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Hands like houses-Interview 6.6.2014

8/1/2014

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Location: Cobalt Cafe
                Canoga Park, CA
Interviewed by: Bella Silva
Video Recorded by: Kevin Silva
Our Skully Serves teens got a chance to sit down with Alex Pearson (guitar) and Matt Parkitney (drums) of Hands like Houses in their impressive self-customized tour bus where we discussed everything from the perks of having an Australian accent to wanting to help raise awareness for men's mental health <3
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Q (Bella): How did you guys come up with your band name?

Alex Pearson: So, coming up with a band name is one of the hardest things you can do as a band. We basically just sat around for ages and ages. It took us so long. I think Coops, [our guitarist] watched this movie called the Science of Sleep. It’s like this french dark house film. And basically this guy has this recurring dream about having this massive hands…and he has this conversation with his mom. He says, its like hands like towels and then he gets corrected, and she says it’s "hands like houses" so it’s kind of just a line from that.

Q (Bella): Did you guys have another name before like a weird name?

Alex: There was one thing that we did settle on...

Matt Parkitney: Wasn't it like Glass Tiger or something? Glass Animal or something (laughs)

Alex: It just wasn’t what we wanted (laughs)

Q (Bella): So, was Rise Records the main record label you wanted to sign with or was there another one in particular?

Alex: I don’t think we really had any idea. We probably wanted to sign to like Sony or something like that. 

Matt P: I think when we first started any sort of attention was just great. We were just band just hanging out, trying to write songs.

Alex: Actually, Rise would of been one of the ones. Because, Rise had all the bands like The Devil Wears Prada and all those like "scene bands" that we knew growing up.

Matt P: We were excited to get the material out there and see what would happen. 

Alex: Everyone was pretty happy when Rise said "let’s sign you guys". We were like cool. We’ll sign. We’ll do that.


Q (Bella): How was it touring with Craig Owens and the rest of bands?

Alex: It was really cool. I was really surprised. We didn't really know how to take it. We loved them as a band. So, like touring with someone that you listened to when you’re 16 can kind of be a daunting thing. And, we hopped on halfway through the tour which can be a little bit weird sometimes. But first day they come up, and said “We’re really happy to have you guys on tour, and we’re looking forward to you guys jumping on".

Matt P: They were very welcoming and very positive.

Alex: (to Matt) You get along really well with Derek.

Matt P: Yeah, Derek is a cool guy. I met Derek a while back. So, knowing that we were going to tour with him...I was excited to catch up with him. I didn't know the other guys too well. But, everyone just got along really quickly.


Q (Martese): That was our first interview. Craig Owens at the House of Blues.

Alex: Really? Nice! Ahh He's an angel.

(laughter)


Q (Bella): I know you guys are from Australia. Touring other places-Where do you feel most welcomed?

Alex: Pretty much I would say anywhere. There’s no where we haven’t been [where we haven't felt welcomed]. America is always super welcoming. Like every time we hop off the bus, everyone is always smiling. The accent, I feel like, has a lot to do with it. 

Matt P: Yeah, we've been very lucky. No matter where we go people have always been very positive and very welcoming.


Q (Bella): What’s your favorite venue, so far, to play at?

Matt P: House of Blues is always really good. Staff is really good. Catering is really good. I’d say the Ace of Spades too. Rad venue. Trees in Dallas is also a great venue.

Alex: Soma was really good last night, as well.

Matt P: I feel like some venues are really run like a community. It’s great seeing that, and they’re just like "What do you guys need help with? What can we help you do?". I love venues like that.

Alex: And, they give you showers and food. So, they win pretty quickly. (laughs)

Matt P: We transform into normal people after a shower. Otherwise it's like, you just think we’re tanning, but it’s actually just a thin layer of dirt. (laughs)
                            
Alex: We did shower today.

(laughter)

Q (Bella): When you all are coming up with new songs-who comes up with the ideas? How do you combine lyrics together?

Alex: Generally, for like our average song, Coops and I will sit down. And, I’ll have an idea and write a song around it, or he’ll have an idea and do the same thing and send it to me. And, we’ll go back and forth, for like a week or so or sometimes like a couple of hours depending on how productive we are (laughs). And then it kinda goes from there. Lyrics are usually one of the last things that gets done. because Trenton tries to find the lyrics that suit the song's feel or vibe. Which can be frustrating sometimes because, we're like, "Where are the lyrics? Where are the vocals?"

Q (Bella): Do you write songs about stuff that happens to you guys or how tour is going?

Alex: Definitely, on Unimagine, there have been more songs I think that have come from personal kind of experiences. But, usually there are personal aspects to it, but Trenton kind of finds a way to hide it so it’s not like, “I miss my girlfriend" (sings while pretending to strum guitar). 

(laughter)

So, [the lyrics] aren't so blatantly obvious, and it’s [written in] a little bit more of a poetic way. (Pauses) 
That was a really good song. That might be on the next album. 

(laughter)
Q (Bella): You guys tweeted that Beartooth’s album was amazing. In your opinion, what makes an album really rad?

Alex: It's different enough from the rest of the heavy music that’s been flowing around. He [Caleb Shomo of Beartooth] just has such a pop sensibility of writing songs...it’s heavy music that's written smartly and really catchy.

Matt P: Even the melodies and stuff-everything about it. It is heavy music, but it’s different, just a whole different vibe. All the guys in Beartooth are just legends.


Q (Bella): To make an album, how long does it take?

Alex: (laughs) It should take a lot longer than it does. It always depends. For us, the first album took a long time because we didn't really have any time constraints.

Matt P: But originally, we didn't plan on making an album. We were just going to make an EP.


Q (Bella): So, what are the things you like donating or helping out with-like what other charities would you like to help?

