Thank you for talking with us! What was the best piece of advice you've ever been given about pursuing a career in music? Someone once told me that I had a terrible voice, and would never be a lead singer in a band and I should quit trying to make music. So that was the moment when I knew what I wanted to do. In all seriousness, proving people wrong is a great reason to wake up in the morning. Music is work. Sometimes it is fun, sometimes it is a therapeutic, and sometimes it is a seemingly endless grind. People burn out, people give up. Success can’t be the only reason you do it. You have to have a hundred reasons why you’re doing this, so when one fails, there is another reason lined up to take its place. Sometimes I pick up my guitar because I’m feeling creative, and sometimes I pick up my guitar because I need to be better at it. The point is that everyday I pick it up.
At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people take away from your songs? I write music because I’m desperately trying to be understood. I want someone to really understand who I am and how I feel. The message is that life is tough, and love is hard, but both are worth the risk. Focus on the things you like about yourself, and the things you love about other people. And mostly good luck out there. I love you.
If you could only perform one of your songs for someone who has never heard of you, what song would that be? I would play “When Anxieties Attack”. Most people react to that song, and the people who don’t probably wouldn’t like the rest of our music. The song is raw, flawed, and personal. And it is very representative of our music. The song was written for people to take it with them when they leave. So thousands of miles away, and years later, they can hear my voice and know that I love them.
When/where do you do your best writing? I never write any lyrics down. It’s not awesome, but it’s the way I’ve always done it. I walk around with a guitar, and sing until a song comes out. I’m usually alone, and walking in a circle. Honestly the hardest part for me is new and interesting chord progressions.
You are returning to the studio to begin work on new music. What has changed in your life between recording your last album and this one? Our lives are in a constant flux, but the last time we recorded was with two mics and a computer that died several times during the sessions.The EP was called “Rough Draft” because we recorded six songs in five days and the goal was to just get SOMETHING out there that people could hear that wasn’t terrible quality. This fall we’re going to take our time, and really make something we’re proud of.I’ll never be a perfectionist in the studio, but we have more time and better equipment, so we can actually achieve the sound we’re looking for.I can’t wait.
Was there ever music playing in the kitchen growing up? Johnny Cash was always playing in our kitchen growing up. I’m not what you would call a “Music Snob”. I like what I like; you like what you like. No judgement. But if you hear “A Boy Named Sue”, and have no reaction, positive or negative, we can’t be friends. Sorry. Cash made me realize that I could tell stories with music. I’ve never looked back.
How do you drink your coffee? Ice please. I drink Iced Coffee everyday, year round. I drink it more than I drink water. Call me crazy, call me basic, but drinking Iced Coffee is one of my top five favorite things to do with my clothes on. A little cream is fine. No sugar. Lots of ice. Thanks.
If I was a bartender, what would you order? No joke, I would ask you what your favorite beer was, and have a tall glass of that. A good bartender won’t disappoint, and this way, I don’t just keep drinking the same three beers every time. I get to try ALL the beers. It turns out I’m a big fan of most of them.
If you could share a meal with any four individuals, living or dead, who would they be? So I would never want to have one meal, with these four people, but I would love to have a meal with each of these people separately: Thomas Jefferson, Bob Dylan, Stephan Jenkins, Zoe Deschanel.
Finally, if you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? If I’m allowed to say Sam Adams Rebel Rouser, then it’s definitely Sam Adams Rebel Rouser. I would totally be their mascot. I would be THE Rebel Rouser. If it has to be actually food: Digiorno Pizza. I could eat pizza every night for the rest of my days and call it a good life.
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