Features / One Question Interviews

Cesar Ruiz (The Seize - vocals)

SPB: How do you typically choose your album art?

Ruiz: Album art has started with lyrics. When I’m writing, I’ll have these images in mind that represent the feelings or themes within the songs. Those ideas usually become the starting point for the cover. I’ve worked with Ian Church on all of …

Neil Erskine (Chairmaker)

SPB: If Chairmaker had a physical form like a place, a thing, or a smell, what would it be?

Erskine: There is a very specific chair - but you've got to read Banks' Use of Weapons. No spoilers.

Ugly Stick

SPB: Describe in your own words the “Columbus Sound” and what it means or has meant to you and your musical output. 

David Holm (vocals and guitars): As it pertains to Ugly Stick I would say it's kind of an amalgam of punk rock, country, and classic rock. It's kind of jittery and sometimes funny and …

Thomas Harris (Wagemaker)

SPB: You went from a full band to doing Wagemaker as a one-person project. Now you’re a duo. What’s the perfect number of people for a band?

Harris: My name is Thomas Harris and I sing and play bass alongside Jason LaVeris’s (drums) in the group Wagemaker. 

And to answer your question – What …

Liza & Misha (She/Her Records)

SPB: After the SHEHERCOMP001 when did you know you were going to release albums/EPs/etc? .

She/Her Records: We always planned to do solo releases following the first TDoV compilation. SARCOMA was enthusiastic about doing a solo release with us since we first posted our manifesto, we are so grateful she offered …

Matt Glueman (Glueman)

SPB: Your new album is simply titled “III”. What about a simple/to-the-point title appeals to you?

Matt: Well, we love The Spits. They don’t have album titles, so why should we? GLUEMAN III. 

Mike Miller (Endless Mike and the Beagle Club)

SPB; Why “The Beagle Club”? Do you have a favorite breed of dog?

Miller: Looks like we get two questions for the One Question Interview. Love it. 

Why the Beagle Club? My friend Joe used to live on Beagle Club Road. At the end of it was the clubhouse …

Annie Sparrows (PANEL)

SPB: What does the name PANEL mean to you?

Sparrows: I feel like PANEL is an aesthetically pleasing 5 letter word with multiple meanings that, in different contexts, appeal to me. "Panel of experts," as in everyone's a critic. "Wood panel," as in something nice looking that covers up something crappy. "Blood panel," as in …

Jane No (Cheap Perfume - guitar/co-vocals)

SPB: How has the band’s mission or message evolved since when you first formed?

Jane No: When we started, our focus was feminist rage, calling out sexism and celebrating women’s power. That’s still who we are, but over time we’ve zoomed out to see how all systems of oppression are connected. Our …

Charlie Harper (UK Subs)

SPB: As someone who is used to performing and being on stage, how has the book release process been similar or different than playing music to fans?
 
Harper: It’s a bit of both but as I’ve made a few records, the book is so much more exciting, a new feeling.

Although you can’t …

Beth Seymour (Beth Seymour & The Lizzies – vocals / guitar / production)

SPB: You’re essentially releasing back-to-back albums this year. How did you choose that approach in getting these out to the public?

Seymour: There are a few reasons that I chose to release back-to-back albums within 3 months of each other this year. First, I locked …

Jeff “El Jeffe” Seeley (Brain Fog – guitar)

SPB: What is a record you love that would surprise people?

Seeley: Hi, It’s El Jeffe, guitarist and song writer for Brain Fog, an Okanagan hardcore punk band. My favourite punk rock record right now is Dancing With The Curse by Get Dead. Just the right amount of melody, harmony …

Hiroshi (Serotonin Mist)

SPB: The Bandcamp page on your new album states: No label, no producer. 100% DIY. Is DIY an important issue for Serotonin Mist (and why)? 

Hiroshi: I believe that being DIY has both good and bad sides. The good side is that we can control every aspect of our work and our band activities exactly …

Mark Boulanger (Massa Nera – drums/vocals)

SPB: What was your first live show?

Boulanger: Our first show was on 05/09/16 at The Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ. We played with Wastelands, Without, Yashira, and an insane NJ powerviolence band called Uncle Mark. 

If you aren't familiar, The Meatlocker is an absolutely legendary punk venue. It's grimy as hell …

Josh (East End Redemption)

SPB: If your band had to be sponsored by a completely random household product (like cereal, dish soap, lawnmower, etc.), which one would it be and why? 

Josh: We would be sponsored by Turtle Wax car wax because "I wanna pet, I wanna I pet, I wanna pet the turtle!" 

"Turtle" is off …

moja

SPB: How old were you when you learned your first instrument?

Masumi: My first instrument was YAMAHA Electone when I was five years old.

Haru: I’ve never actually had formal lessons -- I’m totally self-taught. I bought my first instrument back in junior high just to start a band with my friends. I didn’t even know …

Lauren (Broken Record)

SPB: What was your first tape/cd/record?

Lauren: The first CD I bought with my own money was No Strings Attached by *NSYNC, but perhaps more formative was my second CD, Green Day’s Nimrod.

Green Day went on to become one of my all time favorites, and I think Nimrod has some of their …

Eric Angelo Bessel

SPB: Walk us through your gear setup for the recording of Mirror at Night.

Eric: I composed the album, Mirror at Night, using a pair of digital Mellotrons (proto-sampling keyboards), an Alesis Micron (keyboard synthesizer), and guitars. The Micron is a new addition, and is the main instrument for songs “Scavengers” and “Headlamps.” …

Jake LeDrew (Dial Drive – guitar/vocals)

SPB: What is your favorite Dial Drive lyric? Why?

LeDrew: I'm going to go with a lyric off our new album. "You said you hate your life. Don't waste yours just take mine." That's in the chorus of our song "Second Chances" which will be the first track on our new album …

Jay (yokedevils)

SPB: What brought you back after a hiatus from making music? 

Jay: I never really stopped making music. Over the years I’ve been stockpiling everything from small riffs and weird scale runs to “feedback ideas” and full songs. I just haven’t been doing so publicly or with a band. Life got busy and different things took …