake Smith and Mike Willison. The classic bands like The Who, U2, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Joan Jett are influential as are Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Coldplay, Cage the Elephant. Throw a little country in there too and we listen to almost everything! Devin loves 50s and 60s girl singers and that’s a part of us too.

MUCh: Your lyrics don’t seem very age-specific — which we think is a good thing — so when you’re writing songs, do you consciously try to make sure the lyrics are relatable to people of all ages?
OE: We don’t really think about the audience too much when we write — I mostly write what my mood brings and what works musically. We’re fortunate that we have a broad audience and our music is liked by all ages.

MUCh: What’s your favorite song that you’ve recorded?
OE: That’s a hard one. We put so much effort into every song I really don’t have a favorite. I really love all of our songs but if we had to pick: “Maybe I’m Right,” “Lay Here” or “Bullets.”

MUCh: How did Devin end up getting involved the band?
OE: Devin is the sitter for my sister and brother and we needed a drummer in 2009. [She] is a drummer and spends a lot of time at our house so I asked if she would be interested in joining us. It worked out perfectly.

MUCh: Have you met fans that didn’t realize how young all of you are? If so, what’s been their reaction?
OE: For any shows where we are the opening band, very often they assume we’re older. Once we’re done and talking to people, they’re very surprised we’re 14. People have really gotten past our age and just like our music.

MUCh: I’m sure there are some people who are older who will just assume your music is not for them because of your ages. So what would you say to convince people in their 20s, 30s or older to come to one of your shows?
OE: Fortunately, for the most part, once people hear our music or see us perform, they don’t really care about our age. We used to hear, “they’re really good for being so young.” Now, we just hear, “they’re great musicians.” The age thing is out. If people are turned off by our age, maybe they’ll take a listen once we’re old enough for them. If you hear a song you like, does the age of the band really matter?

MUCh: Do you have any desire to play shows outside of Chicago and tour the U.S., or tour other countries? If so, is it frustrating that things like school obligations might prevent you from doing such things for a few years?
OE: If we earn the opportunity to tour the US or overseas, I imagine we can work out a situation where school will be managed. Touring the world is an education too for sure, it’s just not within the walls of our school. That’s an opportunity of a lifetime.

MUCh: What can people expect from Purple Apple this coming year, and long term, what are the plans for Purple Apple?
OE: Well, we will have a new EP coming out in the coming months and long term, we will be around for a while. We l - ManUp Chicago

Guitar cases are stacked against a basement wall in Glenview, and worn sheets of ongoing song lyrics are tacked to a bulletin board.

The Purple Apple indie rock group is rehearsing again in the “world’s smallest rehearsal studio,” said Jeff Eigel, whose daughter, Olivia, plays rhythm guitar and sings lead.
An all-girl band, the quartet is comprised of three 14-year-old friends who attend Glenbrook South High School, and Devin Ulery, their “twentysomething” drummer from Chicago.

These musicians are gaining attention in the Chicago area by appearing at venues such as Schubas, the Hideout, Wicker Park Music Festival and most notably Metro, where they were the youngest band ever to headline.

“The Metro was packed. We felt honored to play there,” said Madison O’Brien, bass and keyboards.

Eigel, O’Brien and Noreen Andersen have been writing songs and playing together since they were 7 years old.

“Madison and I do most of the lyric writing, and Noreen writes her guitar parts. We’re always writing original music, because it’s a way to express ourselves and get our ideas out there,” Eigel said.

Looking ahead, the band seems happy to be playing well-known venues in Chicago and the suburbs. “Hopefully, we’ll be playing together through high school. We really can’t look two or three years ahead,” O’Brien said.

“We’re just keeping it real. We work for the next few months in the future and concentrate on that,” Ulery added.

Andersen said when Purple Apple first started in 2009, making music was a hobby. “We think it’s a lot more now,” she said. “Our sound has grown over the years, just like us. We’ve moved more toward pop rock — a more mature sound.”

And yes, they all like the color purple, hence the band’s name. As for apple? The Beatles founded the record label Apple Records in 1968. “Yup. We’re huge fans of the Beatles,” Eigel said.
- Chicago Sun-Times

Guitar cases are stacked against a basement wall in Glenview, and worn sheets of ongoing song lyrics are tacked to a bulletin board.

The Purple Apple indie rock group is rehearsing again in the “world’s smallest rehearsal studio,” said Jeff Eigel, whose daughter, Olivia, plays rhythm guitar and sings lead.
An all-girl band, the quartet is comprised of three 14-year-old friends who attend Glenbrook South High School, and Devin Ulery, their “twentysomething” drummer from Chicago.

These musicians are gaining attention in the Chicago area by appearing at venues such as Schubas, the Hideout, Wicker Park Music Festival and most notably Metro, where they were the youngest band ever to headline.

“The Metro was packed. We felt honored to play there,” said Madison O’Brien, bass and keyboards.

Eigel, O’Brien and Noreen Andersen have been writing songs and playing together since they were 7 years old.

“Madison and I do most of the lyric writing, and Noreen writes her guitar parts. We’re always writing original music, because it’s a way to express ourselves and get our ideas out there,” Eigel said.

Looking ahead, the band seems happy to be playing well-known venues in Chicago and the suburbs. “Hopefully, we’ll be playing together through high school. We really can’t look two or three years ahead,” O’Brien said.

“We’re just keeping it real. We work for the next few months in the future and concentrate on that,” Ulery added.

Andersen said when Purple Apple first started in 2009, making music was a hobby. “We think it’s a lot more now,” she said. “Our sound has grown over the years, just like us. We’ve moved more toward pop rock — a more mature sound.”

And yes, they all like the color purple, hence the band’s name. As for apple? The Beatles founded the record label Apple Records in 1968. “Yup. We’re huge fans of the Beatles,” Eigel said.
- Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago's Teenage Indie Pop Band - Windy City Live

Chicago's Teenage Indie Pop Band - Windy City Live

Chicago's Teenage Indie Pop Band - Windy City Live

Chicago's Teenage Indie Pop Band - Windy City Live

Chicago's Teenage Indie Pop Band - Windy City Live

Chicago's Teenage Indie Pop Band - Windy City Live