Photo by Alex Lyon
Interview by Madison Boyce
Coming off of the recent release of their newest single titled “Don’t Stay Don’t Go”, we had the chance to sit down on a Zoom call with New Jersey indie-pop band, Pollyanna. We chatted about their new music, their thoughts on drive-in shows, and how they feel their band has evolved as a whole.
To start this off, please introduce yourself and what each of you does in the band!
Jill: I’m Jill! I sing and play guitar.
Dan: Hey I’m Dan and I play drums!
Brandon: I’m Brandon and I play bass.
For those who have never listened to Pollyanna what would you describe your sound as?
D: Kind of like alternative-pop, indie-pop, but also has like a punk edge to it.
B: But, not pop-punk! I wouldn’t say its pop-punk.
D: Yeah, not necessarily pop-punk.
J: It’s hard because a lot of our songs are different and I think each person interprets us differently. I like to think we fall under the alternative-indie vibe.
How has the writing and recording process evolved from the beginning of Pollyanna to now?
J: It evolved a lot like, quite a bit!
D: Has it really? I was going to say it’s been pretty much the same elements. Jill, you start with a hook and melody. Brandon and I add on to it and structure it.
J: Yeah, yeah. But I also think that before Brandon joined, we wouldn't practice that much.
He joined the band, about a little over a year ago. Like, he's been with us for about a year and a half.
I would kind of like write a song in total, and then we make it like fully instrumental, Dan and I, and then we would just keep adding to it. I think now though, I come up with an idea and we're a lot more equally involved because, like, they'll write stuff for lyrics or melodies or structures.
So we all just kind of write during practice, which is something I realize a lot of bands don't do. In a way, it's really cool.
I know you guys played a drive-in show in Toms River, New Jersey a few months ago! How was that? Do you think drive-in shows are going to become a regular thing because of the pandemic?
D: It was really fun!
B: Agreed!
D: It was one of my favorite shows of all time. I really wish I saw more of them happening, but you know, obviously still, with the pandemic, a lot of places are very reluctant to put on shows, but it was definitely one of the coolest experiences playing to a full parking lot.
B: Yeah, it was very hot. There was no like, awning over us. So it was just the sun beating down on us. Definitely as hot as a basement we're used to playing in.
J: It was a cool experience, but I think that it's a little bit underwhelming. I also went to a drive-in show, like a month before that.
As like, an audience person, it's great, but it's a little bit underwhelming [as a performer]. I think that at this point in time, people are getting a little bit tired of not having the gratification of...seeing a show.
Speaking of the pandemic, do you guys find it more difficult to work on the band now? Or has nothing changed?
J: What do you guys think?
B: At first, we were all definitely hesitant to even meet up, you know? There was a while where no one practiced- us and every other band.
After we were careful with quarantining and all that we started meeting up again. It's been good because we've had time to sit on stuff and think it out. But then, you know, when you're able to play shows, you're able to just do everything more freely.
D: Honestly, it also, kind of helped us out. Now, with the whole thing, we kind of have a set schedule going, where it's every Wednesday that we meet up.
We each have a day of the week where we take time out to meet up and write and go over the stuff we have and talk about what's next and everything. So at the same time, as it was, you know, kind of heartbreaking to not be able to meet up for a while we also were able to establish a schedule as well.
J: I definitely think it helped because, before COVID happened, we had two tours and a lot of shit. We were very, very busy and it was also very much like, in a way pressuring because we were behind on a lot of things.
Although it sucks all of it kind of got canceled, it set us back and gave us a fresh start. So, it can be more exciting for what has to come in the future.
Who would each of you say inspired you to pursue music?
J: Hayley Williams. Paramore.
D: My family members because growing up all around me! I had my uncle and his sons drumming.
My father and my brother both played guitar and other stringed instruments. So, I had that to look up to and I definitely took some importation from them getting into music.
J: Yeah, I guess my dad too, but, also when I was a kid, I was like, I don't want to play guitar because my dad plays guitar.
D: Yeah, that's why I started playing drums!
B: When I was young my friend Nick played guitar from when he was probably, like 10 years old and he was like, “Yo, you should get a bass we should start jamming”. So, I got a bass and we started jamming.
What is your dream tour lineup, either one you’d play on or one you'd watch?
B: If we could either open for My Chemical Romance or Senses Fail.
J: Paramore, Princess Nokia, us, and Skyline.
D: I think my answer would be Enter Shakari, Wiz Kalifa, and either Dance Gavin Dance or The Story So Far.
Does what you’re listening to at the time ever inspire certain parts of songs you write?
D: Yes!
B: Yes!
Jill: Oh, yeah! Definitely!
Sometimes I’ll go through weird phases of listening to certain eras or certain styles of music and then I’ll take inspiration from that. It’ll get me in a different mood and that’s why I write out of genre sometimes. I think that depending on my mood and what I’m listening to transcribes to how I’m feeling with writing.
With this newest song, “Don’t Stay Don’t Go”, who were you listening to at the time, and did they inspire any part of it?
J: Ok so, I started writing this song almost exactly a year ago around October or November of last year. From Brandon showing me his music that he listens to, I've also really come to terms [with the fact] that I love 90s grunge music.
I started to really listen to more Nirvana and Courtney Love and bands from the 90s. So like, it's actually very inspired by Brandon's music taste, I think.
To end things off, if you could say anything to anyone reading this right now, what would it be?
D: Take care of your mental health, your physical health, and the people around you. Always check in on your friends and your family.
B: Don’t eat pizza for breakfast. That’s what I did today and I feel like shit right now.
J: Vote! Pay attention to what going on in the world.
Huge thanks to Pollyanna for taking the time out of their schedules to talk with us! You can support them by following them on Twitter @PollyannaNJ and by picking up some of their merch the next time it's available. If there's anyone in particular you'd like to see us interview, let us know by tweeting us @lgndsoftmrw!
Comentários