For the last five years, Jem Siow and Speed have been working their way up to the release of a debut album called "Only One Mode." But don't let the name fool you: There's more to them than you think.
"We don’t have the same lived experience that some of our influences may have had. But what we do have, what I feel is unique and special to us, is the real connection and friendship that we have."
This is what I love about Speed. They're playing hard-as-fuck music but they've got song titles like "Real Life Love" and every time I see them getting interviewed, they're just so stoked to be playing and getting to meet the bands that inspired them. It's hardcore joy. And the distinction between singing about loyalty and singing about love is an important one, I think. Normalize hard-as-fuck dudes telling their friends they love them.
" I feel it gives an individual some kind of an opportunity to have some sort of meaningful impact when the world feels so helpless. I’m not smart enough to address all the problems of the world. I don’t know how to fix all the fucked up mess outside. But at least I feel like I can make some kind of tangible impression on my own community."
The part about coming from a classical music background but never having that feel like community the way hardcore music does resonated with me. I definitely don't regret my classical violin background, but I always felt like an outsider, everything was a competition, and it was just so stressful. Not saying that can't occur in other music communities, but the classical music world is crazy competitive just sort of by nature it seems. The knowledge base it provides is useful though. I minored in music for undergrad and learned a bunch in my theory courses.
Side note, new topic, would love to see an Anthony Green antimatter interview someday. With the interview style you have, I feel like that could be a cool conversation.
Hope your summer tour with Thursday is going well! I'll be at the show in Virginia on Friday :)
It’s interesting too because there’s a whole generation of kids who grew up watching American Idol and X Factor, which normalized music as a competition more than ever…. As for Anthony, he is definitely on the shortlist!
"We don’t have the same lived experience that some of our influences may have had. But what we do have, what I feel is unique and special to us, is the real connection and friendship that we have."
This is what I love about Speed. They're playing hard-as-fuck music but they've got song titles like "Real Life Love" and every time I see them getting interviewed, they're just so stoked to be playing and getting to meet the bands that inspired them. It's hardcore joy. And the distinction between singing about loyalty and singing about love is an important one, I think. Normalize hard-as-fuck dudes telling their friends they love them.
" I feel it gives an individual some kind of an opportunity to have some sort of meaningful impact when the world feels so helpless. I’m not smart enough to address all the problems of the world. I don’t know how to fix all the fucked up mess outside. But at least I feel like I can make some kind of tangible impression on my own community."
Well said and I could not agree more.
Now more than ever.
...so true.
The part about coming from a classical music background but never having that feel like community the way hardcore music does resonated with me. I definitely don't regret my classical violin background, but I always felt like an outsider, everything was a competition, and it was just so stressful. Not saying that can't occur in other music communities, but the classical music world is crazy competitive just sort of by nature it seems. The knowledge base it provides is useful though. I minored in music for undergrad and learned a bunch in my theory courses.
Side note, new topic, would love to see an Anthony Green antimatter interview someday. With the interview style you have, I feel like that could be a cool conversation.
Hope your summer tour with Thursday is going well! I'll be at the show in Virginia on Friday :)
It’s interesting too because there’s a whole generation of kids who grew up watching American Idol and X Factor, which normalized music as a competition more than ever…. As for Anthony, he is definitely on the shortlist!