By Brenden DelaRua
The Crow’s Nest sat down with the up and coming local band The Young Something to talk about their new EP. “About This” is a four-song melodic indie rock EP released on Valentine’s Day.
How would you characterize your music?
Alex Bonyata: It’s like indie pop/rock.
Are there any artist you would say are similar to you?
Alex: We both like Lorde and Bleachers a lot. Those are two big inspirations.
What is your most memorable stage performance and why?
Bella Beyer: I’d say our most memorable stage performance was when we got to open for Ringo Starr. When we got the call for that, we were freaking out. It was really a surreal moment to play alongside of an actual Beatle.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Alex: Well it’s mostly, right now, it’s me setting up and getting sweaty as f*ck and then trying to look good after that for the show.
What’s the side of being in a band that most people don’t see?
Bella: I would say that what people don’t see about being in a band is that there is so many people you want to please and you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. You know, no one in the band wants to be in conflict, but it is a business and it’s hard to make sure that everyone is pleased with the decisions that have to be made.
What song off your EP “About This” are you most excited for people to hear?
Alex: Definitely “Red.” I think the dynamics on that song are really great. The verse is super low and then the chorus is very cinematic and huge. And then the ending we get noisy as f*ck. It’s a lot of fun to play. I think that would be a good one.
Speaking of “Red,” at the end of the song, what are you guys saying?
Bella: At the end it says, “Did you enjoy your head in the toilet” and that’s kind of a reference to the collapse of such a big night that you had. Just, “did you really enjoy it?”
And the chorus says “Everything is all red.” What is “all red?”
Bella: In the pre-chorus I say “There’s something always beautiful about this,” in my head. I really see the party atmosphere of bright lights and dancing and the emotions that are going through that. And then at a point there becomes a consequence to that and it’s just all red, now it’s all just chaotic, now it’s just hit its peak.
Off the EP, what song means the most to you personally?
Alex: For me, definitely “Better Friends” because I wrote that one kind of about the whole graduating from high school and figuring out what you’re going to do with your life and all the stress behind that. And you know, when it’s something or any topic that’s really pertinent to your life at the moment is really easy to get a good song out of. Whatever is really stressing you out or on your mind at the time. That song came out really easy from that.
What is your writing process?
Bella: We have a few different writing processes, but I’d say for the most part it starts with Alex or I coming up with a chorus, melody or verse and really just singing that into our phone and recording it and then coming to each other and really developing the rest of the song and writing that together. Sometimes we’ll write full songs independently and then come to each other. Alex will produce the lyrics and the melody that I’ve written or Alex will come to me and shape up the lyrics and melody a little bit. I’d say that’s our writing process.
What’s the meaning behind the song “Wrong With Me”? It’s one of my favorites on the EP.
Bella: Awesome, I’m glad you like it. Whenever I write a song, I come up with the meaning after it’s written. I just kind of write it and then I’m like “okay so this is what this is about.” With “Wrong With Me” I would say it’s about when you’re doing you and you’re doing what feels right, a lot of people might not support you or think that’s the right thing to do. So I think the song is making a comment to them as in, “Then tell me what’s wrong with me. What’s wrong with what I’m doing? I’m doing what I feel is right so what’s wrong with that?”
What’s your favorite song to play live?
Bella: My personal favorite song to play live is actually “Wrong With Me” because it has such an attitude to it and it really is a song I can get into character with and just rock out. It’s got a nice beat to it.
Alex: I got a ripping guitar solo.
Bella: Yeah Alex has that guitar solo, so all of us are just rocking out to that one. So I’d say that’s really fun to perform.
Some people might not know this, but you recorded the EP in Nashville. Why Nashville?
Alex: Well we’ve been up to Nashville in summer 2016 and we went up there with Bella, her dad and me. And we just did a lot of networking, met different people and one of the guys we met up there just directed us to Stephen Leiweke in Nashville.
Bella: Who produced “Red,” “Wrong With Me” and “Better Friends.”
Alex: Yeah so we came up again this last summer of 2017 and did it with him and it was a great time.
What’s the main message of your music?
Alex: Well two of the four songs on the EP are just about following your passion and doing what you want to do in your life. Overall, I’d say that’s what it’s about.
Bella: If you want to be an artist or you want to be an entrepreneur or whatever you want to be, go after it, follow your passion, go head first into it. So, I’d say that’s a really prominent message throughout a lot of our songs.
What makes your music different from other bands?
Alex: I think when you’re writing as a duo it changes the game a lot instead of writing as a solo artist, because me and Bella are combining our influences and our tastes so I think our songs come out a lot more unique than if we were to write them separately. If I was to go off and have a solo career or if Bella was to do that then we both would be writing the same songs a lot more often than we do now.
Bella: Because he has a different taste and I have a different taste, although they are similar, it’s still provides for our songs to not sound the same but to have a dynamic.
What’s next for The Young Something?
Bella: Yeah so the EP is coming out and a little bit after the EP comes out, we’re dropping a music video, and so that’s going to be really exciting and we’re working on booking a lot of out-of-town shows. Just seeing what opportunities arise.
Alex: Getting the word out there.
The Young Something’s EP “About This” is available to listen or stream now.
Header photo: Brendan DelaRua | The Crow’s Nest
