Interview with Anarbor

2 (55s): What's going on. It is Adam. Welcome back to bringing it backwards. A podcast where both legendary and rising artists tell their own personal stories of how they achieve stardom. 2 (1m 37s): On this episode, we had a chance to hang out with Slade and Danny of the band and Arbor over zoom video, both slate, and Danny grew up together and they talk about growing up in Phoenix and how they got in a music. Danny's a couple of years younger than Slade. So Slade knew his older brother and would play shows with his older brother's band. But Slade got into music around 12, got a guitar and was always in singing lessons. His mom knew he could sing really well. So she kind of pushed him in that direction. He started writing songs shortly after getting the guitar and then started a band in high school called troop 1 0 1, which ended up becoming an Arbor when they started to take it a bit more seriously. 5 (2m 15s): So we hear about like kind of the origin of the band cause Danny wasn't in the band quite yet. They got signed to hopeless records in high school and immediately hit the road 17 years old, just touring, touring, touring, putting out records. They ended up landing a deal where they recorded the theme song for Scooby-Doo and they had a couple other songs that got a bunch of sinks over the past few years, Jersey shore and the Hills, and just a bunch of different television shows. Danny ended up joining the band in 2016, we hear about how that phone call went them calling and asking Danny to join the band. Danny talks about joining the band, jumping on tour pretty much immediately after getting that phone call, writing songs and recording for the first time with Anarbor and they both discussed kind of the new direction of the band and all about their new single, which is called drugs. 5 (3m 5s): You can watch the interview with slate and Danny on our Facebook page and YouTube channel app bring in a backwards. It would be awesome if you subscribe to our channel like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik TOK at bringing back pod. And if you're listening to this on Spotify or apple music, it would be amazing if you follow us there as well and hook us up with a five-star review. 6 (3m 28s): We'd appreciate your support. If you follow and subscribe to our podcasts, wherever you listen to, 5 (3m 33s): We're bringing it backwards with an Arbor. This is about you and your journey and music. And obviously we'll will talk about the new song and everything else come out with Ann Arbor. 7 (3m 44s): Excellent. Thanks for having us again. We really appreciate it. 5 (3m 47s): Yeah, for sure. Well, actually, first off, are you both born in where you both like, did you grow up together? Like I did see the bands like started when you were in high school, but I know that there's kind of in different formations of the band. 7 (4m 1s): Yeah. So we actually went to high school together, back in the day, but growing up, we went to high school, but he actually joined the band back in like 2015. So earlier days he was always, you know, a friend of mine back in school, kind of just mutually hanging out. I mean, we didn't really, I was more friends with his brother to be honest. And once it came time that we needed another Eagle member and we went straight to Danny because he was always a good, good friend of ours. So, yeah. 5 (4m 32s): Awesome. So both of you guys are from what? Phoenix? Yup. Yeah. Okay. What was it like growing up in Phoenix? 7 (4m 41s): Hi. 5 (4m 43s): Yeah. So I know, I know a little bit about a Phoenix, but I've only visited. So I wonder what it's like growing in there. 8 (4m 53s): My birthday's in July, so almost every, you know, birthday party I had growing up was a pool party like that thing to do. And that's pretty much how you spend every single summer as you wake up and jump in the pool and hang out there as much as you can all day. But 7 (5m 12s): As far as lot of skateboarding, you know, a lot of it just got to do a lot of trouble when I was a kid. 8 (5m 19s): So a lot of people in houses and all that kind of stuff. 5 (5m 23s): What about houses? Sorry, I cut you off. 8 (5m 25s): Tipping 5 (5m 26s): Houses. Don't do that anymore. 8 (5m 29s): It really bums me out because I saw one like a year and a half ago. I saw a house TB when I was walking my dog early in the morning. And I was like, yes, it's one, someone out there is still keeping this alive. 5 (5m 44s): Is it because everyone has like a ring light now and they just be boosted like immediately. 8 (5m 48s): I feel like that's part of it, but I also feel like kids are so overstimulated now, like with the, how great the Internet's become phones and tick talk and all that kind of stuff. Like we used to do that stuff out of complete boredom. You know, that's a good point sleeping over at a friend's house. We've played 10 hours of halo. Like what are we going to do now? And it's like, we're 5 (6m 14s): Going to go toilets over our house. 8 (6m 16s): If we don't go get ourselves in trouble, we're going to dive boredom. 5 (6m 22s): That's so funny. Yeah. It's, it's funny. I was actually thinking about this the other day. The same thing, like why kids don't TP houses. Cause a kid that we use, his mom was always, she worked late and so she'd come home at like midnight and she'd always drive us T T P a house. She had like the getaway van. It was so amazing. 8 (6m 41s): That's what's up? My mom did that for us once, but the mother of the girl whose house we were taping came out. And so we ran into the car and we're like, mom, drive away, drive away. Let's go. And she didn't eat it and then had a conversation with him off. 5 (6m 59s): And then she drove me back in the morning and cleaned it up. Yeah, 8 (7m 1s): Exactly. 