Alex: I think Men’s health and mental health. I know being a man and dealing with depression and stuff…There’s this social stigma that you’re a weaker person for having something like that so just having the means to give people support. I know over here, in Austrlia as well, but homelessness is a really big problem. It’s a lot more evident here.

Matt P: My biggest point where I saw people that were homeless was in New York. That was a big eye opener. You do see a lot on tour. We don’t go to hotels very often-so you see it on the road and near venues. You see it everywhere. It's a big thing. We feel very passionate about things like that. So, we’d love to help out in any way we can.

Alex: And, I think we’re getting to a point where we can as more of a like established band
.

Q (Martese): When we plan outreaches, it’ll help various causes. But mental health, how can that be helped? Is that more of a money issue?

Alex: I’d say money and awareness. Money is always a hard thing, because when you're donating to charity sometimes it’s hard to know exactly where your money is going and what exactly it's getting pushed towards. I think also purely raising awareness can be a great thing to do, as well.

Matt P: Education

Alex: Getting some sort of knowledge can be just as helpful as "Here’s a $1,000". I think it’s hard to know what to put your effort to.

Matt P: I think raising awareness is very important in this day and age though. A lot of people look over things too quickly without knowing the deeper more important meanings behind what happens...Awareness is definitely the biggest side to it. Education itself. People may see people as mentally ill or whatever, [and] some people are really shallow-minded and they just don't understand it or they haven’t gone through it themselves. Give the opportunity to say like, "Hey, this is what happens." or explain it...I think awareness could change a lot of things.

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hands like houses official music video

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hands like houses

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hands like houses album
unimagine

Huge thanks to Bella for interviewing the band and kicking ass! Also, thanks to Kevyn for taking control of the bloggie and making sure we got great footage :) Of course, this couldn't have been done without Alex and Matt of Hands like Houses. Thank you two, so much, for participating in the Skully Serves interview. Filled with many laughs!
<3 Martese

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Josh scogin of '68 interview 5.5.2014

5/25/2014

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"serve the servants" -Josh scogin

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Location: House of Blues Sunset
                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.

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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.

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Grayson
Adrian
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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
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Chiodos interview 5.5.2014

5/11/2014

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Find out Craig Owen's Pre-Show Ritual 
and the bands he most likes to tour with!
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Location: House of Blues Sunset
                Los Angeles, CA
Interviewed by: Grayson and Adrian

Video Recorded by: Jessica
Answered by: Craig Owens of Chiodos



Q: How did you guys come together as a band?

A: It's a crazy story actually. In 10th grade, my geometry class I wore a t-shirt. It was a MxPx shirt...a punk rock band, and the bass player in the band now Matt said, "Hey, I like that t shirt. My mom wouldn't let me go to the show." He said, "Oh yeah, you sing right? Maybe we can play together." So, we started Chiodos like 2 weeks later. And, that was it. First band that I started and we actually went by different names. The first name was All Time Low which is kind of funny, and then Second Chance, and then the Chiodos Bros. was the third one.


Q: What made you guys drop the name the Chiodos Bros and change it permanently to Chiodos?

A: Actually, it's the reason that our record label signed us initially...they didn't listen to us. The A&R said it was the worst band name he had ever seen, so he wanted to check it out [our music]. And he ended up loving it, and we decided to sign with Equal Vision. A couple of members left, and we decided to make an evolution of the band. We took out the "Bros" and took out the "The" and just went with Chiodos.
 

Q: Who's your favorite band to tour with?

A: To tour with?...Ahh that's a tough question. That's a really good question. The thing is there's so many cool people that you meet. There's this band called Less Than Jake. There like the nicest dudes in the world. I love just being around them, and I love watching them perform. There's this band called The Color Morale. They're like the best dudes. I love the guys in The Word Alive. You meet so many cool people, and it's even less about bands I want to watch and more about people I want to hang out with.


Q: Favorite song to perform off of your new album Devil?

A: Right now, 3am for me. 3am because I think life hands you a lot of things, and it takes a lot to get up and really be the best you can. Sometimes it's hard and that's what 3am is about. Its a real reflection of myself...gives me a chance to look in the mirror and be completely honest. Every time I play that song, I feel like I get a little more confident...a little stronger with who I am.


Q: Is there some sort of ritual you guys do before every show?

A: Yeah, I pray before every show. It was like 2 years ago I started doing that, and I have to before every show to get centered. Most of all, to like laugh a little bit, and to be thankful and to really look at what I have as opposed to being swept up in the craziness of it all. So, I pray, and we get together and all of us put our hands on top of each other...and someone gives a little pep talk, count down to 3, and we say Chiodos.


Q: Is there any specific cause that resonates with you? 

A: I've been through so much in my life. I grew up in a really emotionally and physically abusive home and that really resonates with me a lot. That makes me want to reach out to people that go through their life not thinking they're good enough because of the way that they were treated. That really resonates with me. I think a lot of it would have to do with self-esteem. Anything I can do to help out... Any sort of lifting people up and letting them [people] appreciate themselves. It's so many little things, addiction, depression, anxiety, all these things formulate from that and I can relate because I went through them. So yeah something to do with self-esteem.


Q: What's your favorite venue to play at?

A: It changes through the years. I really love Chain Reaction in Anaheim because it's really intimate and everybody sings every word. There's no ego, and there's no barricade. It's just like honest rock and you sweat so much. So no one's worried about looking good. I love Chain Reaction.



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       Adrian        

Jessica

Special thanks to Craig Owens and his team for participating in our Skully Serves Teen Interviews, Scout, and our teens Grayson, Adrian, and Jessica! You guys did an amazing job preparing and interviewing! Forever Grateful
<3 Martese
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