Interview with The Inside Out
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Interview with The Inside Out
1. What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
James: I didn’t think about music at all until I was about 9 when my parents bought me a Tama drum set. I was in band and drumline up until freshman year of high school, but when I started playing football, I didn’t pay much mind to music until about a year later when my younger brother Nick started guitar lessons. He was always shredding away in his room, which inspired me to mess around on the guitar with him and eventually take up bass, too.
I loved being self-taught and started teaching myself with a little Peavey amp I got for Christmas. That next summer I rarely left my bedroom and practiced as much as I could, and I haven’t stopped focusing on music since. If I hadn’t gotten involved with music, I would have definitely kept pursuing one of my other artistic interests, such as acting/film/photography. I still think I’ll pursue those some more as time goes on.
Zach: I started playing cello from the young age of 3 after being enthralled at what one looked like on a placemat. Years after that, my dad’s taste in music, especially classic rock, helped me gain a deep appreciation for the sound of a band. That helped lead to the decision to pick up guitar and bassoon at 10. If I never got into music, I’d be bored, a little less grounded, and probably would have pursued one of my other passions, such as scientific research in some physiological field.
John: My mom’s CD collection and the friends I had growing up are what set me on my musical journey. If it wasn't for them turning me onto so many different artists and genres, I’d probably be miserable working in a sweaty cubicle somewhere.
Andi: My grandfather started teaching me piano when I was really young, and I played a little bit of flute and saxophone in elementary school. Although I didn’t stick with any of those for long, in high school I stumbled into teaching myself how to play a bunch of songs on my brother’s drum set, and before I knew it, I was completely in love with drumming. Without music I’d be bored out of my mind having only my day job as a mechanical engineer to think about. Music is such an important way for me to balance my life and keep me sane.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
James: I am a big film and TV junkie. I love the story telling and work environment that goes into shooting a movie or a TV series, as well the consumption of the art itself. If it weren’t for the TV series “The OC” or the movie “500 Days of Summer” I probably wouldn’t have listened to as much music as I did. I also love traveling with my wife and spending time with my family. It’s really good to have as many positive outlets as possible to let your creativity have breathing room.
Zach: I enjoy spending time in nature, whether it’s going for hikes with friends/alone, or snowboarding. I also love tossing around a good ol’ fashioned frisbee. Fresh air and activity are imperative to creativity as they’re proven natural stress relievers.
John: I’m a massive fan of stand-up comedy and love going to comedy shows whenever I can. Good joke writing stimulates my brain in a way that's very similar to music. I’m in awe of the comics that can do it well, and experiencing that really motivates me to become as great as I can be at my craft.
Andi: I love snowboarding and getting out into nature, especially when I have the opportunity to pave my own way through some glades or backcountry. I also love how video games let me completely disconnect from reality for a while. For me, creativity comes from reflecting on various perspectives and not getting stuck in a singular mindset, and I think snowboarding and video games both do that in their own way.
How long has your band been around? Also, please tell me about the dynamic of the band of what brought you all together.
We’ve technically been around since 2017/2018, and this lineup has been together since early 2021. The dynamic has always been: let’s make music we love to perform and have fun doing it. It started out as James’ project, but it’s definitely grown towards the traditional band style. James may write the majority of the original ideas we use as a launch pad, but we all contribute to the final products and make up what is The Inside Out. James couldn’t be happier with where this project is and how far it’s come.
Where are you based and how did that influence your music?
The Inside Out is based out of Shelton, CT, just a stone’s throw away from New Haven. As far as original music goes, southern Connecticut has a pretty unique rock scene and so many other expansive scenes like jazz and hip-hop. Being exposed to such a variety of different artists in an iconically scenic environment most likely helped us sound like we are today.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
Well, you see…we really just loved the Disney movie “Inside Out”…haha. No. James was listening to a couple of his favorite records, “Youth” by Citizen and “Science Fiction” by Brand New.