5 (7m 5s): Man. That's funny. 7 (7m 7s): I used to do power boxing. So that was a whole different level. Guys. You go to the power box to the house and just flip the switch man and everything I'm telling you, it gets really bad, bro. I can't even tell you the story. 5 (7m 21s): Oh man. You're like shutting people's frigerators off. Like that's a big one, 7 (7m 25s): Dude. It was not, it was not right. I'll tell you that. I definitely regret it, but there was some good moments in it that I will never forget. 5 (7m 31s): Yeah. That is funny. I haven't glad I have a lock on mine in case people were still doing that. Wow. That's awesome. Well, okay, so slate. How'd you get into music? 7 (7m 44s): Well, my parents, man, they've always been listening to music. Nobody in my family can actually play an instrument, which is funny, but they loved music. So it was always a part of my life. And I was always listening to like op or eighties music or whatever, whatever it was. But yeah, they bought my first guitar and kind of since then I just started, I had a girlfriend and then wrote a song about her. Then that was about as far as it went. I mean, it kind of started off from there. So 5 (8m 10s): How old are you in when you got the guitar? 7 (8m 13s): I was probably like 12. 5 (8m 16s): Okay. Did you immediately come assess with it or like, was it something you were just picking up and putting down and, 7 (8m 22s): Well, I was, I was taking singing lessons for like, I think a couple of years, cause I was always singing and my mom was like, you need to do something with that. And I was like, no, that's for girls, but you know, she, I was a kid. I didn't really have a choice swimming and singing lessons. Then when I got the guitar, I think it just kind of clicked man. And it like never stopped. 5 (8m 39s): That's awesome. Do you, are you happy, your mom put you in the lessons singing last night 7 (8m 43s): First obviously, but definitely very, very, very happy that she did that because I would have no experienced and I was self-taught or any type of instrument that I've played. So when it came to 8 (8m 53s): You would sound like me. 7 (8m 57s): Well, I mean just, you know, I'm not naturally gifted with guitars and stuff. I can put vocals. So vocals usually it's mean means my, my main, my strongest point. So I'm glad that she put me in to lessons or also wouldn't have, you know, all this, all this boys behind me. 5 (9m 13s): Sure. It's funny. Cause my, we put my son and he couldn't figure out something to do he's in middle school. And my wife's like, if you don't leave it, we're like, okay, if you can't figure out something to do by this date, then we're going to choose something for you. And she threw him in court and he's still so pissed off at us to this day. He had, he had a concert last night and he's just like, I better not be seen people that are going to know that. I mean, like he just like totally avoids it, but I've told him like five or seven times, like I've interviewed like thousands of people and a lot of them were in that. Like it doesn't matter right now, but when you're selling records and touring and playing with your favorite artists, like, no, one's going to ask if you're in court. I mean, I asked, but like, no, one's going to remember that you were the kid getting in chorus. 5 (9m 55s): You might not even get made fun of, but he doesn't either. Which is the best, the most hilarious thing about it. It's like, dude, no one cares. Nobody cares. 7 (10m 5s): I definitely cared. I was like, it's for girls. I don't want to do it. But I was always singing the moms like dude, now I'm doing it. And I went to this local teacher, you know, that was right down the street from me. So it's just crazy do it. Don't be afraid. 5 (10m 16s): I love that. I'm going to show him this clip and he gets pissed off whenever I bring up the fact that he's in chorus too. So whatever, like none of your friends watch me anyway. So what about you Danny? How'd you get a music? 8 (10m 33s): I mean kind of similar, like when I was probably 11 or 12 years old, I watched some live DVD of red hot chili peppers. And I was like, wow, that like, it all started with some crazy solo. So I was like, cool, I want to do that. And so my 5 (10m 51s): Mom for Shontay days or, 8 (10m 54s): And yeah, it was straight up. Like I want to grow my hair out and learn how to play the guitar. And so my, my mom took me to like rent a guitar and take lessons. And she's like, if she's like, you can, you know, if you work really hard and you stick with it, eventually we'll get you your own guitar. And that's exactly what happened. And, and my older brother is a drummer. So like we just grew up, you know, just jamming with friends at our house, in the garage all the time, just playing, you know, like 92 and red, hot chili peppers and all that kinda stuff. And, and, and yeah, just kept going from there. 5 (11m 32s): What guitar did you rent? Was it an acoustic guitar? Like, 8 (11m 34s): Yeah, I started with an acoustic guitar and I remember it being so hard on my little 12 year old fingers. I was just like, I got to stick with this it's too cool. And, and like, you know, eventually I moved on to a second guitar teacher right after I got an electric guitar. She taught me how to read tabs, which then opened the door for me to go learn any song that I wanted. Sure. And then it just kept going from there. 5 (12m 4s): That's awesome. So you were jammed with your brother. Did you guys ever join a band 8 (12m 7s): Together? No. Yeah. We just kinda like 2 (12m 11s): Join planet fitness now through March 16th and get the PF black card for zero enrollment in 2299 a month. You'll enjoy an upgraded experience with tons of perks 3 (12m 21s): Access to more than 2000 locations. Worldwide, super soothing hydro massage chairs. Yes. Can I bring a friend every time? Sure. Can my friend be a horse? 