Colony House – When I Was Younger

By starrymag | April 22, 2015

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your song?

A) We travel as a four piece so it is kind of four piece rock n’ roll (guitar rock n’ roll). We’re not some un-genre-able band. You can put your finger on us. We’re straight rock n’ roll.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) It’s a wide reaching pool of influences. The big ones to us are bands like Kings of Leon, The Killers, The National and Phoenix. Those are all modern day influences and then there are like Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Johnny Cash, kind of the founders of early rock n’ roll. It kind of goes all over the place.

Q) Your debut album When I Was Younger is out. How did you come up with the title?

A) We were thinking of titles after we had finished all of the songs and “when I was younger” is the first line off the third track of the song “Caught Me By Surprise.” The song talks about how life can take you by surprise, growing up and realizing the world is not a perfect place, but not a terrible place all the time. It is and it is not. It’s a beautiful place that terrible things happen in. I think it is the theme that wraps itself around the record, growing up and loss of innocence and the hope through seemingly hopeless situations. It was a part of a song, but it felt like it wrapped up the record front to back.

Q) What is the songwriting process like for you? Do you need the music before the lyrics?

A) I think usually it is music before the lyrics, but a lot of times they go hand-in-hand. A lyric will happen organically with a line of music and then I will write the whole song around that one lyric that fits the hook or something so well. It is kind of a mixture of both, but I would say mostly the music is written first.

Q) How much of a hand did the band have with the production of your album?

A) A very strong hand! We work with friends of ours to produce the music. It’s very important. It’s something we visualize ahead of time a lot so we have a pretty clear picture of what we imagine it sounding like before it is even on any kind of permanent recording. We have a strong hand, but at the same time we feel there is an important factor when you bring someone outside of the band in to help.

Q) “Silhouettes” was the first song released. What is it about the song that fans connect to?

A) We released it in the middle of summer and it is kind of a windows down, turn up the volume type of song. I think initially it strikes that chord and then there is a little bit of a mystery in the song. People, even friends, ask what it means. I think there is something mysterious about it that maybe when you get past the fun factor you kind of want to dig into a little bit. I might be giving myself too much credit, but it is just a fun song. I’d like to think there is a mystery to the lyric that draws people in. It’s kind of a heavier song wrapped up in a smile. It’s kind of like a nice handshake, but when you listen to the lyrics it is a challenge. Sometimes you have to journey into the dark places in order to find the light and it doesn’t really seem like a song that would hold that much weight, but it does. It’s an important song to us.

Q) The second single is “Second Guessing Games.” What was the inspiration for the song?

A) “Second Guessing Games” was kind of a challenge to write something a little bit peppier than what I’m used to writing before this. It’s actually one of the first songs I wrote off When I Was Younger. When I was starting the album and pulling in ideas, I really wanted to figure out how to capture a smile with a lot of these songs, but at the same time talk about things I think are important. Something I felt was important was to remind myself of this habit I have of over thinking things. “Second Guessing Games” is kind of a call or reminder to move forward and not act if there is a right and wrong all the time. There certainly are moments that are right and wrong, but I think a lot of the times it’s not only right or wrong. It’s just choosing left or right and then the doors will open from there. I think it is just a reminder, for myself, to make decisions and kind of move forward from there without over thinking them.

Q) You recently premiered a stripped down version of “Second Guessing Games.” What was the idea behind the release?

A) Honestly, we play these songs stripped down as much as full band because we do so many radio performances and fun things along the road. People will have us in a small room to perform so we always try to come up with exciting ways to do it. Then, when we are all on the road we are looking for interesting places. We always bring a camera along and if we can find an interesting place that would be fun to sing our song that is unusual we tend to give it a shot. We have done performances at The Golden Gate Bridge, The Grand Canyon and on a random beach in Newport, Oregon. It’s just a fun thing to be spontaneous.

Q) Starting to tour with Need To Breathe. What can fans expect from a live Colony House performance?

A) A lot of energy! I think we will be on ten all the time because we’ll be playing stages we’re not used to playing, size wise. I think we’re going to be extremely excited to be doing every show. It’ll be like, “This may be the last time we’ll get to play on this stage.” I think they should expect genuine excitement and energy from Colony House.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way to connect with your fans?

A) They are who allow us to continue to make this music. As much as we can let them in with what is going on, that’s our goal. It’s funny to know we were around when this madness started, this social media craze. Now it is so normal, as normal as text messaging or communicating any other way. So, we have the power to communicate with our fans in the same way we can communicate with close friends and family. That’s kind of the idea, making them feel like they are part of the family.

Q) Is there anything you want to be sure fans know about the tour and your music?

A) Expect some fun and surprises throughout the night. All four of the bands on this leg of the tour are friends and know each other. So, I imagine there is going to be some fun shenanigans that will probably be unique to the Tour de Compadres (“The Tour of Friends”).

Q) What would you like to say to all of your fans and supporters?

A) Thank you! It’s weird to think we have fans so it is weird talking to this invisible source that provides us food and money. I would really like to say thank you and I hope they continue to support us. We’ll continue to do our best to bring them joy along this way of life.

 

 

ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY VOCALIST CALEB CHAPMAN