"serve the servants" -Josh scogin
Location: House of Blues Sunset
Los Angeles, CA
Interviewed by: Grayson and Adrian
Video Recorded by: Jessica
Los Angeles, CA
Interviewed by: Grayson and Adrian
Video Recorded by: Jessica
Q: What is the significance of your band name '68?
A: It's actually a car. When I was younger, my dad and I worked a lot together on his '68. It was something that me and him really bonded over, so it's something I wanted to name the band to keep the positive thoughts and positive vibes.
Q: How did it feel to have your EP Midnight sell out overnight?
A: It felt good. On a scale of 1 to 2, I'd say 2. It was great. When it happened I was thinking, "Oh that's very nice. That people seem to be interested". Once it was sold out, it sold out obviously before people were able to get it, so there was this moment like a week before people got it in their hands where there was no feedback...so for this week I had this mentality for the first time ever, like "what if people hate this?" I don't necessarily write music for what I think people are going to like. I write music more so for what I like and what I want to hear...like what needs to be written. And hopefully people catch on...which is very nice for an artist. So, there was this weird week where I thought, "it sold out, it's done it's thing." But, there were no comments about it. So, that was a weird week for me because I've never really dealt with that. I just write things that mean a lot to me and are very real for me so that I don't have to put on a facade or fake anything live. It's all very passionate for me...It's easier to believe in what you're doing and hopefully people catch on.
Q: What are your plans for a full length album?
A: Hopefully in July. We've recorded it, and it's in its final stages of mastering now. So, hopefully it'll be out in July.
Q: How did you and your drummer meet each other?
A: Basically through the studio that we record all the records with. His older brother produces bands there, as well. We met because he was in a local band where I live. And, when I was with The Chariot, we played together several times. When I would produce a band in the studio, and if it was like a female artist or something, and we needed a drummer, we'd hire him because he was a really good drummer. So, when I started this band he was like the perfect person to ask. He's a good dude.
Q: How was the experience recording with Quiet Country Audio?
A: So, they set up a couple of cameras, and we jammed through our set. Like 3 songs I think, and that was it. We did everything live, and he mixed it. [And] they're going to release the video. It's loud. It's rowdy. It was live but with no audience...just me and the drummer. They mic'd everything, ran it through a mixer, and we just jammed. So, I guess they're going to release the video to show people. It's really interesting.
Q: Who is your favorite band to tour with?
A: There's a lot. I don't know about a favorite. But, I really enjoy a band that is cordial, friendly, and that we can get along with very well. So, I mean bands like Every Time I Die. I mean they're good friends. I've known them for like 13 or 14 years. So, yeah, I've toured with them a lot. But, anyone that's super nice and friendly. I like when I like the [band's] music. But, it's really nice when the band is friendly...The idea that they are easy to be around and every other bit is offstage. So, if they're not actually good dudes, it can make a tour very long.
Q: What are some causes that resonate with you?
A: I have a lot of things that I support and that mean a lot to me. A general broad answer would be poverty stricken people in different countries...anything where people are kind of born into something. It's kind of crazy to think about. They didn't make any mistakes [necessarily], they were just born into it...That's one of the things that's really close to my heart and that I support financially. I'd like to actually do more.
It's hard to think about and everyone deserves grace and everyone deserves mercy, and you know it's different when you make a bunch of mistakes and say, "Here, I am" versus not having done any of that and now saying "Here, I am". Sometimes, that's something that is very hard for me to wrap my head around.
A: It's actually a car. When I was younger, my dad and I worked a lot together on his '68. It was something that me and him really bonded over, so it's something I wanted to name the band to keep the positive thoughts and positive vibes.
Q: How did it feel to have your EP Midnight sell out overnight?
A: It felt good. On a scale of 1 to 2, I'd say 2. It was great. When it happened I was thinking, "Oh that's very nice. That people seem to be interested". Once it was sold out, it sold out obviously before people were able to get it, so there was this moment like a week before people got it in their hands where there was no feedback...so for this week I had this mentality for the first time ever, like "what if people hate this?" I don't necessarily write music for what I think people are going to like. I write music more so for what I like and what I want to hear...like what needs to be written. And hopefully people catch on...which is very nice for an artist. So, there was this weird week where I thought, "it sold out, it's done it's thing." But, there were no comments about it. So, that was a weird week for me because I've never really dealt with that. I just write things that mean a lot to me and are very real for me so that I don't have to put on a facade or fake anything live. It's all very passionate for me...It's easier to believe in what you're doing and hopefully people catch on.
Q: What are your plans for a full length album?
A: Hopefully in July. We've recorded it, and it's in its final stages of mastering now. So, hopefully it'll be out in July.
Q: How did you and your drummer meet each other?