2 (12m 31s): Nah, sorry. Get the PF black card and feel fit tacular. Zero enrollment, 2299 a month deal, land smart 16, see club for details. 8 (12m 41s): We had a bunch of other friends that were also learning how to play a guitar or bass or whatever it was. And so our house was kind of like the hub for us and all of our friend groups. And so we would just always be interchangeably, jamming, really poorly trying to play songs, but it was so much fun. Yeah, it was great. 5 (13m 5s): Well said, you said you're better friends with Danny's brother. Was, did you jam with him? 7 (13m 10s): I think at the time I thought at the time I think I was, but no, we never jammed, but we did play shows together. Like what was your brother's band? 8 (13m 20s): Yeah, he had a bat in high school. No, no, no. His first band was called D Vade. He played a battle of the bands with troop 1 0 1, which was Harbor's first name, church. Right, right across the street from a high school, we went to 7 (13m 42s): St Andrew's. 5 (13m 43s): Yep. Was that one of the earlier shows for, for troop one-on-one 7 (13m 48s): Yeah, I mean, we were like, we were gigging like battle of the bands. We thought we were really cool, but we'd had no experience. We were just a bunch of kids just jumping on a stage and playing like somebody grown a garage. We thought we were Waco. 5 (14m 3s): Was that the first band that you were in Slade? 7 (14m 5s): Yeah, for me. Yeah. That was, that was the first band that I actually ever joined and it turned into an Arbor. So it was the same members. We just changed the name because it was getting more serious and we hated the name troop on a one. It was just like a, on the fly type of thing. So once we got, once we came up with an arborist and with the band kind of got more serious, but yeah, I've only been in one band really until I decided to take it into a different genre and stuff, but that was my, you know, my choice kit. 5 (14m 36s): Sure. But wow. Okay. Well I want to talk about that. So cause what I've, from what I read, you guys got signed pretty young, right? You're in high school and the hopeless record signed to you, right? 7 (14m 46s): Yeah. So we got signed right out of high school, like right around 2000, 8,009 and basically skipped college, all that. And they just threw us on tour. So we toured for a long time, we went on, you know, take action to her, did warp to her probably three or four times. And then 5 (15m 4s): A little real quick to go back a little bit before that. How did that, I mean, you change your name from trip 1 0 1 to Ann Arbor. And like, obviously you're like, we're taking it seriously, but you're still in high school at this point. So like, what was the change? Like what changed, like did, were you pulling pretty big crowds in, you know, in the area where you guys were playing like, like locally where you, did you have a pretty big following? Like how did that even stem into being signed to a label like that? 7 (15m 29s): Yeah. So basically we were just playing the weekends, you know, playing the bigger shows in Phoenix. We just played so much that we kind of grew a small following in Phoenix, mostly our friends, you know, I was mostly just setting up your, your school and put up in a fire up, you know, the paper flyers today. But I mean, it took us from plain skate land. That was like our first show. We probably, we sold it out. Not knowing that we would, but 5 (15m 58s): Is that a skate park? 7 (15m 60s): It's like a 5 (16m 2s): Oh, roller rink. Okay. I'm thinking like a skate park, like skateboarding park. It's 8 (16m 8s): Not there anymore. Is 7 (16m 9s): It? It is still there. 5 (16m 13s): People are still rollerskating. That's amazing. 7 (16m 20s): Yeah. It 8 (16m 21s): Was slayed. We're losing 5 (16m 22s): You a little robotic, the joy of zoom zoom. 8 (16m 29s): So you'd go back closer to the building that has, 5 (16m 35s): It's all good. That's the joy of editing too. Yeah. 8 (16m 37s): He's he's at like Disneyland Disneyland. 5 (16m 41s): You're at Disneyland and you're, and you're doing this interview. 7 (16m 44s): I was at a wedding and I thought the wedding dude, that's been like a three-day wedding. There was a brunch that happened. And now I'm like, I thought it was over. And then my lady's like, we have our brunch yet. I'm like, what is this? What is happening, bro? 5 (16m 58s): Like, I didn't know. I was marrying these people. 7 (17m 4s): I'll be home. I'll be home tonight. But no, but I mean, I mean, anyways, we can, you guys hear me? Yeah. We played like LA on the weekends and we would like, maybe like do a couple shows, like, you know, Roxy and then something else, like a house show or something. And honestly playing that for a whole year. Like just playing weekends. Even with our parents driving us out there. That's what brought record labels to come see us because we kind of drove, drove like a little bus, just playing with all these local bands from LA that, yeah. 5 (17m 35s): I mean, these kids are getting driven out. It must've been a thing like these young kids are in high school. They're getting driven out from Phoenix to LA to play like, you know, notable venues like the Roxy. I would imagine like there's some little buzz in town, like who the hell? Who are these 7 (17m 50s): Kids? Yeah, kinda man kinda. And it was also because we were so young that I think that's what helped us was really interested in us because we were, you know, we were dedicated what we were doing and it's hard to find dedicated people that can play all the time. And especially back then when you don't know what your future is. So we definitely took a risk and our parents were really cool about it. 5 (18m 