Features / One Question Interviews

Andrea (Hakan)

SPB: How did you come to work with Jeff Burke on II?

Andrea: Not a very special story. We love Marked Men and Radioactivity and when we find out he was touring Europe we simply asked him if he would like to come record us, and he said "Yes."

Leo Ashline (Street Sects)

SPB: There is a fair amount of your new album that was written focusing on the subject of addiction, which stemmed also from personal experiences. Do you feel that Street Sects has aided you, in that it acts as an outlet for your emotions?

Ashline: Definitely. For my end, Street Sects was created specifically …

Raymondo (Collision Course Records)

SPB: What is your dayjob and how does it affect/influence/interfere with your label operations?

Raymondo: Well....I'd like to say I sit around in my sunglasses drinking lattes and looking at my phone all day...but running an indie punk label isn't that lucrative!!!! Soooo...I get up at the crack of dawn with my faithful partner, …

Kyle (Geometers)

SPB: What’s the most recent “grower” record you picked up that took a while to click?

Kyle: "Prey," the latest from Planes Mistaken for Stars. It's one of those records that feels so dense on the first play through but keeps rewarding over repeat listens. Sonically, the songs tend to bleed into each other (brilliantly so, …

Okkyung Lee

SPB: You have a classical background in your musical upbringing, but moved further and further into the experimental scene when you moved to the US. What was it that pulled you towards this scene, and what is the allure of a freer musical form?

Lee: It was about finding the very personal voice within the instrument, …

Drew Riekman (Blessed – guitar/vocals)

SPB: What is your favorite 1990s artist?

Riekman: When I received the email, the first question I asked myself was “Is this the favourite 1990's artist in relation to myself, or in relation to our band?” I settled on selecting someone that relates more to the band than how I personally feel. Even …

Tom (EORÐESLAJYR)

SPB: What is the most thankless job in the music industry?

Tom: We think one of the most thankless jobs in the industry is putting on DIY gigs and organizing DIY venues. Having a vibrant, encouraging DIY venue in your hometown is such a great asset for young bands. In Ireland there's such a strong drinking …

Poli (The Bombpops)

SPB: What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

Poli: Worst job we've ever had... well, Jen and I are both servers at restaurants in Los Angeles, so that's an obvious one. But I actually have a story of us working together.

Jen and I did catering here in LA quite a few times and, …

Steve & Bryan (Breakin’ Even Fest)

SPB: How are you approaching Fest #2 differently than #1?

Breakin' Even: We definitely focused on making Breakin' Even Fest All Ages this year. Last year, all ages were admitted, but needed a chaperone.

We also expanded our lineup beyond just East Coast bands, including Sidekicks from Ohio and Pkew Pkew …

Dustin Cole Hayes (Making New Enemies)

SPB: How much space in your house is dedicated to music storage (whether instruments or records)?

Hayes: Well, unfortunately for my roommates 50% of our basement is filled up with all my music and recording gear. Then that gear is matched by an equal amount of friend’s gear left and forgotten about …

Mike Park (Asian Man Records)

SPB: What gives you the biggest sense of accomplishment through your years at Asian Man and as a part of the overall music scene?

Park: Developing lifelong friendships even when money and fame and power are usually the root of success in this corrupt business called the music business. This is my biggest …

Shane Handal (Set and Setting) 

SPB: There are a lot of stereotypes about post-rock. How do you approach genre and expectation when composing?

Handal: For whatever reason, post-rock sometimes has a negative stigma attached to it. Which is weird to me, because a lot of bands are proud to proclaim certain genres. Anyway, we never really felt …

Kelly (Cayetana)

SPB: If you could universally (and magically) fix one item at venues around the world, what would you upgrade or change?

Kelly: If I'm being very honest, I would want to wave a magical wand and make all venue bathrooms private, single use, clean, beautiful, great smelling with ample amounts of toilet paper! I think we …

Rick Jimenez (Extinction A.D./This Is Hell – guitar/vocals)

SPB: After music, what other arts interest you?

Jimenez: Although music has been the focus of my life for as long as I can remember, it hasn't been the only "art" I've been interested and even consumed by. Art is such a fluid term, but to me, the only thing …

Adrian Tenney (Badlands, ex-Spokenest)

SPB: How did you get started in Badlands?

Tenney: Badlands (as a solo project) started when playing my music with other people ended.

I had been writing music in numerous other bands with my friends, and although it was super fun, it was always very hard to coordinate! Gradually it became more difficult, …

Just Friends

SPB: What’s the secret to a successful tour?

Sam, Brandon and Avi: Cut the dead weight. Chillers only. You gotta be down for the cause, 100% without doubt. You have to believe in the people around you and they got believe in you. Have their back. Embody the spirit of the road dawg. 

Known Cowboy

SPB: What is your favorite 1970s artist?

Known Cowboy: My favourite 1970s artist without question has to be no other than David Bowie!

God, I love Hunky Dory.

The fun fact is that I didn’t discover Bowie´s work until last year after he died. When I found out about him it was a …

Dan Gardner (Four Lights)

SPB: What is your favorite 1980s artist?

Gardner: The Replacements. Westerberg is one of the greatest American songwriters. My parents were big fans of theirs and I grew with Let It Be and Tim playing in the house, in the car, everywhere. Those records were a big part of my growing up and continue …

Bong Mountain

SPB: What’s your favorite protest song?

Bong Mountain: The serious, educational, and inspirational protest songs that have helped me through tough times just aren't enough right now -- they don't perfectly convey my anger towards the current state of things.

There isn't one song, but a full album”

Galactic Cannibal's "We're Fucked" …

Magana

SPB: Do you get nervous before you play a show?

Magana: Yep! There are 2 distinct phase of nervousness. The first one is my self-manager side. Did I do a good enough job with promotion? Should I be outside handing out flyers to the people passing by? Will anybody show up, or will I be playing to …