Interview with Seeker Pearl

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

Each of us were those kids that just loved it from an early age, like we all have hilarious pics of us as kids with our crappy little instruments. It seems like some people are made into the things they become, others kind of just arrive that way. We’d consider ourselves part of the latter group.

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

One of the great things about being in a band - versus just creating music on your own for yourself - is that it offers lots of outlets for creativity, and you’re always working on different creative things. For us that’s working on merch designs, videos, album covers, show posters etc. We think of everything as a skill that can be learned. One of the hardest things to do is put your experiments out into the world - you might not be an expert videographer, but part of the task is allowing other people to come on that ride with you - if you want to connect with people that is.

How long has your band been around?

We played in a band together previously, but this project with just the three of us is relatively new - about a year.

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

We are out of Chicago. I think where we are from has a lot to do with our work ethic, and the way we approach getting things done.

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

Our name is a reference to a story/myth, it’s about searching for something invaluable, and being willing to sacrifice and take risks to acquire the best version of that thing. Making music feels that way to us.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Our best shows are where we have a great performance and meet new friends because of it. We like not only growing our music but just growing along side our friends, and sharing the things we are working on with each other. Sometimes that means other musicians, sometimes it’s photography, or just working on yourself.

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

We like playing anywhere that has excellent sound and lights, we like creating an immersive experience, and that requires all of the production elements to be in line. We want to play more festivals.

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

Portishead, Seeker Pearl, NIN, Architects, Rage Against the Machine

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

It’s about the songs, it’s not about the gear.

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

Comparing yourself is pointless. Be the best version of yourself, don’t be afraid to be the alien.

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

All of our songs have intense meanings for us. Shadow Machine, out next single, is the one that is at the forefront right now - but that tends to happen. Releasing your own music means that you get to release stuff that is really close to the way you are currently feeling.

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

I love playing the songs that are a mix of electronic / trip-hop synthetic elements, heavy djenty riffs, and driving syncopated rhythms.

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

We each contribute our own pieces to the songs, typically it’s a process of iteration, an idea starts, and we pass it around, getting a general vibe, then adding elements and pieces. A typical workflow might look like: We start with a basic chord progression, just a skeletal idea that defines the territory we are in. Remek writes tons of totally killer riffs, often these are really hooky pieces, and we will latch onto the gems. Lindsay will organize an arrangement she can sing over and write lyrics and melodic line,  then Dino takes our basic idea and drum programming and decimates it with a percussive arrangement that just adds a ton of energy and direction to the track. Lindsay will fill out the arrangement with bass, synths, and effects that generally add atmosphere and a somewhat cinematic quality. The songs are usually written from a place of feeling rather than a place of thinking.

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

We try to stay inspiring, focusing on overcoming our challenges, identifying with hardships, and lifting the listener up. sometimes you just can’t be positive about everything in this world we are in - in those cases, at our best, the songs isolate a negative feeling, and kind of obliterate that feeling through a process of sonic annihilation. We hope the listener who might be dealing with a similar issue,will hear that, or feel that, and know they are not alone.

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

Sometimes - usually we use a combination of mixed martial arts, group discussion, good natured insults, and a couple hugs.

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

We are working on the next single right now - Shadow Machine. We are super stoked for the new direction the songs are taking, they incorporate more mixed genre elements and we feel we are really defining a unique sound that is our own. We are working on booking for fall and winter, if you want us to come play near you, hit us up on IG: @seeker.pearl or at seekerpearl.com.