9s): That is awesome though. So you say you sign with hope it helps records. Was that, I mean, that had to be a huge, huge moment. Huge day for you guys. 7 (18m 18s): Yeah. That was huge, man. I mean, I remember our parents own a whole party for us and you know, again, that first tour and being like, oh my gosh, we're leaving. You know, it was intense, man. It was definitely a, it was a good change of, of, of life for me because I was in school doing nothing, you know, so 5 (18m 37s): Right. And then you finished school and they're like, all right, you're going to go on tour 7 (18m 42s): Maybe later. Yeah. If I kind of actually like grew up really quick because the people that we were touring with were a lot older than we were. So everybody that we were hanging out, you know, 17 and we're like, yeah, smoking cigs, 5 (18m 56s): Of course. Right. Yeah. Back then it was probably 18 to smoke, which should, I think it's 21 now, which is 7 (19m 3s): Interesting. I was 18. 5 (19m 5s): I was 18 when I was younger. I'm older than you guys. So, but that's well, that's crazy though, to be 17 and be thrown on the road. And obviously at that point, your parents are just like, all right, see you later. I mean, tell me that must've been a nerve wracking, even like, oh, okay, now I'm going to go hit the road with people. I don't know. And we're going to be clear across the country and we don't have our like, you know, safety net of parents close by or whatever 7 (19m 31s): It is. It's terrifying. I mean, lucky for me, my dad is pretty, you know, hardcore, he's kind of rugged guys on the farmer. So I grew up kind of figuring out problems as they go. So, you know, changing the tire here and that I already know how, I don't even know how to do all that stuff. So I'm not, I'm good at solving problems, but I'm not really good at, I guess the efficiency of it. So it was, it was harder than we thought it's taken a lot of years to get it down and touring and stuff. But the beginning was definitely a struggle, man. I'll tell you car accidents, you know, forgetting people at a rest stop, somebody goes on and on. 8 (20m 10s): So you slayed backup a van and trailer. It's like a pro it's incredible. It's at the point where I just get, if I'm driving, I'm just like, okay, this thing needs to be parked. And I get out. I'm not gonna, even if I bust my ass to learn how to do this, I'm never going to be that good. 5 (20m 32s): Well, what about you, Danny? So this is all happening. How are you? How much younger are you than, than two 8 (20m 39s): Years younger? 5 (20m 40s): Okay. So you're still in high school when they're gone touring. 8 (20m 43s): Yeah. So when I was in high school, I think it was my junior year. I started working at GameStop and like I was still playing guitar and messing around and all sorts of different little projects. And I remember seeing everything that Ann Arbor was doing and being like, wow, this is just, this is insane. And then, you know, when you're, when you're younger and especially when you're not in the music industry and you see that kind of stuff, your first thought is like, holy shit, like Slade and Ann Arbor, they're all making a million dollars, you know? And I think it was the summer. 8 (21m 29s): Yeah. I don't know. At some point Slade came into the game stop that I worked at and I was like, yo, like, what's up, man? You've been crushing it, like all this crazy stuff. And he's like, yeah. Are you guys hiring and well, yeah. I don't know. I, I remember when the, the music video for the brightest green came out and my brother and I sat down, watched it and we were just like, damn, like, this is really legit. And it kind of for like a lot of other Phoenix artists and stuff, it kind of like gave the sense of hope for everyone that like, oh yeah, like this is doable. 8 (22m 9s): Like you can really, you know, start like, cause so many people make you want to think that like, if you're not living in Los Angeles or New York, that you're never going to go there and it's just completely not true. And the coolest thing about Ann Arbor is that it's always kind of built its own fan base and its own community on its own terms around like, you know, who we want to be and what things that we want to project about ourselves and about the band. And I don't know. It's always been something that's cool about it. 5 (22m 43s): Yeah. Well, I want to just, I mean, we'll get to, because you joined the bandwidth like about five years ago or so Danny? 8 (22m 50s): Yeah. About five or six. Okay. Well 5 (22m 53s): Just to, I want to just get the little timeline here going, cause I'm curious about the, you aren't in the band quite yet. When you guys started landing all the, you know, the TV sinks since that like the, excuse me, do stuff and all that. Right. Okay. So how did that all, how was that all just based off fan base or playing shows and meeting people like tell me when that kind of changed. Cause that sounds like that kind of took over a little bit for, you know, put you in a, a much bigger audience, right? 7 (23m 20s): Yeah. So honestly that was all through hopeless, hopelessly in the doubt. And when we do came to them, they were like, Hey, we're looking for a band that, you know, could possibly fit the Scooby-Doo thing. And we had this like smoke weed vibe about us. So they looked at all the hopeless bands. They're like, we like this man. And then they hit a separate like, yo, they handpicked you guys to do song and they wanted you guys to do an original song. So I just remember hearing the simple plan, we covered a simple plan, the fame song. And I remember hearing it and being like, we can make this so much cooler. So we did. And we ended with Mike Green did that. And then we wrote the original song. He, they, they based it off the song. I think it's about like the monkeys or the turtles or something it's like, so happy it's together. 