Hey everyone! So about a week and a half ago, I sat down with Logan Van Epps, lead singer of Rochester's own So Last Year. This was one of my favorite interviews so far, and I learned so much, so thanks Logan! (Assuming you're reading!)
There's a new interview format this time, with some new levels of questions in order to help some people out. I got a ton of feedback asking for more information about getting into the industry in interviews, as well as more information about the scene in Roc specifically. Each section will be split up so you can skip around: there's band-specific questions, Rochester scene-specific questions, and general industry questions. Here we go!
BAND
Members and their roles:
Logan Van Epps- Keys, Vocals, Songwriting, General artistic vision. He writes and records everything himself, and is responsible for financing So Last Year.
Jon Stowell- Guitar
Jay Hewitt- Lead guitar
Curtis Matteson- Bass
Jake LeMaglio- Drums
When were you founded?
"One of our more popular songs, 'Chase the Wind,' is actually over 10 years old, and I started recording 3 years ago, but the album officially released last August. So I guess that's when I would say we were founded: when we actually released the album and started playing shows."
Where did the name come from?
His first band name was his father's idea (Inneriot), but his mom was actually the one to come up with So Last Year, and the meaning of the name has two facets according to Logan.
"She wanted to have a band for herself, and I stole it from her. ... Because I knew I could get use out of it and I was serious about it. The name is kind of a cliche in and of itself, and that reflects the pop side and playfulness of the music. But I also believe that every moment could be the end of your rope, so my worldview is that we're kind of living at the end of an era so to speak. So the name has a playful and serious connotation that reflects the music, because it's quirky, but it also has a theatrical element. "
How would you describe your sound?
So Last Year is "rock 'n roll, riddled with guitar solos and full of piano, influenced by musical theater, R&B and progressive rock." But after starting out with that definition, Logan decided that was too much of a mouthful. So here's take two: "So Last Year is rock 'n roll, but more on the pop-punk side, and it has strong elements of musical theater and soul undertones."
"I just try to keep it interesting, honestly. I like to add a lot of groove and soul into my music, which makes it a bit different I think."
Who are your influences?
The first band that captivated Logan growing up was Coheed and Cambria, through their sound and creativity. When it comes to SLY musically, he says most people say they sound like Coheed and Cambria, Anberlin or Relient K... somewhere in there. Vocally, they compare to most of the same, adding in a little bit of Michael Jackson.
What makes you different from other local bands?
"We're not screaming! I say that as kind of a joke, because Rochester has such a brutal, heavy scene. If you're not doing metal, hardcore, punk or the like, then.... well I mean that's the majority of the scene. That makes us different locally. I think what makes us different overall is the theatrical element and the idea that there's a story line that's threaded through. There's puzzle pieces that you'll find throughout the music and eventually you'll get the whole picture. Hopefully one day I'll get to complete it. Also, I also take a lot of pride in my singing. I think that rock tends to focus more on energy rather than just being a good singer sometimes. I look up to people like Michael Jackson, Usher... just guys that really know how to nail down vocals, so when I write, I write around the vocals and I put a lot of focus on that. I think that makes us different because so many other bands focus on energy, composition, guitar, making music heavy or making music you want to punch people to... so I think my music is very different because it's very vocal-oriented. Also... there's a guitar solo in like every song, so."
What's coming up for you?
MUSIC-- They released their first full length album last year, and released the extended edition last spring. With the extended edition, they had 17 songs out. Now, Logan is in studio recording his next full length album, which should total around eleven tracks. It should be out next spring/summer.
SHOWS-- November 16th, WBER Local Show
December 9th, Bug Jar
December 21st, Lovin' Cup
Are any of you involved in any other projects at the moment?
"A lot of the themes for So Last Year are a part of a rock opera that I'm working on at the moment. Some of the songs are actually scenes from a play talking about deeper issues, so that's the more serious side of the band. There's a story line in the things that I'm doing. My drummer is in a hardcore band called Sideline and my bass player and rhythm guitarist both have side projects that they dabble in."
LOCAL SCENE
How would you describe the music scene in Rochester from your point of view?
"It's a very heavy town and when I was growing up, it was something I was really attracted to. I've done a lot of research into demographics and whatnot, and I've found that New York as a state is pretty heavy compared to Pennsylvania or down South or even the Midwest. So I think that's a New York thing... I don't know if has to do with the snow or what. There's a really big metal scene, a huge underground punk scene and a pretty big folk scene. There's also a hip hop scene. There's definitely a ton going on, Rochester's a very musical place because of Eastman and everything. With all of the colleges here in general, there's a lot of kids here. There's also the fact that Rochester has a TON of venues compared to other cities, like I could name at least a dozen right off the top of my head, which is really cool. There's always a million open mics going on all week. But as far as rock and where I am in the scene, the bands that are in the middle of the road doing pop punk are definitely there, but it's not as obvious. You have to go out and find them."
