Indie + Alternative culture appreciates new rising artists that create diversity and new insights within their respective genres. We constantly feature notable indie and alternative artists on the verge of success.
Meet this week’s featured artist in an exclusive New Music Friday interview. Introducing You To Your Next Favorite Artist: an IndieBeat favorite In Place. |
We recently talked in depth with Brandon and Justin about In Place's take on alternative culture. Read on to learn more about your next favorite artist.
Justin Leggio: I would have say Dookie by Green Day, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket by Blink 182, and then Yourself or Someone Like You by Matchbox Twenty. These were the first three records I can remember really listening to.
What are your fondest musical memories?
BC: My fondest musical memories are the ones that happened in my bedroom. I would spend hours listening to the same record over and over again without any want to anything else. There’s that connection to your upbringing now as an adult.
JL: It has to be all the local shows I would go to as a kid, which at the time were oddly all hardcore bands. Brandon and I would go to every local show we could in the area, mainly because of the lack of things to do in the Poconos. Looking back now, this was main reason I even became interested in music.
Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener?
BC: Try not to put any limitations on what I listen to, but try to find the good in a song that I may be able to use as inspiration.
JL: I’ve currently been into a lot of sleepytime bands, mostly quiet and relaxed music. I’m always on the hunt for new music to fall asleep to.
What is your creative process like? How do you approach the writing process? Is there a particular message or theme central to your creative works?
BC: Recently, we get together when I have an idea on guitar and figure out what to do with it. Try out some different variations, but typically end up back at the start. Because of this, we’ve been committing to our music a lot quicker than we have in the past. We lay the groundwork out as much as possible, but let the song tell us where to go. Sometimes the vision for each song will be quick or it may time a while, but it always comes around in the end. For us, our music represents a lot of things that we experience in our lives, emotions that we feel at a certain time, high and low moments.
We're a firm believer that the cities that artists are based in helps craft their sound. How would you describe your city’s music scene? How has it inspired you into crafting your sound?
We moved to Philadelphia for the music scene. That seems to be pretty typical for a lot of musicians around here. Philadelphia has a really supportive and active music community. Genres are varied and people do go out and support local artists. There’s a lot of opportunity for musicians in this city. We see success other artists and bands are having, and it just becomes all the more inspirational to us. The city has a definite rock sound which has influenced in certain ways.
How would your describe your visual aesthetic, in terms of album artwork, music videos, and artistry? How does the music you create contribute to your visuals? Does this extend to your live show experience?
We’re heading in more of an abstract direction with darker elements and moods, which lends well to our sound. We recently did a video for “Pipe Dream” that was comprised of macro cinematography on 16mm film that matches our aesthetics pretty damn well. It took us some time to realize that visuals are important with instrumental music.
As an indie artist in the digital age, social media and streaming are essential tools for marketing and promotion. What do you think about online music sharing, both as a music fan and as a musician? How do you think social media/music streaming services impacts the rising musician?
JL: We definitely believe in sharing our music as much as possible in a digital sense. As a listener, it’s great because you can always discover new music that you may have not had the chance to before. As a rising musician, it’s easy for your music to get lost at sea.
What is your dream collaboration and why?
JL: It would be sweet to work with Justin Vernon on a record or have him do vocals on one of our tracks. Thom Yorke is another individual that would be a dream to work with, or even just dance with.
What songs are you currently obsessed with? What new acts do you recommend to our listeners? What bands do you believe are your best kept secret in the indie community?
JL: I’ve been listening to “The Sunshine of Your Youth” by a local Philly band called Cheerleader, “Big Day Coming” by Yo La Tengo, and “Easier Day” by Little Green Cars. Their new album is really sweet. “Tangle Formations” off of the Wilderness by Explosions in the Sky has also been very inspirational lately.
BC: Caveman is an indie band from Brooklyn that everyone should check out. They were the first show that I saw when I moved to Philly at Milkboy. I never heard of them before, but so glad that I went on a whim.
What are you currently working on? Any new projects?
Currently working on a lot of new music that we are testing out at shows and collaborations with friends. We’ve gotten into a lot of home recording so that has been not only fun, but has definitely helped our writing.