7 (24m 4s): Listen to that song and write a song about, you know, write a song about that. And so that's where you and I came from was kind of a reference tracks of that, that, that song, but help us, record's complete set that up man. And not like that brought us to a whole different level. Like the whole little cartoon network stuff was like, I remember seeing like 12 year olds to nine year old kids that are shows with signs. You know, it was, it was the same. 5 (24m 26s): That is so crazy. Yeah. It's funny. I was going to ask you about the simple plan thing, like, cause they did the theme song, what a couple of years later that 7 (24m 34s): Yeah, they did it definitely more loose ended, you know, not, not as tight or anything, but 5 (24m 39s): Well there's was like a remake of the actual song, right? It wasn't like you guys wrote a whole different song completely. It wasn't no, no. 7 (24m 48s): We covered their song. We covered the covered the 5 (24m 51s): One in addition to you and that in addition to you and I, okay, sorry, I got confused there cause I know you and I was on it and then you and I became this, the song that kept, you know, landing with other things. Right. So we had, 7 (25m 6s): Yeah, we didn't even plan that. We literally wrote that. We didn't even know if it's going to be on the record and ended up being on, you know, one of the, one of our favorite songs. So, 5 (25m 13s): So cool. That is crazy. That's crazy from there. Like what would you say the next milestone was within, within your career? 7 (25m 20s): Let's see, from there, I mean, we were like right on like work, surrender on that. So like from there we started getting place. TB Jersey shore was a big one for us. We got a lot of placements on that and I remember the super bowl they played like what the games begin on, like a Madden commercial one time. So like, it was like two or three years. We started getting a bunch of placements on, on our stuff. Yeah. Which was great. I mean, even to this day it still helps our place completely. So 5 (25m 50s): Yeah. 7 (25m 50s): Yeah. Absolutely. Man. It's not really. 5 (25m 54s): That's so rad though. That is, are they cause some like an LA television show was using it, right? Like wake up like some like morning show aren't they using your song? 7 (26m 3s): Yeah. I like good morning something. Or they use, they use something, man. There, there was a lot of placements and it's hard to keep up. And we were like, 5 (26m 11s): That's not like that. Doesn't still like it. I thought they just took that. They're like, oh, we're gonna use that every single time. 7 (26m 16s): No, that'd be dope if they did. They did not. They were just like, it's like a one-time plane thing. 5 (26m 23s): That's rad though. I mean, how, how cool to see yours? I mean, hear your songs on television shows and especially like Scooby-Doo type. I mean that that's, I mean, I couldn't even imagine 7 (26m 33s): My parents were so happy. It was the coolest thing, you know? So like we're seeing your music, you know, that your family back you up and support and see your music when they know I'm not looking for it, you know? It's cool. 5 (26m 48s): Well, tell me Danny, about you joining the band and how that came together. 8 (26m 53s): So the guys had taken some time off and then I guess they went in to do a record and just kind of dropped the self-titled record without any like real like promo or marketing or anything, just to kind of see if, if the fans were still out there and there was a really good response to the whole record. So they booked a tour and that's when they realized they needed a second guitarist. So they picked my brother up and he was like, yeah, of course, like go hit Danny up. And I just had a meeting with them and we just went over some songs and they immediately clicked. 8 (27m 36s): We did the tour and everything went really well. And it was just kind of set him down after that, that everything worked. And I, they kind of were like, yeah, you have a permanent spot in here if you want it. Wow. After that tour was where, you know, I started to get a little bit more into like production and just song writing and, and trying to write as many demos as possible to gear up for anything in the future. And, and I don't know, it's been great. 5 (28m 10s): That's what were you up to like getting that phone call? I mean, were you just hanging out and working in Phoenix? 8 (28m 18s): Yeah, at the time I was just, you know, working, I was working a couple or I was working a serving job and working another job in a nightclub and I had just taken a break from school. I was going to ASU and then like I had to pay something off before I could go back to class. And I was like, well, I can't afford that right now. So I'm just going to work and maybe take some community college classes or something, figure out how to tie this together. And then this opportunity came in and I was like, well, you know, this is what I've always wanted to do more than anything. 8 (28m 59s): And so I'm going to do this tour. We're going to see what happens. I get the permanent position. And that's why I'm kinda like, all right. I'm like, I really love being a part of this and, and getting to play guitar in front of audiences is really all I've ever wanted out of life. So I'm going to take this opportunity and pour everything into it and see where this goes, because I can't necessarily wait. Like I can always go back to school if that's something that I want to do, but I can't wait until I'm 40 and be like, I'm going to start a rock thing. 