A Quick Chat with Selfish Sons
Revolver has a powerful energy and distinct sound. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the track and the story you wanted to tell through it?
We wrote this track with our great friend and producer Tom Eggert and honestly we all just wanted to try to write something that felt totally different from what we were used to. It was live in the room for most of the session and Tom and I just threw some lyrics around about an experience I’d had with a person who didn’t exactly have the best intentions at heart. We love a guitar solo too, so of course we had to throw in a huge section at the end.
Working with Mark Rankin, who’s mixed for iconic artists like Harry Styles and Adele, must have been an amazing experience. How did his influence shape the final version of Revolver?
We’ve been fans of his for the longest time and it’s been such a pleasure to work with Mark. He’s one of the best. I feel like he had a massive impact on the track - nailing the live energy, and bringing our favourite things about rock into a pop world. He understood us and what we were trying to do from the first mix and he’s done an incredible job on the whole EP. He’s the guy.
You’ve got a huge tour coming up supporting Lil Wayne and The Kid Laroi in the US. What are you most looking forward to about this tour, and how do you prepare for shows of that scale?
It’s a ‘pinch me’ moment for sure, and there's no better feeling playing on the same bill as people we admire like that. Honestly, the best part outside of the show is that there’s always something crazy going on backstage. I remember there was a roaming chiropractor at one, and a secret speakeasy at another. So we’ll definitely have to keep you posted. But prep? We rehearse for 6 plus, everyday for weeks beforehand. A lot of the backstage prep is just breathing deep, eating rider food and hoping the set doesn’t completely tank. It’s the time of our life really and we wouldn’t change it for the world.
This isn't your first time sharing the stage with global heavyweights, you’ve also supported the Jonas Brothers. How has playing with such big names impacted your growth as a band?
It’s been so surreal, I think it’s really made us understand what goes into a show on that level. There’s so many working parts and you really have to be ready to change everything up on a dime if you have to, to make things work for the show. It’s made us want to push for that kind of energy at every gig. There’s no better feeling, so we’re going to do everything we can to get our vision to huge stages like that.
What role models, whether in music or beyond, have had the biggest influence on your approach to songwriting and performing?
We’ve always been inspired by ethereal sounds, and artists that make us feel like we are being transported to another dimension when we hear them play. People like The Killers, The 1975, Kings of Leon, 21 pilots and INXS have been huge inspirations on that front. I’ve also been obsessed with writers like Truman Capote, Charles Bukowski and Hunter S Thompson, so finding a way to put their words into a feeling when you hear a guitar sound or a groove has been a big thing for us as well.
You have an EP release coming soon—how does it build on the sound and themes of Revolver, and what can fans expect from this next chapter?
I think we’ve all been having a mid 20’s experience as of late, and all the songs ride this identity line. It’s almost about who we really are as people and figuring out the most confusing period of our lives. And how sometimes it all feels like a giant waste of time not knowing the things we want to know, but it’s also beautiful. That’s where the title came from. It’s Beautiful Waste of Time figuring yourself out in the world, and worth every second.
With so much happening, how do you stay grounded and maintain your creative focus? What advice would you give to young bands trying to navigate the music industry today?
It’s not the easiest thing to do. LA can be a petri dish for comparison and we often find ourselves battling to find belief in ourselves, and that can ultimately affect our creative focus. We’re so lucky to have each other, as well as the incredibly supportive people that surround us and carry us away from negative thoughts. We don’t have too much wisdom to be giving out advice, but you probably shouldn’t take the people you love for granted.