Hey everyone!
Today's artist spotlight belongs to The Okay Win! The Okay Win is a band from Plymouth, MA that consists of Steve MacDonald on lead vocals and guitar, Ryan Ward on bass, Matt Jones on drums, and JM Craven on guitar and backing vocals. The band has been together as a group since 2009, honing their brand of "folk inspired rock that tends to get more aggressive" as Steve puts it best. The band released their debut effort "We Are Bound" in August 2009 that gave the audience a good idea of what their music is all about. Standouts from that disc include "Could Gamble" "I'm Occupying" "Gone For Good" and "Trying to Be Bold". The music then proceeds to burrow inside of you and leave you begging for more each time you hear it with its intricate melodies and folk inspired rhythms that is a very rare combination to find these days, but it works out so well here.
As you may have read from my previous post, The Okay Win will be performing at TT the Bear's tonight to celebrate the release of their split EP with Big Big Buildings entitled Two Toned. The concert is also a launching platform for a brand new label/collective called We Know Us that was developed by The Okay Win frontman Steve MacDonald. Recently, I conducted a brief e-mail interview with Steve to catch up on the new EP, label, and the concert. Here is the transcript from that interview:
Recently, your band just wrapped up work on a split EP with Big Big Buildings, can you just tell me a little bit about how this project came about?
Adam and I have tossed the idea around for a couple years. We've always had a mutual respect for each other and putting out something together just made complete sense. We share band members and often play on the same shows so this is just the next step in furthering our musical bond.
How do the songs on the split EP differ from your solo album and your album with The Okay Win, "We Are Bound"?
Well the EP itself will consist of 7 songs. There is 3 from us and 3 from Big Big Buildings and then a 7th song that I wrote and we all collaborated on. For this EP, our songs are completely band oriented instead of having some things be just me. Two of the songs have actually appeared on previous albums but these are new full band versions that we've done live at shows but never recorded. I'd say that the songs have a different energy than previous things. We've been playing together longer now so we understand how each other work. Everything just feels better as a whole.
Recently, you decided to start your own record label, can you talk a little about what inspired you to do that?
I've considered it for a while. Sometimes I'm all for it and then I'd realize I wasn't ready. It got to a point though where people were seeking out my advice on how to book shows, do radio campaigns, press albums, etc. It made me realize that I could be of assistance to people. There are some amazing bands in this area who don't get the attention they deserve. Hopefully we'll be able to create something that people talk about. I am very aware that labels are dying, but music is highly focused on networking. You can't do it all on your own which is why I'm hesitant to just call this a label. I have been often referring to it as a collective. It will be a group of people working together to benefit each other. This EP will serve as the launching pad for it.
You guys will be playing a show at TT the Bear's this Wednesday night as a launch for the new EP and label, can you talk a little bit about the show?
I am really excited for the show. The bill is really really strong. We have Aeroplane 1929 opening up the show. They are an amazing band out of Western, MA who are on their farewell tour. I've known some of those guys for a few years and was watching them play before I ever was doing music. It's a cool thing to be able to share the stage with them before they end things. Also playing will be a great songwriter out of Boston named Drew O'Doherty. We're really lucky to have him. Then it will be Big Big Buildings and Us (The Okay Win). I've seen some of my favorite shows at TT's so it just felt right to have the night there. We'll have download cards for the EP, which will be free, and posters for the first 50 people.
What are the band's future plans for the rest of the year?
As for the rest of the year, we're trying to play as often as possible. We'll be touring as much as possible. Most likely we'll be doing another record which will probably come out in the fall. We've been collecting some equipment and plan on doing the record ourselves. Other than that, we'll be enjoying life and love.
Thanks once again to my friend Steve MacDonald for taking time out of his hectic schedule to do this interview! Don't forget to catch The Okay Win and Big Buildings Live @ TT the Bear's at 8:30PM Tonight!! Aeroplane, 1929 and Drew O'Doherty will be kicking off the evening so be sure to arrive there early! Reminder: Cost is $7 and the show is 18+. For more information on The Okay Win, head on over to their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/stephenmacdonaldmusic
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