What are some of the pros/cons of being where you are in the local music scene?
He and his childhood friend Jon were in a church band growing up and by the time they were 18/19 they had a lot of music written and no decent band to play out with it. So they recorded their music, and found a band later, once they were 20/21. Logan says that's one of their disadvantages: playing out and being active when you're younger is really important, and he doesn't feel as though he did enough of that, and it becomes a limitation.
"Music, business and life is all about knowing people. So when you get a late start and you're trying to form those relationships and get those experiences, it puts you at a disadvantage."
What are some challenges you've faced being based in Rochester? Do you think you would have benefited from being in a different city?
"That's an interesting question that I've actually thought about quite a bit. I think on the surface it's very easy to say that if you were in a city with more music like the music I'm making it would be easier. But on the other side, the fact that there are more bands like you means there's more competition. I think anywhere you go, whatever you're trying to do, it's going to be hard work. If I was in a city like that, then I'd just be competing with similar bands. Nothing is easy about music. You have to work hard."
Are there any other local bands that you find you play shows with a lot or that you collaborate with?
So Last Year actually mentors another local band called Nerds in Denial. They're young, pretty much just graduating high school, and just starting out. They're an indie funk band that are really unique, and So Last Year gives them advice and plays shows with them from time to time.
GENERAL INDUSTRY
How do you pay for things like studio time, practice space and other marketing expenses?
"WE don't. I do. At the end of the week, I pay everything, that's just my life. It's part of the yin and yang of writing your own music. You can't possibly have this vision that you want to have musically and then expect other people to pay for it, that's stupid. I'm not complaining! That's just how it is."
What would you look for in someone you might take on tour with you for management/merch?
"The first thing you instinctively look for is someone with your own level of experience. I think it's super important to have someone you get along with. At this level you're not going to be making a lot of money, the shows probably aren't going to be that great and it's going to be rough. We toured around New England last year, which was really fun... it's great if you're with people you get along with."
Do you book your own shows/ tours? What was your experience like and what advice would you give?
"The most important thing that somebody every told me was Dave Sieling who runs RT Booking: He said, "The most valuable resource as a band is your audience." If you can tell a band that you'll bring them in for a show in your town in front of your audience if they'll do the same for you, then that's great. Then you're swapping guarantees and you don't have to deal with promoters. It's an honor thing. It's a good way to approach booking, but you have to be careful, because people are people and they don't always honor it. It's risky, But I would definitely recommend it if you're a new band. At this point I do book everything local and my manager books out of town stuff and festival stuff. My manager basically does the odd things I can't do. Booking and running your own shows is integral to understanding other bands but at the end of the day if you're good enough and you have someone who wants to work with you, do that. There were things that I tried that I couldn't do but my manager stepped in and he did it."
How has new technology affected your experience as a band? Has it helped or hurt you?
"On a macro-level, the idea that media and entertainment is more accessible has hurt any type of artist; anyone in any artistic profession will tell you that. The idea of going to a show or sitting down and taking the time to listen to and appreciate a record, versus now I can just stream it while I'm jogging takes the reverence away from what music used to be. That doesn't mean all is lost, it just means that people have shifted. It's trickier. Social media is now integral for pretty much every band. you have to use everything and be everywhere, because you'll find different types of people on each social media site you're on."
What other advice do you have about the industry that didn't fit under any of the other questions?
"If you're doing this on your own, without a manager or anything, hunker down and put the work in. Watch lectures, and do your research... read as much as you can. Music is one thing, but music business is a whole other animal and if you think that you're going to run your band just being a good musician, you're out of your mind. Being successful is a 40/60. It's 40% being talented and entertaining and 60% being smart, having connections and being educated. If you're trying to run your own band and you think you can escape from music business, from experience I will tell you that you're 100% wrong. You need to invest the time. Anything you want to do, if you really want to do something then you'll invest the time. You read up on things, you spend time on the internet, you listen to people, you talk to people and you learn from them. One of the best things I did was I would go up to people who looked like they knew what they were doing and just let them talk. I'd sit there for like an hour and a half and listen and then spit out the bones after. I'd see where they were coming and learn from them. You CAN get far doing things on your own but learning from other people's mistakes is huge. You'll have a more rounded knowledge of what to do and what not to do. You need to be really serious, and you need to focus. Make it into a discipline. Being successful in music is less about being super talented or attractive or connected, and really more about being smart and knowing the business and understanding how things work. ... or you're screwing a guy with money. And if you're doing that you're definitely going to get places. But for the rest of us who don't have boobs, you have to approach it with the knowledge that the business side of things is just as important if not more important than what you're doing musically."
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Check out So Last Year on their social networks!
xx
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