What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I always loved music and had an affinity for the guitar. I used to start bands with friends and lie and tell people I played guitar well before I even had one. What ultimately got me to start, was seeing the Cirque Du Soleil Beatles Love show in Las Vegas when I was almost 10. It was my first time ever hearing music like that and I knew that I had to play guitar. My parents got me one for my 10th birthday and the rest is history. 

I suppose that if I didn't find music, I'd probably be more serious about trying to be a film director.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I love movies. I watch at least one every day and analyze them with my girlfriend (who directs most of our videos). A lot of my song ideas come from movies and scores and whenever I'm making a song, I'm envisioning an accompanying video. I find them endlessly inspiring. Besides that, I pretty much just drink coffee!

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

Currently I'm in Colorado. I just relocated from LA, but will be heading to New York soon. I don't really think where I'm based impacts the music, at least consciously. I'm very insulated. I really just hang out with my girlfriend and dog and make music. I don't really pay attention to the music community around me or go out very much. That said, obviously enjoying where I live makes me happier and, in turn, more motivated and inspired. I like Colorado a lot more than LA, so I've been writing a lot more than usual.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

My old band, The Midnight Club, had a pretty big following in Colorado when we were younger. I have some really fond memories of playing venues like The Bluebird and The Gothic Theatre!

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

I love the two I just listed. I also love The Moroccan in LA. There are countless that I'd still like to play but, as a Coloradan, the main one is Red Rocks!

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

If it could be anyone ever, I'd choose Bowie, T Rex and The Talking Heads. If I were to choose between only active artists, I'd choose Jack White, Run The Jewels and Rage Against The Machine. I also think that both of those lineups would be INSANE.

What is some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Don't slow down! When I was younger, I wanted to release everything I made and play as many shows as possible. At some point, when The Midnight Club had managers and whatnot, they convinced us to really slow down and be very precious and strategic with releases, shows, etc. Now, with the gift of hindsight, I'm angry that I listened to them. I have a backlog of hundreds of songs that I love but don't care enough about to release. Now that it's patently obvious that the industry favors frequent releases, it makes me wonder how much further I would be if I just released things and played shows as much as I wanted to. 

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

It's not out yet, but one on our new record called "Nothing Can Save Me" means a lot to me. It's the most personal song I've ever made.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

I love playing "Doombox". It's loud, bombastic and singing the chorus never gets old! I suppose the most requested is probably Light Burns Out, just because we rarely play it. It doesn't sound right on the guitar and it's not easy to justify bringing a piano to the show for one song!

What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

For Moon Walker, it's really just me messing around with sounds until I have a little composition that I'm excited to vent over! Once I do, I approach it more like a producer. But it usually just starts with the visceral need to get something off my chest. 

It's hard to say what inspires me.... Obviously current events, but also I just think I rely on writing music as an outlet. Like if I don't do it for a while I just get irritable and out of touch with myself, if that makes sense. It keeps me grounded.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

I hope I can challenge people and make them analyze the world around them a bit more critically. I think that's the point of art, and I think we need it now more than ever. 

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

We have a new single "Doombox" that’s just come out. We'll be releasing music monthly leading up to the release of our album and playing as many shows as possible!

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