Hello! and welcome to our second interview here on Strange Encounters! Thank you so much for joining us, and taking the time to visit us on BlogSpot! Today, we interviewed Shallow Water Blackout- a band that I haven't been able to get out of my mind!
(Shallow Water Blackout logo above)
Two exclusive questions from this interview are on Patreon! Consider subscribing! It takes a team to put these together, and they deserve something in return for their hard work! Plus, it help's us pursue bigger project's in the scene that we would like to do!
Shallow Water Blackout is a four-piece emo band from Southern California! Logan is on guitar and vocals, Remy is lead vocals and keyboardist, Miguel is their bassist, and Andy is on drums. Miguel was on vacation during the time of this interview. Let's get straight into it!
We've previously talked about Merchant Ship's being a big inspiration for you guy's, what are some other inspirations, and how do they show in your music?
Logan: For me personally, Merchant Ship's is definitely a huge influence in terms of lyrical content and guitar playing, but I'm also really into bands like Title Fight, Dowsing, Brave Bird, Flowers Taped to Pens, Raein, Daitro, CSTVT, Algae Bloom, Algernon, and Free Throw. I think Title Fight is probaly one of my biggest influences guitar wise. I really am also a big fan of TTNG and they really influenced me in terms of my finger style guitar writing.
Remy: When it comes to lyricism, there is a psychodramatic element we present to the listener, something prevalent in Christian Holden (of The Hotelier) or Tyler Joseph (of Twenty One Pilots, particularly the former half of their discography).\
Remy: Instrumentally one could see comparisons to Chicago's Dowsing or Michigan Brave Bird, whether it comes to anthemic chorus or cathartic guitar riffs. The synth influence however comes from Nouns (Arkansas) and Girlfriends (Oregon), who also have incorporated similar sounds.
Andy: I'm influenced by post-punk and dance-inspired drumming styles, which I think pairs really well with the Synth Emo style of our band... but overall my favorite band's are Boris, Funeral Diner, Origami Angel, Merchant Ship's, William Bonney, the Cure, My Bloody Valentine, and Shin Guard.
Has the local scene rubbed off on your music in any way all, and if so, how?
Logan: The local scene has rubbed off on our music for sure. Definitely bands like Far From Away, Just Let Me GO, Aren't We Amphibians, WOAS, Feelmoreless, and Big Game Hunter come to mind in terms of being influential whether it be from their sound, playing style, or just how they play live.
Remy: For me, Aren't we Amphibians from San Diego have been incredibly inspiring to see grow within this scene since the release of "Read the Room" in 2022. Their riffs and lyricism are superb and a shining forefront of the current wave of emo now.
Remy: Our contemporaries weresorrybutsomethingwentwrong have a similar creative direction sonically, and playing with them has not only inspired us writing-wise but also when it comes to collaborating with other acts within our scene.
Andy: The band's that I feel have had the greatest influence on us and our approach to the scene are definitely WOAS, Bedheads, Reclusr, Gemelos, Human Capital, Lemon Bread, Maybe It's Best, and Far From Away.
When it comes to creating new music, what's the writing process like?
Logan: Usually it starts with me coming up with a riff and expanding it into a song that's about 75% done, and I bring it to our rehearsals and we put it all together and come up with new ideas for it. When we have the instrumental mostly figured out, we start doing vocal Candance's and figuring out lyrics from there. As of recently though, I have been writing lyrics as I write the instrumentals for some of our songs. Each song is different though, and sometimes songs are finalized in a day, and other times they are refined over the course of months.
Remy: Logan usually has dozens of new ideas that we always expand upon in practices. In our songwriting, it's definitely the foundation of what is to come after.
Remy: Andy's drumming builds off of the rhythm Logan provided, and his synthesis with Miguel creates this low-end texture that supports the lead & rhythmic parts Logan dances around on each song.
Remy: The vocals as of recent tend to duel between Remy and Logan, who both write separate parts that intertwine. This is prevalent mainly on our most recent track "Proclamation". A lot of the material on our next project follows suit in this manner.
Remy: The synth leads are the final touch on our songs, usually layered between several patches on a Rolan Juno DI, and following the bass and drum rhythms.
It's easy to tell that you guy's wear your heart's on your sleeves when it comes to the emotions in your song's. Is it or was it difficult to be that open with your emotions, or does it provide a sense of catharsis?
Logan: I think that I am trying to capture the feeling that I had when I was 16, and I first started listening to this music. I don't really find it difficult at all to be as emotionally open as I am whether that be in terms of writing or while playing live.
Logan: I would be embarrassed not to be as open as I can be. Because then what's the point really?
Remy: At these show's, the speakers do not give the lyrics justice, and maybe I find some solace with that. I've always been afraid of really saying how I feel, and with only 3 of these song's out as of now, each one had meticulously gone through several iterations of lyrics and structures, all because we wanted some sort of perfection. But it obviously isn't. Really, it's far from it.
Remy: Each audience provides something different, there's a synthesis between them and a band that has to be expanded upon in a performance that not only helps the artist be the truest version of themselves but allows the audience to enjoy the art to it's full potential.
