What are your names?
Scott Tyler, Matt Lipkins, Adam Hoffman
What is the band’s name?
The Shadowboxers
How did you come up with the band’s name?
We liked the way that the art of shadowboxing represents what we’re about: rhythm, preparation when no one’s looking, you-against-you. And as we’ve put in our 10,000 hours on the road and in the studio honing our craft, the name feels even more fitting now than it did when we started 10 years ago.
What is your genre of music?
Pop
Give us a little bio about you.
We are a three-part harmony driven pop band who leans heavily on classic song writing and pushes the boundary of how those songs are framed in the studio. We write, we play everything, and we sing around one mic frequently. We’ve been on five domestic and international tours, the biggest of which was as the opener for Justin Timberlake on his world tour last year. Now we’re getting ready to release our most authentic music to date.
What made you go into music?
Not sure…it was never a decision.
Are you signed?
We are completely independent for the first time in years.
You released your new single ‘Honeymoon, tell us more about the single.
Honeymoon represents a lot of elements of our identity that we haven’t showcased in years. Where in the past a lot of our music has been very bold and energetic, this song is vulnerable and honest. From it’s lyrics to its chord changes and melodies, it’s unafraid and unapologetic about it’s influences and it’s message.
What is the meaning behind the single?
Honeymoon represents the butterflies and fireworks of new love, and the fear of that fading.
Describe the track in two words.
Cold fire
What was the writing process like?
We wrote this in the winter of 2017 with our friend Adrianne “AG” Gonzalez, while breaking from writing upbeat pop songs. The title, “Honeymoon”, was something Matt brought in, and in trying to work out a song around the word itself, he and AG thought it’d be interesting to write a deceptively romantic sounding sad ballad. I think we spent around two hours just locking in the chorus, and once we had it, we knew we had something special.
What was the recording process like?
Honestly, a bit of a nightmare. We FULLY recorded and produced and restarted this song two times before we landed on the current version. The first attempt was a whole step higher and the vocal blend on the chorus just wasn’t working. It lacked the “buttery” quality that we are always striving for in our 3-part blend. The second attempt had this really happening James Jamerson-style bass part that we ended up scrapping because it was almost too good that it was pulling focus. We ended up pitching that part up 2 octaves and running it through my Chase Bliss warped vinyl pedal and it created this really cool disco pluck thing that you can hear if you really lean in. Sometimes everything comes together, and the recording process is obvious – that was not the case with this song. We knew the song was so special with just Matt and a piano so there was a lot of pressure to maintain that intimacy while still doing what we do. We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
Who did you work with on the single?
We recorded this ourselves in our studio in Pasadena.
We also see a music video, what was the creative process like?
There is a classic elegance to this song, and we wanted to capture that in our video, so we decided to record it live in Studio One of East West Studios. We brought in background singers, a full string section and showed the song in the light that it deserves.
Will we see an EP or Album anytime soon and if so what can we expect?
Yes…you can expect a full-length record. This is the album we’ve dreamed of making our entire careers. We’re almost finished with it. It’s really good. We’re not biased. That’s an objective statement. The New York Times fact-checked it.
Do you have any shows coming up?
Yes. We’re playing a few shows in December to close out the year – one in Nashville, one outside of LA, and a NYE show in Pittsburgh.
If so where will you be heading?
Nashville, LA, Pittsburgh
What else can we expect in 2019/Early 2020?
More singles coming out once a month that eventually lead to an album.
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any upcoming artists?
Not currently
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
Yes. All depends on the right fit. They could reach out to us on IG (@TheShadowboxers) or email our Manager – Matt Ryan Schwartz (MatthewRyanTSB@gmail.com)
Do you play any instruments?
Yes. We all play instruments and we all sing. Scott on keys and guitar, Matt on Keys, and Adam on lead guitar.
Who are your influences?
Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees, Prince, EWF, Paul Simon, Tame Impala, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, D’Angelo, Coldplay…
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
From everywhere, big and small, meaningful or trivial.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Playing music for people who want it and care about it.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
We all love keeping up on our fitness, we’re movie buffs so we frequently hit the theatres, and exploring the food scene in LA has been fun this year too.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Billie Jean
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Don’t ask the audience to clap, tell the audience to clap. – JT
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
There’s no substitute for logging the hours and putting in the work.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Mark your accomplishments.
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
R. Thomas Deluxe Grill in Atlanta
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first? Gym
2/ Who do you see first? People in a grocery store
3/What do you eat first? Thai food
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
The first five words…
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
on IG, twitter
