Lockeland – Made For Mornings

By starrymag | July 28, 2020

By: Ellie Dolan-Yates

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound in general?

 

Kyndon Oakes: Modern country with a 90’s throwback feel.

 

Mark Vikingstad: Overall 90’s country with modern production and lyric.

Michael Boris: Throwback to the 90s Country sound with organic yet modern production.

 

Q) What is your songwriting process?  

 

Kyndon Oakes: It depends on the write, but most of the time we come in with an idea for a hook or melody and just work from there with what emotion is sparked in that moment. 

 

Mark Vikingstad: Usually one of us has the idea or hook and then we sit down and create lyrics around that hook.

 

Michael Boris: It’s different every time. Sometimes one of us will start playing a chord progression or a riff that sparks inspiration for a lyric. Other times, it’s the opposite.

 

 

Q) Do you need music before lyrics?

 

Kyndon Oakes: For me, I can write lyrics without a melody, but the melody can change a song completely. Finding a great melody is key to expressing the lyrics properly.

Mark Vikingstad: The music comes along after the idea or hook is presented.  We start creating the music to the feeling of that idea.  

 

Michael Boris: Not necessarily, but they both work in tandem.

 

Q) Who were your musical influences growing up?

 

Kyndon Oakes:    There is a laundry list of artists who influenced me from Diamond Rio, Shenandoah, Garth Brooks, Rascal Flatts and the list goes on.

Mark Vikingstad: Ranges from country to pop to classic rock.  Garth Brooks, The Beatles, Elton John, Billy Joel, Blink 182, Joe Diffie… the list goes on and on.  

Michael Boris: I am a complete mixed bag of influences. Everything from fife & drum corps, classical, jazz, Latin, and R&B, to hard rock, country, folk and pop.

 

Q) I read that the inspiration for your catchy new song “Made for Mornings” came from Starbucks. Please tell us the inspiration behind it.

 

Kyndon Oakes: Mark and I were in a Starbucks and we saw a sign that said “Made for Mornings” and thought that would make a fun song and immediately started planning out how the song would be structured.

Mark Vikingstad: [laughs] We happened to be in Starbucks waiting for our drinks when I (Mark) noticed the advertisement for a breakfast sandwich with the heading, “Made For Mornings.”  I looked at KO and said, “That’s a song, put that in the phone.”  We invited our buddy Renn Anderson to help pen the tune and we came up with the story as it is – a party animal who meets the girl who changes his partying ways and the rest is history.  

 

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans have really connected to?

 

Kyndon Oakes: I think that opening guitar lick reels you in and then the chorus is just so catchy and memorable that it is hard not to sing along even after the song is done.

Mark Vikingstad: The hopeful and positive message, that love can happen when you least expect it and to hold on to hope no matter what.  

 

Michael Boris: The uplifting and positive lyrics offer a sense of hope in a dark world today. Not to mention the production is very exciting and dynamic, which holds the listeners ears captive for the duration of the song.

 

Q) What makes this song so special/significant to you?

 

Kyndon Oakes: We all got together to produce this song and feel like this is a great representation of who we are as Lockeland. 

Mark Vikingstad: It’s the first one we really all produced together as a band.  The other recordings before this, Michael took the lead on production.  I think this one encompasses all our ideas equally and its awesome to hear what we can come up with when we’re firing on all cylinders.  

Michael Boris: This song just simply all came together in terms of the songwriting and production. By spending careful time in pre-production (time spent before we ever go into the studio to record), we were able to very creatively write the parts and pour our hearts into the production as a band.

 

Q) You’ve recently performed at festivals in England and Scotland. How would you describe the experience?

 

Kyndon Oakes: Amazing! The fans were all so nice and attentive besides who wouldn’t love playing overseas in those beautiful countries!

Mark Vikingstad:  Surreal, exciting, humbling and positive.  The fans made the whole tour worthwhile.  There hasn’t been another time that beats out our U.K tour.  We can’t wait to get back.  

 

Michael Boris: The experience was unlike anything else we’ve ever experienced before. The overwhelming response to our music was truly humbling and we can’t wait to come back! Not to mention the United Kingdom is a beautiful country, rich with history and full of some of the warmest folks I’ve ever met.

 

Q) Was it in anyway different to what you have experienced performing in the US?

 

Kyndon Oakes: The fans in the US are amazing as well, but I think the difference is country is still newer over there so the appreciation and excitement for it is slightly different from US. 

