Dressed in their signature black ties and white shirts, the Mellow Fellows, a group of four Pelham Memorial High School students, are being seen and heard around town setting the mood at parties, restaurants, research events and even prom proposals.

The Mellow Fellows are Christian Prencis (guitar), Jake Fellner (drums), Julian Kalehoff (keys) and Theo Romaniuk (bass guitar).  

With three members coming from a rock band and two performing in a gospel church group, their formation was unlikely, and their chosen repertoire even more so. As jazz continues to fall out of favor with younger generations, the Mellow Fellows say they are seeking to change the narrative.

According to Prencis, the group chose jazz because Prencis and Kalehoff wanted to increase their knowledge of music theory and gain a new musical perspective with a genre that has many moods. The players figured it would be the most optimal to appeal to audiences.

“Jazz was the perfect answer, as there is so much freedom in playing within the genre,” he said. “The whole idea behind it is being able to express yourself in any way you want, which fits our message.”

Before the Mellow Fellows were known for jazz, they first played together at a local party in June of last year. They then wrote a business plan in August and prepared to perform in the months after that. Following their first official gig in mid-October, the band started posting on Instagram, putting up short how-to-play videos for popular theme songs, adding one instrument at a time.

Their “Subway Surfers” video received 6.3 million views and “Grand Theft Auto” another four million, with eight additional spots having more than 100,000 views. The group’s Instagram account, @themellowfellowsofficial, has amassed more than 47,000 followers. 

“It feels amazing to be able to reach millions of people worldwide with our creative videos,” said Fellner. “We have always been extremely appreciative of the support we receive and will continue to be active in our community as it grows further.”

Aside from their social media fame, the boys have accumulated an increasing number of gigs in Pelham and surrounding towns.

The Mellow Fellows have played Cantina Lobos, the Railhouse and the Bayou, as well as at several notable events including the Color Run Kick-off Party, Pelham Picture House’s Party in the Park, the Pelham Art Center Gala and Huguenot Cabaret.

At the gigs, the band might repeat set lists, but songs aren’t played in any particular order.

“Depending on what we are feeling and the mood of the place where we are playing, we choose songs we feel fit the vibe,” Prencis said.

The band members may have created a successful group and business, but they said their favorite part of being in the Mellow Fellows is the friendship they’ve gained through countless hours of gigs and practices.

With three members graduating from PMHS next year, the Fellows plan to keep their current schedule of at least six to eight gigs a month, performing as frequently as possible before leaving for college.

They all said their goal is to perfect a professional sound, grow their live and social media audience and continue to make memories doing what they love.

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