Interview: Surviving September

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

Music is what ultimately got us into music. The millions of songs out there, one of them will speak to what you’re going through. We all have something to share based on personal experiences. Plus, playing in a band is fun. Who wouldn’t want to.

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

We all have different hobbies, Rod likes to ride his motorcycle, Joe works and spends time with his family, Mike just enjoys life with his wife, and Steve does screen-printing in his spare time. Taking some time away from the creative process helps reset the creative process. Two things, always have your phone ready to go, and keep a pad of paper or something near you at all times. Creativity strikes in the strangest places.

How long has your band been around?

The current lineup of the band has been around for about 2 years.

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

We are based out of Jacksonville FL, and that has pretty much had zero influence on our music. A lot of famous bands have come out of Jacksonville, some of which we are friends with, but we really like to think we have a sound unlike anything that has ever come from Jacksonville before.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

We get asked this one a lot. We were all in the same situation, in September, together, and we all made it through that situation together. As fate would have it, the Surviving September name was around from a previous project Steve created, so we adopted it. It really fit our situation.

Tell me about the best and worst shows you have played.

NO! Kidding. We played a show with Hawthorne Heights. That has to be the most professionally run show we’ve played to date. Really fun, great crowd. We filmed for a music video during that show. As far as bad shows, I guess it depends on the definition of bad. Traveling 600 miles to play for 20 people, poor playing performance, Played in a field full of horse crap. Pick one. Gotta pay your dues.

Tell me about your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you haven't already?

We love playing in Tampa Fl, Anyplace there is awesome. Great fans. We’d love to play the festivals. The atmosphere, fans, exposure are all great at the festivals.

If you could play any show with any lineup who would be on the ticket? Pearl Jam would be a big one, Bad Religion, Times of Grace and Bury Tomorrow, Zebrahead, the list goes on.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band?

Stick with it. If you find the right group of guys, it’s a great experience. I’m not talking about good players, but guys that you fit in with and can have fun with. Find a family and you’ll have an amazing time.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be? Keep playing.

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

Don’t Walk Away is a song taken from a personal experience. It’s about a relationship where one person was all in on, but the other person wasn’t. The song is from the perspective of the person giving everything they have and goes through some of the feelings they had about the situation.

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

It’s tough to say, Prey seems to have the most streams, but The End seems to be performing better on the charts. Your Time Is Up and You’re A Lie are probably the most fun to play.

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

Crap that everyone goes through is what inspires our music. Everyone goes through something, right. Our songs are about love lost, regret, and arguing with stupid people on the internet. As far as the creative process, we just get in a room together and jam a little. A riff will be born. Then we decide what’s next, and so on. Songwriting is a really fun process for us.

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

No one is alone. Everyone is going through something. Reach out.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

We’re a family and we really enjoy doing what we’re doing. Together the chemistry works. We know that. Disagreements are very few and far between, but when we do have them, we think of the greater good and what’s best for the band, not the individual.

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

We have a few shows coming up in Jacksonville in April and June. We’re looking to get into some festivals this year.