He kept hearing the phrase “inside out” and honestly thought it tied perfectly to where he was trying to go with naming his new emo/indie band. He figured as a band we’d be “The” Inside Out: a group who’s not afraid to wear our hearts and emotions on our sleeves.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
For whatever reason, every time we play up in Oneonta, NY, the crowds there go ape-shit for live music. We always have a blast playing in front of people who just want to rock out and dance their asses off. The Launch Music Conference & Festival also comes to mind as always being a good time for our band, even though last year, our bass player John broke his ankle the night before the show.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
Our favorite venue to play at is the recording studio that James and Zach own, Black Barrel Records. On a lot of nights, the live room doubles as an event space where we throw shows and book really awesome bands to play. We don’t try to play there too often, but when we do the shows are always amazing because we know we're gonna sound great and mostly everyone there is familiar with our music. College Street Music Hall in New Haven, CT, is a bucket list stage for us because we’ve all seen so many shows there.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
We could die happy opening for a Killers/Strokes co-headlining tour. Or if Taking Back Sunday would take us out, that’d be pretty sweet as well.
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?
James: Be honest and establish a line of clear communication between members. It’s okay if this changes over time, as long as everyone is on the same page. Make sure everyone’s goals are aligned and everyone is in it for similar reasons. I wish I gave that same advice to myself 10 years ago, so I hope it helps any younger readers out there.
Zach: Don’t give up if things feel or sound a little shaky at first. Once a general direction is established, each member should feel out their sonic role in the band. Communication, innovation, and open-mindedness are crucial to the success of any band. My younger self was a tad less outgoing than I currently am, so I suppose I’d advise little Zach to spend more time meeting other musicians so I could have earlier/more experiences playing in a band.
John: Work hard to be the best musician you can be and just be cool/have fun. That's really all there is to it; if you can check those boxes, you're on the right track. Where I came from there wasn't much of a scene or an opportunity to join a band. Had I believed in myself a little more, I’m sure I could have found someone somewhere to jam with. I wouldn't change a thing though; I’m lucky to be right where I want to be.
Andi: Definitely practice your instrument as much as possible and stick to a consistent rehearsal schedule. To my younger self, I would say to not get frustrated when comparing yourself to others, and instead let those who are further along on their music journey inspire you.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
We’d have to go with “Teeth,” as we started composing that on Zach’s birthday. Zach came up with the bassline, James was fleshing out some dancy drum patterns, and then they both wrote some rippin’ little guitar parts that sounded good over that. Super fun to play live as well.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
We all love playing our album-ender “Fire!” live, since it goes through such a sonic journey of starting out loud and angry and ending calm and peaceful. It was the most difficult song on the album to nail down since it has a bunch of changing time signatures and changes bpm, and it’s rewarding to see the audience vibing out and enjoying the ride. We also love playing “It’s All In Your Head, It’s All In The Past.” as it contrasts our otherwise hard-hitting set with a chill and floaty atmosphere.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
Our creative process for songwriting usually stems from a lyrical concept or catchy guitar motif James has come up with. Each member will start dropping in their own opinions and originality, and sooner than later we have a new song idea. If we are in love with the idea, sometimes our entire rehearsal time will disappear before us. We will literally be jamming the song on repeat for hours, just to keep absorbing as much of the idea as possible.
When James writes, he’s inspired by the world around him and how he feels towards situations in his life or past events and relationships. He loves putting a concept behind music and lyrics without always being completely on the nose. He’s not trying to be mysterious per se, he just really likes the idea of anyone, anywhere being able to experience their own unique take on a song.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Our songwriter James likes to let people experience their own unique feeling towards the music. On this record specifically he strived to send the message to anybody undergoing any sort of mental health struggles, big or small, that they’re not alone and there is a positive way out.
Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?
We have two music videos out, “Teeth” and “Figure Me Out.” The latter song is featured on our latest album “No Brains, No Blood.” that was released in fall of 2022. Go check it all out, think you’ll dig ;)
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
We have a show coming up in just a couple days, on 2/11/23 at The Bowery Electric in New York, NY! We’re also playing New Haven and East Haven, CT in the next month or so.
We’re planning a tour for Fall 2023, and we’ll be playing shows and releasing music all throughout this year to lead up to our next album release! We’re hyped for how this next album is shaping up as we’re writing it, and we hope you’ll check it out.
How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?
We use Instagram the most @theinsideoutband and we have a Linktree that’ll lead to all our other accounts and our latest releases: linktr.ee/theinsideout.
For those who aren’t big on keeping up with social media, we have a website that is always updated with our upcoming shows: https://theinsideout.ju.mp
Follow us on Spotify / Apple Music to make sure you don’t miss new music coming in 2023!