Remy: We've seen some crowds revel and dance to our tunes, others coldly stand and watch. Regardless we try to stand strong an remember that it's only really about the enjoyment we have in playing together and having our friends to since and dance along with us.
Andy: As a drummer, I think there's a unique way emotions come through in a live performance. You're not using words to express yourself, but every hit, every rhythm, carries weight. For me, playing live is cathartic because it's the one place where I can let everything out without overthinking it, all while doing the thing I love the most.
I believe a couple of your songs have LGBTQ-related lyrics, correct me if I'm wrong, but for example the sample at the start of Proclamation, and some lyrics in Name. Are any of you LGBTQ, and if so, how has it affected your journey with music so far.
Remy: Our vocalist Remy is queer and nonbinary.
Remy: My journey with this identity is a new one and quite difficult. I've struggled with identity my whole life, and my peers growing up did not make it any more easier to find my right self. I've been ridiculed for my appearance, my sexuality, my demeanor. That criticism has proven to be a dampening force on progressing through my life.
Remy: In writing music with my friends, the words you hear are a testament of the courage, perseverance, and individuality I have a against a world that is either indifferent or has a strong hate against it.
Remy: I don't hear enough of this pride and joy of expression in emo. I want to see more of it, but playing these shows have allowed me to meet more folks similar to me, and it makes me feel a little less alone in the grand scheme of things.
That being said, that you don't hear enough of that pride and joy- do you think you could give a message to the emo community that might help people that don't feel scene?
Remy: This scene can feel cold at times, and coming to these shows as a first timer makes you feel as if you've been judged, as if maybe you just don't "fit in"
Remy: Whatever the fuck that means.
Remy: You will find them. You'll find us. We're right here. In this scene we're not afraid, we're not going to conceal the people we were always meant to be. It's easier said than done, I know, I've had every name in the book spat at me, and I'm always surrounded by the people who not only I love but who love me.
Remy: The mirage will fade and we won't be so afraid to be us. But for the meantime we will make our own home in this scene and be in the comfort of our own.
What lead to you eventually coming together to create Shallow Water Blackout?
Andy: Miguel and I have been making music together for about five years. Back in high school, we were both part of an indie punk band called Horror Films that eventually came to an end after we graduated. During that time, I joined Shallow Water Blackout in 2021, and played in both bands. For a while, the band operated as a three-piece, with Remy handling bass duties. However, after Horror films disbanded, we brought Miguel on as our bassist. This shift allowed Remy to focus more on vocals and keys, which really helped shape our current sound.
Remy: Logan & I started writing songs together in our junior year of high school. We predominantly were influenced by Jack Senff's band's, and had too much time to spend albeit getting nowhere at all with out music. There's some early versions of our songs on some tascam dp-006 somewhere, wish we still had those.
Remy: Logan took on guitar while I would play bass and drums. We didn't incorporate synth until we had Andy jump on drums later that year and Miguel shortly after we graduated high school.
Now for the hard question, out of all Jack Senff's band's, which one is the best?
Andy: My favorite Jack Senff band is Merchant Ships! But on a different day it could be William Bonney. All Ten was the first screamo album I every listened to.
Remy: I think when you listen to each of his band's discographies chronologically, you can see this progression of musicality that is really endearing and encapsulates that coming-of-age essence that emo embodies. All Ten bodies the LOL Cats demo but they both have their own merits and charm. Actually, All Ten was probably the album that got Logan & I to start off as SWB in the first place.
Remy: So despite that blabbering I'm always going Merchant Ships. Something That Matters is the perpetual life anthem for me. I'd love to cover it one day.
Logan: Sorry for the late response. I'd say Merchant Ships is Jack Senff's best band, because it's really what got me to love music in the first place. My favorite song's are Good Weekend, Let's Exchance Word Vomit, Something Paul Revere, and Something that Matters (in no order)
An alien ship appears over the planet, and bring an ultimatum. You must show them one song- if they life it, they'll leave earth alone- If they don't, they're vaporizing the planet. What song are you picking?
Andy: Buddy Holly by Weezer (We're fucked)
Remy: 6 Foot 7 Foot by Lil Wayne
Logan: Fuck You by Ceelo Green
What are the future plans for the band? Any new music, or big show's coming up?
Remy: Currently, we are finishing up recording with Low ceiling Records for our debut project "Outside of Salton City". It shares elements of tracks already released along with some new instruments being included.
Remy: Our biggest show so far, with Widowdusk & Your Arms Are My Cacoon, will be next year on February 13th. Aside from that, we have many more shows being booked throughout the 1st half of next year, and we can't wait to meet more new friend's. :)
Andy: Along with that we're also hoping to start playing shows outside of SoCal in 2025 as well.
Learn more about Shallow Water Blackout's aesthetic and the meaning behind their song 'Every Month' by subscribing on Patreon!
Thanks again to Shallow Water Blackout for doing this interview with us, and we can't wait to see you in the next one! Stay tuned.
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