How did you come up with the band’s name?
The four of us were at a local haunt when our guitarist Hart pointed out the word ‘Parlor’ up on a wall next to the billiard room. We added an ‘s’ to it, and the word just seemed to sound right in terms of how it rolls off the tongue, and how it sets the scene for our music. There’s something slightly moody and smoky about it.
How do you describe your genre of music?
We call it ‘desert rock on the beach’ – which describes our balance between poppy hooks and the heavier, ‘alt rock’ side of our sound. We’re excited to see how this sound evolves, and already have plans to record new material this year that goes in some different directions than our previous releases
What’s the backstory behind ‘Lima’?
Musically, the song came about from Hart bringing the four verse chords to a rehearsal session (he prefaced his introduction of those chords by having the rest of the band keep Martin Solveig’s “The Night Out” in mind). We immediately had that on loop for what seemed like an hour, and knew quickly that there was something there. It felt fresher and ‘dancier’ than anything we had written prior, and that felt like a proper next direction to pursue.
What was the writing process like?
The rest of the song came together quite quickly from a musical perspective, as the parts were finalized over the course of the next one or two rehearsals. Lyrically, the song took a bit longer to get right as is the case with most of our tunes. We made it a point for every melody to be super intentional by not always sticking with what was initially written, which is something we may have been guilty of in the past. The story itself is cantered around a fond yet wistful memory of a relationship gone by in a beachside town, inspired by a quick retreat to the Jersey shore that we took last year.
What was the recording process like?
This tune was the quickest recording process yet, as we tracked everything over the course of 2 days. We’ve been recording at Grand Street Recording in Williamsburg, who has an all-star engineer by the name of Jake Lummus. As we’ve continued to work with him, he has a great ear for knowing the sounds we’re going for without us having to spell it out or pull up a thousand references. Working at that studio alongside Jake really makes the entire recording process a rewarding one for all four of us.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Hart (lead guitar) drives his new motorcycle up and down his street. Matt DaSilva (bass) likes to cook up some Portuguese cuisine. Matt Fullam (lead vocals, guitar) listens to the British shipping news until he falls asleep. Dan (drums) reads books that he finds abandoned on the street.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
“Don’t ever do what you don’t want to do” — this was passed on from the Fullams’ dad, and came from his grandfather. It really makes things quite simple. And that’s not to say there won’t be sacrifices made in order to actually do what you want to, but overall that advice will keep you pointed in the right direction.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians (not about the industry, just as an artist)?
Listen to your favourite artists and figure out what they did to make their mark. Be a sponge to everything you like, and meld those influences into a sound you feel proud about making whether it stays within a genre or completely reinvents the wheel.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Deodorant, towels, extra t-shirts, Matt DaSilva’s famous pasta beforehand, and our credit cards at the bar afterwards.
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