Unlike many other genres and music communities, the indie/alt culture appreciates new and rising artists that create diversity and new insights within the genre.
We constantly feature notable indie and alternative artists on the verge of success. Meet this week’s featured artist in an exclusive interview, the Orange County indie rockers known as Island Apollo: |
We recently talked with Ryan Kilpatrick, Addam Farmer, Austin Farmer, Heath Farmer, and
Matt Champagne about their take on alternative culture. Read on to find out why Island Apollo may just be your next favorite artist.
What are your fondest musical memories?
Its hard to pick one that definitively stands above the rest. But one that comes to mind right away was seeing B.B. King with my dad at The Greek Theater. It was one of his last shows before he passed away. It was great because it was something my dad and I both thoroughly enjoyed, and the atmosphere in the place was just electric. You could tell that he meant something to his fans in a profound way.
Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener?
I’ve been listening a lot more to 70’s and 80’s rock/pop like David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones; the type of artists that are made for a large stadium type production. I think there’s something in how the musicians in those bands fit together that you don’t hear as often today. It probably has to do with how computers are more incorporated in the process now.
What is your creative process like? How do you approach the writing process?
Its different every time. The thing about this band is that we all write, so a song can come from any person in the group, or can come from all of us just jamming in a room together. In terms of production we usually will get a bare bones version of the song done by hashing it out live in a room, and then plot it to grid on a computer for fine tuning over the next couple days or so. Then we bring it back to the rehearsal room with the band, to get it ready to perform.
I’m a little torn on the issue. Obviously, the ability to directly interact with your fans is a powerful way to create a feeling of intimacy and establish an ongoing dialogue that keeps people engaged. The independent artist benefits from this development the most in that for the first time, they can get their music out to people on a massive scale without investing a massive amount of money to do so.
However, I think the ease with which people can find music today and the fact that it is essentially free, cheapens the value of that music to listeners. I also think the increasing importance of social media to an artist’s career and the fact that social media is primarily a visual experience is causing a shift in focus from how good an artist's music is, to how attractive or entertaining the artists themselves are.
What is your dream collaboration and why?
I think Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie. I just think he seems like a very cool down to earth dude, in spite of his immense amount of talent and success.
What are you currently working on? Any new projects?
We’re currently writing a new batch of songs that we’re very excited about. When they’re done we’ll start talking about the smartest way to get them out to people. Whether that’s with an EP, a full length, or a collection of singles is a decision that still has to be made.
Thanks once again to Island Apollo for talking with us. You can stay up to date with them via the social links below and on their website islandapollo.com. For now listen to their stellar anthemic single Lion Eyes featuring the trumpet styling of Capital Cities' Spencer Ludwig.
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