A: Basically through the studio that we record all the records with. His older brother produces bands there, as well. We met because he was in a local band where I live. And, when I was with The Chariot, we played together several times. When I would produce a band in the studio, and if it was like a female artist or something, and we needed a drummer, we'd hire him because he was a really good drummer. So, when I started this band he was like the perfect person to ask. He's a good dude.
Q: How was the experience recording with Quiet Country Audio?
A: So, they set up a couple of cameras, and we jammed through our set. Like 3 songs I think, and that was it. We did everything live, and he mixed it. [And] they're going to release the video. It's loud. It's rowdy. It was live but with no audience...just me and the drummer. They mic'd everything, ran it through a mixer, and we just jammed. So, I guess they're going to release the video to show people. It's really interesting.
Q: Who is your favorite band to tour with?
A: There's a lot. I don't know about a favorite. But, I really enjoy a band that is cordial, friendly, and that we can get along with very well. So, I mean bands like Every Time I Die. I mean they're good friends. I've known them for like 13 or 14 years. So, yeah, I've toured with them a lot. But, anyone that's super nice and friendly. I like when I like the [band's] music. But, it's really nice when the band is friendly...The idea that they are easy to be around and every other bit is offstage. So, if they're not actually good dudes, it can make a tour very long.
Q: What are some causes that resonate with you?
A: I have a lot of things that I support and that mean a lot to me. A general broad answer would be poverty stricken people in different countries...anything where people are kind of born into something. It's kind of crazy to think about. They didn't make any mistakes [necessarily], they were just born into it...That's one of the things that's really close to my heart and that I support financially. I'd like to actually do more.
It's hard to think about and everyone deserves grace and everyone deserves mercy, and you know it's different when you make a bunch of mistakes and say, "Here, I am" versus not having done any of that and now saying "Here, I am". Sometimes, that's something that is very hard for me to wrap my head around.
Q: How has Christianity played a role in your music?
A: Well, it's who I am as a person. It's like with any art, "out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth is going to speak". So, as far as Christianity, it's who I am and it's who I've become. It's at the forefront and the thought of what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. I didn't grow up in a Christian household, so I don't want to push what I believe onto other people because I don't know their journey. I know where I used to be and where I was. And, I know there were times when...I don't know for me...I like befriending people and just being able to understand them and know them one-on-one. Especially bands. There's something very nice about having them understand that [although] I do believe that way, [it] doesn't mean that I'm shunning them in any kind of way.
Having said that, I'm always there for people if they need prayer and definitely have been approached several times by people who are like "Hey, I don't believe what you believe, but there's some crazy stuff going on right now." So, I like that, when it's very natural rather than trying to sell something.
---That's awesome, so that people don't feel like you're trying to push them in any way.
A: Yeah, it's very natural the way everything happened for me. I was in a very crazy spot in my life, some people can call it rock bottom, but everything happened the way it was supposed to happen in the sense that it made everything very real to me. Instead of that thought process with believing in something because your parents do, which sometimes makes it not very real for you, but it makes it hard to keep up. Not saying I'm perfect by any means or good, but it's not a struggle for me to maintain the thought process behind it because it was a very real thing that happened to me, and I just couldn't deny it even if I wanted to.
A: Well, it's who I am as a person. It's like with any art, "out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth is going to speak". So, as far as Christianity, it's who I am and it's who I've become. It's at the forefront and the thought of what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. I didn't grow up in a Christian household, so I don't want to push what I believe onto other people because I don't know their journey. I know where I used to be and where I was. And, I know there were times when...I don't know for me...I like befriending people and just being able to understand them and know them one-on-one. Especially bands. There's something very nice about having them understand that [although] I do believe that way, [it] doesn't mean that I'm shunning them in any kind of way.
Having said that, I'm always there for people if they need prayer and definitely have been approached several times by people who are like "Hey, I don't believe what you believe, but there's some crazy stuff going on right now." So, I like that, when it's very natural rather than trying to sell something.
---That's awesome, so that people don't feel like you're trying to push them in any way.
A: Yeah, it's very natural the way everything happened for me. I was in a very crazy spot in my life, some people can call it rock bottom, but everything happened the way it was supposed to happen in the sense that it made everything very real to me. Instead of that thought process with believing in something because your parents do, which sometimes makes it not very real for you, but it makes it hard to keep up. Not saying I'm perfect by any means or good, but it's not a struggle for me to maintain the thought process behind it because it was a very real thing that happened to me, and I just couldn't deny it even if I wanted to.
check out '68 live
Huge thank you to Josh Scogin of '68 for interviewing with Skully Serves and for being so pleasant :), Scout, and our teens Grayson, Adrian, and Jessica :) #ghostorbs #bokeh
Until Next Time :))
<3 Martese
Until Next Time :))
<3 Martese
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