The Vantage – Place In The Water

By starrymag | March 8, 2015

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I would say we are accessible indie pop music.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Most of us are 90’s kids. I think that shines through in a lot of ways. If we’re naming names, Third Eyed Blind and Smashing Pumpkins are big ones. We grew up around that era when rock and pop-rock was really breaking on radio. I think that has definitely influenced us. Now, we both listen to current stuff. Bands within our sphere I’d say influence in some ways because you are influenced by what you are surrounded by. When I first got into music, I was into post-hardcore slash emo music like Thursday. That is what got me playing guitar, but it continues to grow. I’d say overall, we’re pretty open minded. Of course, it also goes back to the classics like Paul Simon and Pink Floyd.

Q) What was the inspiration for your song “Place In The Water?”

A) It’s about giving yourself to your art, but also trying to balance or failing to balance other aspects of one’s life and existence, whether that is relationships. It’s a weird industry. To be successful in it, you really need to give all of yourself to it. This song speaks to that.

Q) How does video pair with message of the song?

A) The video incorporates a few different aspects of things. There is a little bit of water in it. It’s going off this concept of two people searching. It involves searching for that thing or that someone. And then, of course, there are cool band shots of us trying to look cool – if we can.

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) As far as production, with Color Blind it was music we recorded with a producer named Rob Freeman out of New Jersey. He was the only producer we have gone to in the span of The Vantage. We’ve done great work with him. Our single “On My Way” came out and was produced by him. With this new song, there are a few others that will be following this, but this is the focal point right now. We did it with a producer in Los Angeles named Ethan Kaufman. We definitely had a say in the production. It’s very collaborative. Whatever we are doing and when ever we are working with a producer or anyone it is very collaborative. Ethan definitely brought a new element to the table, just in terms of different sound scapes or layers. It’s a little dirtier, edgier, but still in that pop realm. We’re kind of trying to see what we can do within that space and create something that is cool for the super duper hipsters, but also for the clean cut do-gooders. Also, we want the moms and dads to like it too.

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

A) I’d say it is different for each song. Generally it involves a riff coming first and then a free fall spitball of words and sounds that come out that we can build on. Once there is a concrete theme, we build off of that. It’s very collaborative and each song is different so it is hard for me to give you a formula. Somehow we make it work!

Q) What is it about your song “Place In The Water” that you feel resonates with fans?

A) I think that right off the bat it captures. The drums are dirty and big. It’s new territory for us in terms of that. All of our songs have been guitar driven before. This is the first time we are basing a lot off drums and bass and I think that is really cool. It has a good message. It has an upbeat chorus and then drops kind of back into this dirty verse. It’s always a discussion what is the single, but I think this one we decided would hit the hardest right off the bat. Let’s cut through the bullshit and show them what it is right upfront.

Q) What can fans expect from a live The Vantage show?

A) They are always different. They are definitely never the same. James [Mason] likes to jump down and rock with the fans in the crowd. Right now our set is based off some songs that are older and from the first two EPs. We just added “Place In The Water” and that was fun and new. There are some stuff that we have been working on that haven’t seen the light of day. So, it’s a pretty eclectic mix of The Vantage tunes.

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

A) Social media at this stage is everything that The Vantage is. It’s a platform to connect with people and people we never would have dreamed we would connect with. It’s the reason for our success and our social numbers. It’s the reason people have listened to our songs so much and downloaded them. I know that The Vantage would be nothing without social media.

Q) Your music has been featured on various TV shows. How does that make you feel?

A) It’s awesome! Placements are the best so long as it is not a product that we wholeheartedly disagree with, which is hard to find. As bands and musicians, that is one of the top ways to earn money and it’s very cool how it can open your band up to such a large audience with such little effort on your end. It almost feels guilty, but at the same time it is very rewarding and fulfilling.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your music?

A) Thank you very much. Keep listening. Keep talking to us. I promise we’ll get to you and come play for you some day. With social media, we have so many fans across the globe. I’m literally talking to people from Africa, The UK and Australia and they are all huge supporters of the music. It’s flattering and crazy. Thank you social media for that! They are all asking me for us to come and play. Being at the stage we are at, it’s out of our reach, but we’re thinking about it. So, I say please be patient, please keep listening and please keep talking to us. Thank you!

 

 

ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY JACKSON WISE