5 (29m 34s): They call Slade. You're like, you still need a guitar player, boy. Wow. That's cool. That must've been such a huge phone call though, to see these guys, you know, and be like, oh my gosh, their band is doing these huge things and you're watching their music video. And now they're calling me to join the band. Like what year? 8 (29m 55s): Yeah. I mean, it was, it was really cool because it started as like, like I, at the time I was doing a lot of like hired gun guitar work where I was just like playing for different pop artists for their shows. And that was fun and all, but there was never anyone that I was like, particularly super into their music. Like it was, it was all good and whatnot, but it wasn't just like my vibe. And so getting to join the band for this tour was awesome, but I never had, like, I didn't really have my hopes up of like, oh, this is going to be a permanent thing until like, I don't know, later on the tour and just all of us like connecting better. 8 (30m 39s): And, and once it became a permanent thing, I was like, wow, this is just, you know, 5 (30m 45s): With that Toro. Was that the first story you had ever been on? I mean, you said you played guitar like a hired gun. Were you a hired gun for artists that were on the road? 8 (30m 54s): No, it was mostly for local stuff or like one-off shows, but yeah, that was my first like real tour. 5 (31m 4s): I mean, these guys have been doing it for awhile. Was there, it was that interesting. I must have been, 8 (31m 10s): Oh yeah. I mean, crazy. There's such a, there's a learning curve to, because it's just a completely different life, but it was so exciting and it was just so much fun. You have the whole like aspect of comradery and inside jokes and all that kind of stuff. And like, I remember how the first, not the first show I think was in Philadelphia. And then it was like the second or third show was in Brooklyn and I would get on stage and it's like, I can't hear shit in my monitor. Like I can't hear my guitar at all. And I think I like said something into the microphone and between a song to the sound guy. 8 (31m 59s): And like, after that Slade and my drummer were like, don't you ever fucking do that again? What are you doing, man? And I was like, I didn't know. Cause most of my experience was like, you know, I was playing a lot of like covers and like cover bands and fucking, you know, whatever, just all sorts of stuff that wasn't as high stakes, I guess. And it was just like, stuff like that. It was like funny little learning curve moments, but everybody 5 (32m 28s): The code, you don't, you don't, you don't like yell at the sound guy. 7 (32m 35s): When you go see your favorite band, you see them between songs on, Hey man, can I get more a guitar? My knowing you don't know, maybe as a local artist. It's okay. When there's, you know, 15 kids, they're like, Hey man, can I get more money? But nobody wants to hear you talk or like, say, unless it's about the show. So it's just not professional to be like came in more monitor. 5 (32m 56s): Well, that makes sense. I didn't, I didn't ever thought of it that way, but that's a great point. Obviously. I'm not a touring musician. 8 (33m 4s): Yeah, it was, it was honestly, it was just something slate had said something along the lines of like, you know, something goes wrong, you just got to fucking roll with it. Like you just gotta deal 5 (33m 16s): With it. You know, you don't want to draw attention to it. I was like, 8 (33m 21s): Damn rock and roll. 5 (33m 26s): Oh, that's funny. Okay. So you got you get back from the tour and that was the, you put that record out independently. Didn't did you guys play that 15 years? Okay. And then you did another EAP. That was also self-funded yeah, 8 (33m 40s): Yeah. 5 (33m 41s): That one then Danny at that point. 8 (33m 42s): Yeah, that was the first thing that I wrote on. Okay. So it was, what am I a three spellings on it was just called VEP. And so that was like my first experience of like writing full songs with the band and, and it was really cool. And then you can, it's kind of like a really cool thing over this little chapter of the band of, since, whenever I joined is like, you can hear some difference in the sound and we were all kind of trying to go for like trying to test out new things and different vibes. And so there's like a progression from the EAP to them, the Tangerine Napi. 8 (34m 26s): And now our new record where you can kind of see this shift of where we took, we kind of like developed our formula for songwriting and like grew an affinity for different production tools instead of just, just straight up like guitar, bass, drums, vocals, you know, we got into more stuff, but I think it's really cool about the new record is we combined like the history of every kind of sound that Anarbor has been on too long. 5 (34m 55s): And was that like, was that your first time recording in a studio too? Or hadn't done that? 8 (34m 60s): Yeah. I had recorded a bunch of stuff for like various artists pop singers. Aren't these smears could pop artist. 5 (35m 7s): Okay. So you aren't new to that world. It's just new to writing together as a band. And now it's just the two of you. Right. Okay. So when does that transition happen? 7 (35m 20s): Yeah. So let's see, after that EAP, we got any, what did we do? We do, we had a tour, so we were looking for it. 8 (35m 32s): We did a tour too. And then we decided to go in to do a record. Chan did all the pre-production had like 10 song ideas or whatever, like had the things fleshed out. Right. And then we just kind of realized like we weren't ready for it. And the record itself, like the songs just weren't as perfect as they should be for a record. And we just kinda took a break for like a year ish and then a slate. And I just started meeting up again, just writing songs, just for fun, just to mess around and see what happens. And 5 (36m 9s): So the band kind of took a little hiatus there after the record. You didn't know what year was that in? 8 (36m 15s): Ooh, so that must have been like 2019, 7 (36m 22s): Because Colvin was like right after we also had a temporary drummer who he took his life so that we had to take another break after that. 5 (36m 30s): I did see that that's so horrible. 