Interviews: Southstate

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Pop Punk band Southstate from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

The band name actually comes from the name of a gymnastics competition. South State is a Texas competition between gyms in the south of the state (because the state is so big, they have to have regional competitions within the state). We really liked the simple alliteration and elegance of the name, and it’s a bit of a dig at other pop-punk bands with faux-artsy sports names. 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We play a mix of pop and emo. That kind of comes naturally to us because a lot of our formative years were spent listening to those genres; they’re kind of ingrained into us. Sam (bass) really likes bedroom pop, so he writes a lot of sections with a modern, lofi pop influence. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

We’ve been friends for a long, long time. We’ve all played in different bands together (s/o the DTCR homies) and been really close friends for a while. In our opinion, it’s important that the band vibes together in a positive way, which is something good friends do well. 

4. Each band member favorite band?

I think our collective favorite band is probably Grayscale. Brady loves Chevelle, Travis loves Breaking Benjamin, and Sam loves Fall Out Boy with an intense, undying passion.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I think a lot of our inspiration comes from our personal lives. I know a lot of bands invent scenarios and characters for their songs, but that’s just not really how we work. Sam writes a lot of the lyrics as poems first; as we work on the music, the poems blossom into more defined and structured songs. 

6. Where was your last gig?

We actually haven’t played a single gig as a band yet! We’re currently working on booking a tour for March, after we release our EP, through the Southwest United States, so I guess that will be our first show. That sort of stems from our hesitation to be a ‘local’ band. They get a bad rap for playing shows before they have the rest of the business aspects in order, so we wanted to get all of our ducks in a row before we started stomping stages. 

7. Where would you like to act?

I could see us in an episode of Miami Vice. Travis and Brady would be the cops and Sam would be the villain. We’d all have poorly fitting toupes and wear our floral print shirts with the chest WIDE open. (did I mention extravagant Cuban-link chains?) 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

ISSUES (the amazing djent-funk-pop fusion band). Issues, please let us feature as part of the background vocals on your next track. If you did that, we could die happy and move on to the eternally thrilled afterlife of folks who have been a part of an Issues song.

9. Whom not?

Whom not is an excellent question. We would never feature on an Atilla song. First off, we don’t have that kind of massive personality. Secondly, we’d lose all our sad boy, emo street cred. No hate to Fronzilla or the other guys, but we’re just too emo to feature on a metal track. 

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Actually, that’s a really good question. I think a little bit of stage fright is normal, but I (Sam) have personally suffered quite a bit from stage fright. My legs would shake so badly I could barely stand up and I wouldn’t be able to breathe while I was playing because I was hyperventilating so much. One of the things that really helped me was exposure, which just meant playing a lot of shows. In my old band, we ended up playing a show every night for almost two years. That helped me with the physical symptoms, but a lot of what helps me cope with it now is being mindful of that anxiety and learning how to help myself cope.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

We’ve mentioned some of our musical influences earlier, but what really inspires us to do what we do are the smaller rock bands that gig out of an older Ford E150 (with the passenger seating, of course). They play shoes every night, they appreciate the people who care about them, and they are alright with passion for their craft. Watching those guys hustle the way they do, for what they believe in, is a huge inspiration. 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

People asking us to sign body parts. That’s just the strangest thing, especially when it’s a body part that should really be covered up by clothing. Like, no. Put your clothes back on and go buy a cd. We’d be happy to sign that instead. 

13. What do you think of your fans? 

We love our friends. I mean our fans. Our fans are really sweet and make us feel exceptional, especially on social media. It really shows that people care when they take time out of their busy lives to listen and share their thoughts about your art.  

14. What do you think of our site?

Breathing the Core is the BEST music blog on the web today.

15. Something add?

Thanks for interviewing us, and please add us to your Spotify playlist when our song drops on 10/31!