Mark Vikingstad: It was!  Again, I bring up the fans because they had an attentiveness while we were performing our music that we had never experienced. They loved every second of the shows and it was very refreshing!  

 

Michael Boris: In many aspects, yes it was different. The UK fans are so passionate about the “art” of music and you really feel connected with them when you are performing onstage.

 

Q) Where in the world would you most like to play?

 

Kyndon Oakes: Red Rocks in Colorado is definitely a bucket list venue along with the Opry/Ryman!

Mark Vikingstad: Love to play Red Rocks in Colorado, Jones Beach theatre (I’m from Long Island), The Ryman.  Love to play all of Europe maybe somewhere sunny like the Caribbean ha-ha.  We’ll play wherever the music takes us.  

 

Michael Boris: Anywhere where we can share our music to whoever will listen. That being said, a big goal for me personally would be to perform as a band on the Grand Ole Opry.

 

Q) Do you have any plans to release an album or EP in the near future?

 

Kyndon Oakes: We are currently in the works of writing the right songs for an EP

Mark Vikingstad: It is in the plan, with navigating the Pandemic situation and being able to be in the studio to record, it may be a slow go, but it is in the plan for us.  

 

Michael Boris: We sure do and the process is currently in the planning stages. The amount of work and preparation that goes into a full record, or even an EP, is very extensive. Not to mention since we are an independent and self-funded artist, we are working hard to make the album/EP happen from a financial standpoint as well.

 

Q) On 10th July you’ll be doing a Live Take Over of Nashville meets London’s Facebook. How useful do you think Social Media is as a tool for getting your music out there?

 

Kyndon Oakes: I believe it has been especially important especially with the current times. It is just a way for us to reach our fans and put out the music we love.

 

Mark Vikingstad: Yes!  We are extremely excited to be included on that roster of great artists.  Social media is the main tool.  If social media is not being used to its fullest, opportunities can be missed. Also, with many of our fans being in the UK, social media is the only way they can get their fix of Lockeland.  

Michael Boris: Social media, especially nowadays in light of the recent global pandemic, is quite simply CRUCIAL to the life of any artist. Social media is the “new stage” and it’s helped us greatly to reach out to new fans who otherwise, might not have ever heard about our music. We’re so excited about the Nashville Meets London Takeover!

 

Q) What advice would you give to aspiring country musicians?

 

Kyndon Oakes: Work, work, work! If you love what you do it won’t feel like work. Develop relationships and remember where you come from. Nothing worth having comes easy!

Mark Vikingstad: Continue to work, write and network.  Learn the ins and outs of social media and networking.  Be out at the places you want to play and be around those circles you’d like to be involved in.  Also, PATIENCE!  It is key to this crazy music business world.  

Michael Boris: Be one step ahead and competent at whatever it is you do. Be kind, be humble, be patient and most importantly, be yourself. Don’t try to be anybody you’re not. You are uniquely and wonderfully made and when YOU are genuine with people, you’ll attract the ones who are ALSO genuine. And in this industry, surrounding yourself with people of good reputation is crucial.

 

Q) Is there any artist in particular that you’re all listening to at the moment?

 

Kyndon Oakes: I think we all try to stay relevant with past and present artists. I’ve been listening to Brett Eldredge, Luke Combs, Rascal Flatts and continue to listen to 90s country as well.

Mark Vikingstad: [laughs] I love The Hot Country Knights right now. It’s clever, silly, intelligent and stupid humor all in one.  

 

Michael Boris: I listen to so many different artists and they range from all different genres, but I have recently been listening to an Americana/folk artist named Peter Bradley Adams. INCREDIBLE.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and your music?

 

Kyndon Oakes: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! We love what we do and will continue to do it, but to have the support of great fans just makes it that much sweeter!

Mark Vikingstad: Simply, Thank You.  I know it may be cliché to say, but without the fans we would never be able to be doing what we love.  They are the backbone of our career and we cannot say “Thank You” enough!  

 Michael Boris: From the bottom of my heart… THANK YOU. It’s because of you that we are able to pursue our dreams of sharing positive music with the world. This may sound a little “cheesy,” but we genuinely feel this way…We don’t view are fans so much as “fans,” but rather as friends. With social media, we’ve had some wonderful interactions with our new “friends” and they’ve blessed our lives with their love and continued support. So again friends, THANK YOU and we LOVE YOU!