7 (36m 33s): So which has been, you know, getting through these obstacles, but you know, it's in COVID and stuff, but taking them, taking a target channel. 5 (36m 43s): Yeah. That's, that's where I was kind of going with it as far as COVID habits so that you, you guys decided to take a break and then COVID hits right. Two and beginning of 2020. And then do you have more time to at this point and be like, okay, let's just the two of us let's figure out what's next to 8 (36m 59s): Yeah. So we, like, we took that break and then a year or so after slate and I started meeting up just to write and stuff and like, you know, checking out offers of stuff that we're getting. And you know, we had this offer to go do a two month tour in Europe and it ended up falling through because of COVID. So like COVID started. And we were like, Hey, it's not that bad. Like, well, we're not going to have to cancel this tour. We'll be back in two weeks, every few days go by. And you're like, this is definitely not going to happen. And so we were like, well, what do we do? How do we keep this going? And so we just started doing live streams at my house and of us just like writing demos that are playing songs acoustic or whatever we could do to like kind of stay relevant a little bit. 2 (37m 50s): And if fitness now through March 16th and get the PF black card for zero enrollment in 2299 a month, you'll enjoy an upgraded experience with tons of perks, 3 (37m 59s): Like access to more than 2000 locations, worldwide, super soothing hydro massage chairs. Yes. Can I bring a friend every time? Can my friend to be a horse? 2 (38m 10s): Nah, sorry. Get the PF black card and feel fit. Acular zero enrollment, 2299 a month deal. Smart 16, see club for details. 8 (38m 19s): And then we ended up writing a bunch of demos, some of those on live streams and wow. We were like, let's put something out. And so we put the Tangerine P out just so we could have some things everybody's bored at home, nothing do where like let's most likely nobody was releasing music at the time. So we were like, let's just put something out songs that we know that are really good. And we can then write a whole new record. So 5 (38m 49s): I'm curious with those like live stream writing sessions, did fans chime in and were you like interacting with them as the song was read? 8 (38m 56s): Yeah. It's like, well, should we write this song about, and like, they would give us ideas or like cool little lines that we would, you know, Morphin 7 (39m 5s): Record. 8 (39m 7s): Yeah. One of them made the record. It really? Yeah. We like laid down some keys and like made this cool little demo and, and yeah, I think actually like the verse and the pre-chorus are still the same as the demo that we, 5 (39m 26s): And somebody, it was just people just chiming in what would be like, oh, that'd be cool. 8 (39m 30s): Yeah. We, we ended up writing a song where like, what's it like, you know, like love relationships and quarantine or whatever. And we just wrote some silly demo called quarantine lover and then, and then eventually it shifted. And, you know, we took it to a studio with our producer, Matt Keller and rewrote the chorus. And it turned into honestly, one of my favorite songs on the record. 5 (39m 57s): That's so cool. And when did you start putting the record together? I did see you guys. You signed with what? One RPM and in 20 22, 20 22, but 2020 also as well, like in the, that, how did that all happen? Was it, were you guys working and doing these live streams when this was, when that deal was being negotiated or, 8 (40m 22s): Sorry, go ahead. Slate 7 (40m 24s): Was just, we just had like a new kind of, I guess, management come in and kind of pitch more stuff to us to keep us active. And one of them was good friends with one RPM. So we had a couple of conversations and they seem to be really interested and we're going to work really hard for us. So we mutually just connected pretty well. 5 (40m 42s): That's rad. So then now, okay now you're yeah. And you're signed to the record label, you're working on the new album and then you've released drugs, which is the most recent one, correct? Yeah. All right. Tell me about that song. I love the video. It's like MTV. Like it reminds me of that. 8 (40m 60s): It's like exactly what we were going for. 5 (41m 4s): It's like nineties MTV. Yeah. 8 (41m 7s): So let's see. October of 2018, we went out to Los Angeles just to do some writing sessions that some friends of ours had set up. Cause we don't, we never really did any writing sessions with other people before it was kind of always in-house stuff. So sort of like, yeah, let's go try it out. We wrote a bunch of songs and, and then was like the day that Slade had to leave and I was going to stay in Los Angeles for a couple of days and I did one other writing session and that's kind of where drugs was born, this like demo. 8 (41m 47s): And, you know, basically sat on it for years because we knew, we knew that that was going to be the first single of a new record someday. We just had no idea what that was going to come. And so like when we, you know, when we were talking about doing the Tangerine AP, we're like, yep, we got to save drugs for, 5 (42m 9s): Yeah. Obviously you sitting in 20 18, 20 19. So you saved that one and wrote what new songs for Tangerine. And now you revisit that one and write a record. Right. 