Here is an interview with New York City punk band Everything Ever with the members Trotta and dNo.
– What’s new in the world of Everything Ever?
(Trotta) Right now, our main focus is putting the finishing touches on new music we’re working on. We’re heading into the studio in January to record a new EP, so prepping for that has taken up most of our time. We’re recording it live which can be expensive and time consuming if you’re not prepared, so we’re trying to be on point.
– How was it recording your video for “Big Ideas”?
(dNo) It was cold. We love working with our friends at Backslash Bomb Productions. They love pizza and bagels.
(Trotta) I got a pretty serious rash from the sweater I wore that day, so that sucked. The
– How important are music videos in the industry today? How do they compare to videos from 20 years ago?
(Trotta) I think they’re as important as ever. A lot of people argue that videos lost their importance when the internet killed music TV shows, but YouTube is the most popular place to discover new music, and a good music video can get spread around pretty quickly. It absolutely trumps any music-only streaming service, and it’s only getting more use as new content gets created. A good video could be the difference maker in someone sharing the song.
– Everything Ever is hitting the road this December with Bad Timing Records band ROMP and The Blithdale Romance. What type of effort goes into a tour like this with all the bands?
(Trotta) Scheduling is usually tough. Most of the people in all the bands on tour either go to school or work full time, so dates for a tour can change a hundred times before any shows are booked.
– Could you describe what goes on in a day in your life as a musician on tour?
(dNo) There is a lot of driving. We find a local vegan place to eat if we have money. We meet up with the other bands and any friends we have in town and try to do touristy stuff. I smoke weed. We do a vocal warm-up before every set.
– How important is merchandising? Could artists survive without?
(dNo) I suppose it’s really important. Artists can barely survive WITH merchandising. The least bands can do is put a personal touch on the stuff they sell.
– Without social media could bands today manage to survive?
(dNo) Good bands don’t have to be good at social media and bands that are good at social media can be bad at being a band.
(Trotta) Yeah, if you have amazing PR haha. Some bands don’t have social media and use it as their angle for publicity. Look at Parquet Courts, they update their Facebook once a year and don’t have twitter or Instagram, and they’re getting huge. Most bands can’t pull that off, though.
– What would be some of your main musical influences today?
(dNo) I’ve been really inspired by the lyrics on Kendrick Lamar’s album To Pimp a Butterfly, as well as old Wu Tang. Musically, I think I modeled the format and dynamics of this EP after something The Motorcycle Industry or Perfect Attendance would write.
– What would we be surprised to find in your music collection at home?
(dNo) People are usually surprised that I love Ariana Grande and Alanis Morisette. It’s sexist of them to be surprised by that, but whatever. Between the Buried and Me, Metallica, The Darkness, the B-52s. Jazz stuff, mostly the musicians that surrounded the late sax player Michael Brecker.
– Any words of wisdom to share with aspiring artists?
(dNo) Quality is far more important than quantity and distance when it comes to touring. Don’t put too much stock in successful bands’ advice, because the industry is changing so much that anyone with any sustained success came up in a different world where things like extensive DIY touring were valued a lot differently.
(Trotta) Make the music you want to make. Don’t try to change your art because someone tells you that playing a different genre will make you more successful. I also echo what dNo said about quality over quantity. Work hard on playing locally, then graduate to regional touring. If you’re good, people will notice. Sometimes one show opening for a bigger band can do more than touring for 2 weeks and playing 12 shows.
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