Interview with The New Pacific

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

• I got into music by watching Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit video. The second I saw that I knew I wanted to play guitar very, very loud. I do alot of graphic design so probably furthering that side of visual art.

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

•  I’ve been doing alot of running lately and that helps my brain so much just being able to think clearly. I’m super ADHD so the moving around helps just clear everything out so I can focus. Songs come all the time while running. I think it has to do with moving around and just being away from screens.

How long has your band been around?

•  We started way back in 2017.

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

• We met in Los Angeles CA when we were all living in Hollywood. That sunshine meets dirty rock history influenced the sound for sure. 

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

•  I’m actually from Tennessee so The New Pacific was from moving out to Hollywood and kicking things off on a new coast.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

•  We played Lollapalooza a few years back which was crazy. But probably most memorable was we played this weird middle school charity carnival in Venice that we accidentally said yes to playing haha. We all went on the Gravitron before freaking every single parent in that place out when we took the stage.

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 Roxy in Hollywood. It’s such a perfect size room for us and we can just turn up and rip.

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

• It’d be us supporting Blink 182, Beloved & Mandy Moore. That one be one badass show.

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?

•  I’d say to just listen to your heart as corny as that sounds. It’s ultimately a better compass to navigate this crazy music space than anything else. If your intuition is telling you to take a left turn and everyone else is going right, you better turn left or you’ll never know what could’ve been. Don’t be afraid to take chances. That’s what this whole thing is all about.

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

•  I’d say to not forget to have fun. We did so much grinding for so long, it’s sometimes nice to just smile and look around and enjoy the chaos.

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

•  Anchor is about the birth of my twin children and the struggle it took to get them into the world. I’m very proud of them and going through all of that was really tough but ultimately incredibly worth it.

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

•  I personally really like the ripper ones where we get to kind of get off the leash and smash it up. Cycle or Torch are always good crowd hype jams.

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

•  I typically start with a theme lyrically and write from a lyrical perspective or start with just drums. I base most everything around rhythm and the drums / bass dictate almost everything on that side, then things start falling into place.

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

• You know it’s funny. I feel like in the older stuff it was trying to find some light in a dark place. Similar to trying to have the twins. It just came from this visceral place of hoping for a brighter future and to bring more love into the world and I’d write more metaphorical. Now I think lyrically I pen a much more literal direct page from what’s going on in my world. Just trying to understand anxiety and depression and how to not lean so hard against them. Acceptance I suppose on some level. I’ve been fighting acceptance for a long time, now I’m trying to accept, learn and be the best man and artist I can be.

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

•  Of course, yeah I think being in a band is like being in a family of brothers. You’re inevitably going to step on each other’s toes from time to time and lord knows we’ve definitely had friction from time to time and there’s been a revolving door of friends in the band but at the end of the day it’s always rooted in trying to create the best music we can and to stand with each other as a group of friends, no matter what shape that takes. Again, I think this era of TNP is about acceptance. I’m so grateful for everyone who’s been a part of this whole thing. I feel much closer to those guys as we face challenges together, go our separate ways and reconvene as better friends. That’s what life is I think. A series of waves we’re all trying to ride and understand. You’re never up or down for forever. Enjoy the highs and don’t be so terrified of the lows. Nothing stays the same. That’s comforting now.

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

• We’ve got a bunch of songs that just got mixed that I’m excited to get out there. There’s a full length album called HOW TO BE OKAY that I’m really looking forward to releasing. It’s pretty autobiographical at this point. I’m just so thrilled to have the opportunity to write and record and process everything through this art form. Keep an ear out this summer. I really hope it means something to you too. Thanks and try to remember to smile. We’ve only got one shot at this thing. Live it.