Interviews: Hyperspace

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Pop Punk band, Hyperspace 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, did you plan it, or came out just like that?

Jason, our frontman (guitars and vocals), had always wanted a band name that referenced Star Wars. When he met with Ryan (drums) and David (original bass player) to form the band, everyone was keen on starting with a fresh name. So basically, the pitch to choose a Star Wars-related name was accepted and the band went through an entire list of 75-100 names (as seen in our book) and Hyperspace won the battle. It was Star Wars related and it sounded vague enough that we could pretty much play any genre of music and not have to change the name.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Jason: I was a big fan of Green Day and Weezer. When I heard Weezer singing about Kitty Pryde and the X-men, I thought (to my knowledge at the time) no one is singing rock songs about Star Wars. I want to start a punk band that does. 

Ryan: When the SoCal pop-punk scene exploded in the '90s, combining that with Top Skater and Tony Hawk's Pro-Skater line of video games, I instantly gravitated towards faster, distorted sounding music.

Kayvan: I've been a longtime fan of punk over the years but I also like different things; I'm not particular to any specific genre. That being said, when I was looking through Craigslist and came across the band's advertisement describing themselves as pop-punk Star Wars nerds needing a bass player - how could I resist? 3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? Only briefly in that Jason and Ryan met each other over a Craigslist ad looking to form a band and the name was chosen soon afterward; we didn't know each other before that. Same thing with Kayvan; we've had a couple of bass players over the years before Kayvan joined, but everyone was pretty much a new face.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Jason: I tend to switch the bands I'm into over time, but one band I've been riding or dying on is Superdrag.

Ryan: For me, it really depends on my mood. One week it's Local H, the next it's Pennywise. There's guilty pleasures like Linkin Park, and Dashboard Confessional. Sometimes I just want to chill, that's when I turn to artists like Boards Of Canada, Air, or Thievery Corporation.

Kayvan: It's impossible to designate one favorite. I get into different sounds and different forms of music, and I rarely like every single record or song that anyone puts out. I guess if I had to pick one mainstay, it would probably be Black Sabbath.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Jason: Inspiration comes from everywhere and anywhere for me. It could be a movie, a song by another band, a video game, or sometimes it's just a thought - hey, no one has written a song about this subject before. But other times it just comes out of nowhere. If we start playing a riff or Ryan is messing around with a drum beat, I just start playing some chords and singing whatever comes to mind. 

Kayvan: It really depends. Sometimes it's from whatever I'm reading or just the quiet of night when it's just me and my thoughts. Sometimes it's from people I've known that have passed. Most of the time I just pick up the guitar or bass at night and riffs or lines come out and it becomes something. I always say that I like to let the song "write itself," in that I don't fight ideas as they come or try to fit them into some kind of box. I've never liked the idea of painting oneself into the corner, so to speak.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our most recent show was on October 21st at the Inner Space, which is located in Underground Atlanta in the back portion of an artist's studio. There seems to be a whole new section of little artist galleries there with different things going on, and there have been other shows there too. The dumpsters outside were pretty fierce, but we had a fun show with Motorloaf and Genki Genki Panic on the bill!

7. Where would you like to perform?

Jason: I'm happy with playing almost of any venue we can.

Ryan: I'm really itching for a West Coast tour. Definitely on my bucket list! 

Kayvan: Anywhere; I'm not picky. We've done clubs and bars and some conventions, but I always thought it would be kind of fun to do something different like an Unplugged kind of thing, and maybe even professionally record that. It might be fun to play at Gilman in California one day, for the hell of it.

8. Whom would you like to perform with?

Jason: I would be stoked if we could tour with or play a show with Superdrag, Ozma, or Nerf herder.

Ryan: Anyone signed to Fat Wreck Chords.

Kayvan: Just about anyone, really.

9. Whom not?

Jason: I don't want to play with a band that's homophobic, sexist, or racist. Ryan: GG Allin cover bands.

Kayvan: I have no interest in performing with some crazy racist band, but beyond that, I'm happy to play a show with almost anyone.

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

Jason: I get nervous every time we play a show. It gets easier the more shows we play and it helps if I'm in the room a lot before our performance. If I just walk out on stage and play that brings my anxiety levels way up.

Ryan: When I was younger, I used to practice my drums to albums that were recorded live, like NOFX's "I Heard They Suck Live!!" to better adapt to a live audience. YouTube has a ton of live performances, "first person" drum cams one could easily set up while practicing to give a sense of playing to a live audience. 

Kayvan: Absolutely. For years I allowed stage fright to get the better of me, but I found the best remedy is building a high degree of confidence in one's playing abilities and material. You'll be okay if you know a song inside and out and can play it without thinking about it. Aside from that, just keep going out on the stage and putting yourself in front of others; it does get better with time.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Jason: Weezer, Green Day, Nerf Herder, Nirvana, Superdrag, Matthew Sweet, Fountains of Wayne, Hot Water Music, Fugazi, and Ozma.

Ryan: Unwritten Law, Goldfinger, Hum, Blink 182, Rancid, NOFX, Local H, The Atari's, Social Distortion, Bad Religion.

Kayvan: That's really tough to answer because so many bands have inspired me over the years. In the very beginning, it was Black Sabbath and Metallica. I was enthralled with death metal for a long time, and Death (Chuck Schuldiner) was and still is an inspiration. As far as punk goes, Blitz's "Voice of a Generation" was a huge one for me. The same goes for pre-Rollins Black Flag and of course Misfits. Agnostic Front and Shelter. But I've also drawn a lot of inspiration from melodic guys like Peter Hook (Joy Division) and Simon Gallup (The Cure) and of course Sir Paul McCartney. I can go on and on and on.

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

Jason: I haven't gotten any strange requests personally, maybe Ryan or Kayvan have had one.

Ryan: Definitely haven't hit that level of stardom - yet.

Kayvan: Ha...I haven't reached that level of rockstar debauchery just yet! No one has really asked me anything too weird. Maybe to sign something for them? It always feels weird if someone asks me or all people to sign something. Totally happy to do it though.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Jason: We love our fans! We're so thankful they care enough to listen to our music and attend our concerts.

Ryan: I'm thankful for anyone willing to come to watch and support us!

Kayvan: I think anyone that takes the time to listen to our music or come to our shows and gawk at the artwork...anyone that takes time out of their life for us and finds value in what we do, I love 'em. I'm so incredibly appreciative of that. Eternally grateful.

14. What do you think of our site?

Jason: It's a cool site and we're happy you wanted to interview us.

Kayvan: Breathing The Core looks like it has a lot of great material on it. Anyone that includes a wide variety of metal, and punk, and invites Nintendocore to the party is a-okay with me! Looks like a good place to dig through bands I'm not familiar with.

15. Something to add?

Jason: We're currently working on new material and hope to record and release it later this year. We're also booking shows and will announce those soon.

Kayvan: Sincere thanks for the interview and interest! Thanks to anyone who's made it this far!