PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR US WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOU AND
YOUR MUSIC AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
We're a 5-piece indie alternative band formed out of Acton, Massachusetts, just half an hour west of Boston. We first got together in the late summer of 2019, starting as a four piece with me on both rhythm guitar and vocals, Nick Harvey on lead guitar, Tim Donovan on bass and Conor Moran on drums. A few months into gigging (which we started promptly after our formation), we all decided it would be in the band's, and my best interest if I handed off the six string to someone else so I could become the frontman of the band and put more focus into crafting my skills as a singer and lyricist. That's when a good pal of mine, Jam Templeton, expressed immense interest in joining the group. Since February of 2020, we have had this lineup, and it's very much worked in our favor. Things are great, we're a brotherhood.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM OR SINGLE?
Our second EP that we just released, Change, is interesting because it's the first project that we wrote & produced collaboratively (I wrote & produced our first EP myself, as it was originally intended to be released on a solo project of mine I had before Long Autumn started called 'L 1 P S'.) Our guitarist, Nick, really stepped up to the plate on Change. He produced three of the four tracks and co-wrote two as well. It's a noticeable change sonically from our first release, but contains many of the same elements that sort of defined our current sound off of that first release. The project means a lot to me personally. It's something we're feeling very proud of.
WHAT INSPIRED THE ALBUM OR SINGLE?
We decided to call the EP 'Change' for one main reason, and that's because through the process of creating these songs, we were in the midst of the virus, when everything was, well, changing. And everything DID change. We couldn't play shows anymore, which is something we were pretty much doing every single weekend before the virus hit. Aside from the band, a lot of things in my life changed in the past year as well. Personal stuff, like, sort of epiphany type stuff. I learned a lot about myself and who I am this year and that is translated in each of these songs in one way or another. I try to make my lyrics somewhat metaphoric in hopes that people can relate to them and grasp them in their own way, and apply them to situations or tribulations they're facing in their life.
CAN YOU SUM UP THE ALBUM IN A FEW WORDS?
That's sort of tough! I guess the first word I would use is fresh. We started on a clean slate when it came to writing & recording these songs. In terms of the way the EP feels when you listen to it, I'd feel comfortable using words like dreamy, airy and atmospheric, but also tense, gritty and honest. Those groupings of words seem to conflict each other, but it really is all there in the music.
WHAT RECORD CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
A record that changed my life, and my whole perspective on alternative music and really music in general, is the debut album from southern California band The Neighbourhood titled 'I Love You.' When I found that record, it's what got me into the kind of music I'm into today, and if we're being honest, the kind of music Long Autumn makes. They're my biggest musical influence.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO FILMED BY YOUR BAND OR ANOTHER
ARTIST?
Music videos are so cool because an artist can do anything they want with it to make it translate exactly how they want their audience to feel. One of my favorite music videos personally is the video for the song 'Somebody Else' by The 1975. It's cinematic, theatrical, and just beautiful. The song's sad but absolutely gorgeous, and I think the video shows quite vividly how their lead singer Matty Healy was feeling at the time he wrote it. Really entertaining video, I'd suggest it to anyone.
WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUSIC?
If I'm not writing new music or with the boys recording and rehearsing, I'm usually spending my time with my family at my home in New Hampshire, or with my lovely other half. I have a lot of people in my life that I love, and that love me. I also love being outside so I tend to go on really, really long walks whenever I get the chance. I appreciate the simple things in nature, like trees and clouds and wind and stuff. Sounds cheesy, but it's just me being honest.
DO YOU GET NERVOUS PERFORMING LIVE, IF SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
Usually, no. The boys get a few beers in before the set and by the time we're on stage our adrenaline typically takes over. We love the vibe of playing in front of people & showing them what we do. I'll be nervous if we're playing bigger shows though. Our first show ever, we opened for a couple of major label bands that drew a good 150 people into a really sick underground venue in Salem, Massachusetts. It was MUCH bigger than we expected our first gig to be. I was totally freaking out. Then we played a 2,000 person room in Connecticut called College Street Music Hall, for a competition we got placed in. That place was massive, and as much as I was totally over the moon excited, I was a bit panicky when we went on.
HOW DID YOU FORM THE BAND?
Our bass player Tim actually happened across my solo music on one of those random websites that musicians can use to find other nearby musicians to ultimately form bands with. He had signed up on the site, looked at all the results in his area & found my solo project. Funny thing is, I don't even remember making an account on that site, but obviously I must have! Anyway, he saw that he was just an hour south of me, and promptly reached out to see if I'd be down to jam with him & Nick (they live together). Of course I said yes, we jammed once, and it all started flowing from there. Conor somehow found our post/ad saying we needed a drummer ASAP. He sent us over a video of him covering our debut single 'Hands In The Soil', and we were just like, "yeah, this is our guy." And hence, Long Autumn was born.
HOW DO YOU WRITE? - DO YOU HAVE A KEY SONGWRITER, OR DO YOU ALL WORK
TOGETHER?
I write the lyrics. It’s always been that way. The music is currently being written between me, Nick and Jam. Both Nick and I produce our stuff. I think it’s safe to say that we’re really most inspired when we’re together, with our instruments, as friends, having a cold one. It’s our vibe. As far as lyric writing, that’s on my own time. And usually when I’m feeling down about stuff. That's when it's easiest for me to dig down and spit it out.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I'm inspired by a lot of things. My family. My girlfriend. God. The rest of my band. But also things like style, and going out of my comfort zone. Pushing myself to change and do things, even if it seems scary. I believe as each day passes, you become one step closer to fully becoming the person that you are destined to be. I don't think I'm anywhere near that mark yet. Fortunately, I'm only 22! And having the time of my life.
WHAT IS NEXT?
Now that our EP is out, our focus is to pretty much get right back into writing and recording new songs for our next release. We want to put out a very good quantity of music this year, and so that's the plan. We already have a couple of demos started. We'll be playing shows constantly as soon as venues that will have us are allowed to bring crowds back in. But yeah, the big focus right now is creating new noise for the people. We're learning a lot & we want people to know that this is just the very, very beginning of this band. There's so much more to come, and we couldn't be more excited.