By: Jamie Steinberg
Photo Courtesy of Melodie Yvonne
Q) Your music is often described as “indie rock,” but how would you describe your sound?
A) We call ourselves “groove based indie rock” because we have some pretty funky songs and we tend to express musicality in different ways than a typical indie rock band might.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) As with most bands, everyone brings their own unique style to the table and it’s that blend that really makes our sound. The major influences of the band are Flipturn, Vulfpeck, Sublime and Steely Dan to name a few though we are always fighting over who gets to play music in the van and there’s never a consensus on what we all like.
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Everything.”
A) “Everything” started as a collection of stories about the kind of relationship that leaves you constantly bracing for impact. No matter how calm things seem, there’s always a feeling that the other shoe is about to drop. Instead of turning it into a sad breakup song, we leaned into the absurdity of it all. The result is a funky, tongue-in-cheek track about chaos, frustration and survival – and probably the most danceable song we’ve ever written about a complete train wreck.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I think everyone at least knows someone who’s relationships with significant others and similar to people’s relationships with hard drugs. Their family and friends start to get distant as time goes on and people really this self-destruction will either last forever or have to find some breaking point where the person truly wants help.
The song is encapsulated by some of the chaos and destruction that may make a relationship like that exciting but ultimately causes someone to throw away their peace in search of a roller coaster of emotions instead.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) The video couldn’t be more on the nose. The song mentions smashing a guitar, so you better believe we not only smashed a guitar…We also poured gasoline on it and shot it with a flare gun.
So much of the song mentions specific places here in Charleston, SC like Starlight Motor Inn or the intersection of King & Huger St, so we were able to get footage of each of those locations.
Q) What makes it the perfect follow up to “Stay by My Side?”
A) I’m not sure there is any such thing as perfect, but both songs stand on their own merit as two entirely different tracks. “Stay By My Side” is much more gritty and rock driven with a wild ending whereas “Everything” leans more on funk and gets you up and moving.
Q) Your full-length album is set to drop in October. What can you tease are some themes you’ll be exploring on it?
A) The new album, entitled Objects in the Mirror is technically our second album but, in some ways, it feels like our first.
What I mean by that is two years ago when the players that you now see on stage joined the project as equals and we all pursued this above all else…That’s when it feels this band was really born and this the album that I wrote with these guys.
The themes the album explores are addiction, depression, toxic ex-girlfriends, loving only those that can’t or don’t love you back…Definitely a trauma dump record with stellar riffs if you’re into that sort of thing.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) Always music before lyrics. Often times I’m just singing nonsense over a riff to find a melody and the story of the song is crafted around the melody and music.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) Dacota [Muckey] works hand in hand with our producer Matt Zuttell here in Charleston.
Q) You’re out on tour now. What can fans expect from a live Five Door Sedan performance?
A) We bring an explosive, high energy show everywhere we go. We really spend a lot of time working on the transitions, crowd engagement and making sure we are talking with every person in the crowd at our merch table after each show. We truly love playing live and our fans bring so much energy we get a boost every time.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) The Windjammer beach stage in Isle of Palms, SC is one of my personal favorites. There’s something about being on a big stage in front of a large crowd right next to the ocean that reminds you of how amazing it is to play music for a living.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) It’s between Snoop Dogg and John Mayer, too hard to choose.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) My music taste is all over the place. I recently found this band called Saburnia that I like a lot. I tend to enjoy that softer R&B sound but with real instrumentation.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Most of all I just want to say thank you. I truly pour every single ounce of my being into this and to have anyone at all that would pay for a ticket and come to see us play really means the world. We don’t take lightly what it means to have a crowd that is there to be entertained and walk away with an experience, and we do our utmost to live up to each of those moments.
All Questions Answered By Lead Singer Dacota Muckey