Interview w/ Highly Suspect

Starting things out with a brand new interview to add to my ever growing collection! Today, we touch base with Brooklyn's own Highly Suspect. You may remember them from my Artist Spotlight post I did on them a few weeks back, and drummer Ryan Meyer was gracious enough to sit down and do an interview with the site that allows us to get to know the guys a little bit better up close and personal, and get a sense of where the influences of their music lie and gain a better perspective about them as regular people and musicians. Here is my transcript of the interview I just did with Ry:

Give us your names and what you guys do in the band?

Johnny Stevens - guitar, lead vocals

Rich Meyer - Bass, vocals

Ryan Meyer - Drums

How did you guys all meet and when did the band form?

Richie an I met in the womb and had to spoon for 9 months. You get to know a guys after that. We both knew Johnny from high school, but we didn't end up becoming friends till years later. Rich and Johnny met at a party, both had motorcycles and acoustic guitars and got along famously.  Johnny and I on the other hand had a rough start...and did not get along for a while. but in the end we got over it and we all moved in together about 8 years ago. We've all been roommates ever since, for the exception of a few years when i went of to school. The band formed in 2007-2008 ish.

How did the name Highly Suspect originate?

A band name generator. Johnny's dad said "Ya gotta have highly in the name".  so...Highly Suspect came up and stuck.

How would you describe the sound of the band to those who may not be familiar with you guys?

Rock n' Roll.

What were some bands that you listened to when you were younger that may have or not influenced your sound in some way?

Everything and everyone has been an influence. but the great British rock bands i.e. Zeppelin, Floyd, Beatles were huge. as well as Nirvana, Foo Fighters, 90's rock etc. Hip hop is a huge influence as well, especially for beats, tempos, and lyrical content.

Take us behind the recording process of your EP "Black Ocean" and what that whole process was like?

Black Ocean was made in a few different studios. "Bath Salts" and "The Go" were made entirely in Studio G (Brooklyn) with producer Joel Hamilton. Also originally from Cape Cod. Joel has worked with everyone, from Pretty Lights to Black Keys and Wu-Tang. He's the man.

"Fuck Me Up ", "Guess What", and "Lydia" were recorded for the most part in our apartment with producer Joe Duplanter (Gojira). Drums were tracked at Spin Recording Studios in Queens. These recording were much more intimate, not only did we record in our living room, but Joe is a close friend of ours and brought along his 1yr old girl for us to baby sit during the process. We also discovered click tracks just don't work for us, and ditched them completely.

How has your audience responded to your music and how big of a role do they play in your success?

Oh man without our fans we would still be playing music in a basement...they play a huge role in our career! They love us and we love them back!

For fun, what do you guys like to do for leisure away from making music and playing shows?

We all work. Johnny's a bartender, Richie builds custom furniture, and I'm a freelance front of house engineer. 

What's coming up next for you guys, any upcoming shows or such that we should be aware of?

A lot is happening here in New York we cant talk about just yet, but fans can look forward to a new music video/single coming up soon!

Lastly, why do you think people should check out your music?

Because.... its not Justin Bieber.

Thanks once again to Ryan for being so gracious with his time in his ever increasingly busy schedule to do this interview. I'm happy I stumbled across these guys randomly, as they have a special and unique talent that deserves to be shared with everyone and value the creative wisdom that each of they guys emanate constantly on a routine basis, and how hard working they are in providing for their fans. For more information on Highly Suspect, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter right here.