Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
Dom (Bass, Vocals) and Eric (Guitar, Backing Vocals) met in Boston while they were studying in college. We formed several iterations of ‘Them Fantasies’ before finally settling in with our drummer, Max. The whole conception of the band was started because Eric and Dom had pretty different tastes in music, and wanted to fuse their influences together to create new contemporary and creative sounds in a post genre world.
After 3 years in Boston, we finally moved to Los Angeles during the pandemic, to further pursue our career as a band. LA seems to have a lot more opportunity, and we figured it would be the best place to get real weird with it.
What does music and being an artist mean to you?
It means everything to us. Music is just as important as eating and sleeping. The three of us already devoted our lives to music when we decided to go to music school, and we feel very lucky to have met each other and clicked so well.
Being an artist is just an extension of our own personalities and interests! It feels like we’re fulfilling our purpose and chasing our dreams. That’s the best feeling anyone could ask for (besides live shows coming back!).
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
This batch of new songs we’re about to release are very much based on introspection and our own life experiences over the past year and a half. We want a very personal listening experience for anyone who hears us, and we hope there’s always something that they can relate to. Our move to California was a big influence on our first single, “Spoiled af.”, and we’re becoming a lot more invested in the lyrics we write for this new batch of songs.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
Influences and favorites definitely change all the time. But very recently, we have been loving Anderson.Paak. We love how he’s not constricted by genre, form, or other “conventional” methods of success. He has such a defined artistry, and we love everything he does, both from an instrumental and lyrical standpoint.
All time favorite record?
Pretty impossible question, but if we all HAD to choose…
Dom: Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
Eric: Pink Floyd – Animals
Max: Miracle Mile – STRFKR
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
Our next single is called “Spoiled af.” and we think it’s one of the best songs we’ve written. We became inspired to write this song after gazing upon the dream homes scattered across Topanga Canyon. We could feel their lavish lifestyles from thousands of feet away, so we wanted to do what we do best: make them dance.
“Spoiled af.” pokes fun through a satirical jab at the idea of excess, and thanks to this peculiar blend of Panic! at the Disco and Anderson .Paak, the idea of “needing a little more” has never been so funky.
There are lots of people who are considered to be “Spoiled af.” To some, it’s the trust fund kids who don’t work a day in their life. To others, it’s the mindset that you can never have enough. It can even be the people who dress their dog in Gucci. We wanted to bring this sentiment to our funky lil’ tune!
You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?
We listen to a lot of indie rock, pop, and funk, but it’s elements of some of the other genres that are dear to our hearts that can sometimes be the surprise influence. Jazz and math rock are also very influential for us, and we derive a lot of our harmony and some rhythmic aspects from there. Fitting all of these different influences into a new cohesive sound is like a puzzle, and it’s really fun for us to figure out.
What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks?
Band gym time! We try to keep healthy interests outside of music for when we don’t feel creative, or are burnt out. Going to the gym, getting out of the house, and cooking are some ways that we counter these creative blocks. Watching, writing, and playing with other artists is also a great way to stay motivated and inspired.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Headlining Lolla! We want to be playing major festivals and large shows throughout the country, if not the world. It’s important to dream big, and manifest your own path to get there. Advocating for yourself is so important.
Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics?
It’s important to keep our clothes and style cohesive enough with each other. We go out to hip places in LA together and try to find the coolest drip for any occasion — whether that’s for tik tok videos, live shows, or just something cool to wear when meeting new people. Appearance and brand are more important than most bands realize, and it’s something we’re really diving into.
What was the most daunting moment in your career so far?
Probably our move from Boston to Los Angeles last year. Moving from our college city all the way across the country to this new big city wasn’t easy. Uprooting our whole fanbase and coming out here to make music full time was pretty chaotic and daunting, especially in the middle of the pandemic. While it’s been a challenge, these harder times have allowed us to appreciate the wins as they come.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Don’t be afraid to fail — literally thousands of times. People on the outside don’t have to see all the failures that an artist makes until they reach new successes. We’ve failed so many times, and will still continue to fail in the future, and that’s ok. We’ve learned so much from our mistakes that have helped propel us to where we are today. We still got a long way to go, and that’s exciting!
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
Blockchain technology and NFT’s. But…we won’t get into that right now 😉
