Recently, I had the opportunity to interview the Indie band, Eternal Summers. The band consists of members Nicole Yun, Daniel Cundiff, and Johnathan Woods.
The Virginia trio will be making a stop in Chicago at The Empty Bottle on May 5th, a day after they release their 5th album. Check out our interview below to see what I discussed with the band!
How did you come up with the band name?
It’s from Sonnet 18 by Shakespeare. It just so happened that a ton of bands that had the name “beach” or somehow related to summer themes formed at the same time we did. But our name never really had to do with the beach, or hot weather. We’re from the mountains in Virginia where there is no beach in sight. The band name had more to do with a quality of beauty that isn’t superficial or tangible- at least in my understanding of the sonnet.
Your 5th album, Every Day It Feels Like I’m Dying, is set to release on May 4th. What can people expect from the album?
We’ve had a few years of “living life” between our last album and this one. I think the time off the road and time not rushing ourselves allowed us to be influenced by a broader scope of music. We all may have been a little bit burnt out from the rock genre in general so this album has a few new influences. Jazz, Bossa Nova, and more experimental music as well as pop from Sweden and Japan were big for us. John Coltrane, Stereolab, Vince Guaraldi, The Sea and Cake, The Cardigans, Pizzicato 5 are some touchpoints
Out of the albums that you have released so far, do you have a favorite and if so, which one is it and why?
It’s hard to pick a favorite because each album marked a certain point in our development as a band. I am loving playing songs on our 2014 album The Drop Beneath in our live shows again, because the songs were technically difficult for us to play back then, and now they feel much easier and more natural. Also with the lighter and jazzier tone of some of the new songs, those songs are a great juxtaposition especially for a live show!
Do you like to take risks with your sound and try out new things or do you like to stay consistent and to your bands roots?
I think we have always taken risks. From being a very simple and clean guitar duo to being a trio with more loud and distorted textures, I think we have always taken a clear step with each album into new styles, and new ways of writing songs. What stays the same to me is that we craft songs that are melodically driven and that excite us.
How would you describe your sound to those who may not have heard about your band?
We’re an anthemic, melodic and moody rock band. If people need genres I would say we could be dream pop, new wave, post punk, 90’s college rock, art rock, jazz pop, no wave. It makes very little sense written in words, but hopefully the person would just listen to our music.
The band formed in 2009, in your eyes, how much has the band progressed since then?
A ton. I don’t think people stay in bands this long anymore- at least not many. When you play with the exact same lineup for many years, it’s hard not to grow and mature together- musically and personally. We are definitely a family, and musically we are on the level of having psychic connection.
Who or what made you decide to make music/be in a band?
I have two older sisters who are 5 and 10 years older than I am. I was consistently exposed to their music from age 2 through my college years. Having music curated by your siblings as the soundtrack of your childhood just makes one very curious about bands, about why certain songs sound the way they do, why those songs stay in your head. My sister Eileen bought me a bass guitar right before I entered 7th grade, so that was the year I started being in bands. I haven’t stopped being in a band since then.
Is there any place that you haven’t toured yet that you would like to go to?
Japan and Brazil. Maybe Korea too, since my family is from there and I have just started to get a grasp of their indie rock scene in the past couple of years.
Who are some of your musical influences?
Beethoven, Bjork, Elvis Costello, The Clash
What advice do you have for those who want to be in a band?
Give your bandmates the benefit of the doubt. Don’t let other people outside of your band steal your joy.
What do you want people to take away from your band/music?
Whatever they want. Music is personal.
Elizabeth Granato
Editor in Chief