Pittsburgh local music spotlight: Essential Machine

The indie rock trio Essential Machine is more than a band — it’s a family, comprised of a husband (RJ), wife (Karen) and their son (Robert).

“The benefits are that when we go on tour, we don’t have to leave behind our families. We are lucky that we all get along really well so we love being on the road,” RJ Dietrich said. “The connection that we share as a family definitely plays a part in the sound of our music. We enjoy just jamming on songs together and seeing where it goes. The only con is that in the past I think people expected something a little different when they would here the term ‘family band.’ But we are always happy to expand people’s minds.”

Essential Machine just released their latest album, “Compressor//Sustainer,” on Aug. 15.

“We recorded the record ourselves. Many of the songs came from sessions where we set up the recording gear and then just played,” RJ Dietrich said. “I feel like it has that feeling of spontaneity through out. We had already recorded another record over the past couple of years, but it didn’t have that feeling of cohesiveness. So we shelved it and made this record. This reset allowed us to just spend time in the studio and create.”

Live shows are “our favorite thing to do,” according to RJ Dietrich, with the band just opening for Deep Sea Diver and Hello June on Saturday as part of WYEP’s Neighborhood Concert Series at Monroeville’s Tall Trees Amphitheater.

“The drive home after tour is always a somber trip. We really enjoy making connections with people through music,” RJ Dietrich said. “Finding the things that make us human and sharing those experiences with others is really rad.”

A 2014 show opening for Justin Townes Earl left lasting memories.

“We were very new as a band and playing the big stage at Mr. Smalls was wild,” RJ Dietrich said. “I remember when Karen was sound checking the kick drum, the thump of it was so loud and powerful we were all like woah. Robert was only 13 years old at the time and had school the next morning. He ended up sleeping in the van after we got done playing.”

RJ Dietrich filled in TribLive on what else we should know about Essential Machine:

Band: Essential Machine

Band members: Karen Dietrich (drums); Robert Dietrich (keys, bass, backing vocals); RJ Dietrich (guitar, vocals)

Founding story: Karen and I started making music together in 2008 and put out our first record as Essential Machine. The album “Find the Harmony” was released in 2009 featuring me on guitar and vocals and Karen on vocals. Shortly after that record was released, Karen picked up the concert bells and began playing them in the duo. As the band continued to grow and record new albums, the sound evolved. The recordings began to feature more instruments. At this time our son Robert had begun playing the keyboard and joining the band on a few songs live. As Robert got more involved in the band, Karen taught herself the drums and the current lineup of Essential Machine was born.

Origin of band’s name: Magnetic poetry helped create the band’s name. We have always thought of it representing the heart. The Essential Machine of the body.

For fans of: The War on Drugs, Coldplay, Band of Horses, My Morning Jacket

Influences: Bright Eyes, The War on Drugs, Mac Demarco, Spoon

Releases: “Compressor//Sustainer” album, Aug. 15, 2025; “Lost Cats” album, 2023; “Wildfires” album, 2019; “Underneath the Earth” album, 2014; “Lonely Telephone” album, 2012; “Find the Harmony” album, 2009

Next show: Sept. 19 at Club Cafe with Glass Caps and TV’s Norm; Sept. 27 at Government Center with Swoll and El Grosso

How to find them: Essential Machine can be found at their website, Instagram and Facebook.

Three other Pittsburgh area bands to check out: Frame and Mantle, BBGuns and Merce Lemon

Favorite pizza shop: Benny Fierro’s, Southside, and Little E’s, Greensburg

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