8 (42m 19s): Okay. So, yeah. And cause we just knew it was going to be, we knew that song was going to serve to be like the center of whatever the new record is and kind of help define some of the sound and the whole direction. And so we held onto it and then we, you know, took it to our producer, Matt Keller and, and just hammered away at it. Sped it up a little bit, added some cooler sounds the whip crack, which is like my favorite part of the song. And yeah. So like when I went to that writing session, it was weird. 8 (42m 59s): Cause I was like, ah, okay, I got to write a song, but I kind of got to write it from Slade's point of view in a way or something, but he's not here. And I was just thinking about what was going on in our lives at the time. Like I was, I was at the very beginning stage of a new relationship and Slade was at like the end stage of another relationship. So it was like this weird contrast and comparison of like those extreme emotions that you get from love. And it's like all the really good and amazing and exciting things that you experienced when you first meet someone and all that kind of stuff. But then also like, you know, years down the road, some of the crazy shit you might say to each other or like all that kind of stuff. 8 (43m 47s): And so it was this thing on like highs and lows and we're, I was just like, well, what else does that? Oh, drugs Dennis. That, so it just became this whole song about how like being in a relationship at times makes you feel like you're on drugs. Whether it's like, you, you feel like you're tripping and having a wonderful time or you're like having withdrawal and you're, you know, all that kind of stuff 5 (44m 13s): Right on that's. Yeah. That's a great, it's a great song. And is that kind of the direction for the record then? That sound, I mean, there's, there's the wrong song. Okay. There's some rock songs that you said there's some rock 7 (44m 31s): Songs there, but I mean, it's mostly a pop record. I'd say there's a lot of alternative stuff. And now that Danny's in, we've definitely been experiments and it was more like sounds and stuff. So he's definitely added like a new kind of fresh sound to the band. 5 (44m 44s): I love it. I mean, as long as the dope and I can't wait to hear the rest of the record. What about playing live? Like you did what? A show in December. Yes. Okay. What was that like? Was that your first show back as like an adequate 19? 7 (45m 4s): Yeah, go ahead. Duty. 8 (45m 6s): We did one show back in March that ended up laying like it was supposed to be, everybody was seated and have a mask and all that kind of stuff like social distancing. But then that, the day of that show was when the governor of Arizona announced that the mass mandate was gone. So it was like this weird kind of thing. And some people were seated in mass and some people were like, eh, who cares anymore? And it like, it was, it was a weird environment, but December show was our first one back. That was like a pretty normal real show. And, and that was really cool. 5 (45m 48s): Are you, are you going to, I would imagine you support the new stuff you have coming out. Do you have anything planned? 8 (45m 56s): We don't have anything in the books just yet, but we are talking to a bunch of people about a bunch of different things that we want to put together. We're just trying to make sure we do everything right. And plan it correctly and make sure whatever it is that it's like in accordance with that local areas, laws. Cause you know, we've, we've watched so many of our friends and, and other bands like, look these tours and start them and go three, four dates in and then have to cancel and all that kind of stuff. So, so we were like, let's just not rush into anything and figure it out so we can do it properly and really get back out there. So. 5 (46m 34s): Awesome. Well, I cannot wait. Hopefully I moved to Nashville in the, in the midst of this pandemic pandemic. So hopefully you'll make your way out this way. I don't know if you've played here before, but 8 (46m 45s): We love Nashville. 5 (46m 48s): That's awesome. Hopefully you'll be back soon and I appreciate your time. This has been awesome. And thank you slate for being here even though you're at Disneyland. 7 (46m 55s): Sorry. I hope you could hear the what stuff I was saying. We check out of a room at noon. So I'm like, shit, I'm going to try to find a quiet spot. Not good enough. I apologize. 5 (47m 6s): Oh dude, this has been awesome. I love my favorite thing about zoom calls and all this stuff is, is that moment that you're doing right now? Like people like that, your fans are going to be like, whoa, this is so rad. He's just like wandering around Disneyland. Like what are like the behind the curtain. Most everybody it's so rad. I dunno. I think it's so cool. You look at 7 (47m 29s): That and then like a little note, but I'm at Disneyland resort. We're here. 5 (47m 35s): That's so awesome. Well, I, again, I appreciate you both doing this. One more quick question for you both. If you own it, if you have any advice for aspiring artists, 7 (47m 45s): Ooh, don't give up and trust your trust, your gut. You know, because a lot of people will take advice from people that don't really matter. And honestly, some of the best songs I've written are going to be from my first instinct. So always trust your gut and always do what you think is going to sound best. That's my opinion. 8 (48m 3s): Yeah. I would say just do it every day. You know, log as much time you can Intuit and like don't, don't get yourself down as some of the stuff you do stocks. Cause a lot of the first things that you do, I'm going to suck. We have written a lot of, a lot of bad songs and then eventually some good ones. So that's how you get the good stuff is by sifting through the bad stuff,