Rec Hall on Musical Influences, Their Creative Process, and More
Photo by Charlie Park
Interview by Tallulah Totten
1127: Who are some of your guys’ favorite artists?
Rec Hall: MGMT, the Beatles, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Strokes, and Broadcast to name a few.
1127: What has the process of creating your guys’ new EP Localism been like? And what inspired Localism?
Rec Hall: The process of creating “Localism” has been long but, rewarding. It’s like a chronicle of our early development - from our first song “She Doesn’t Get It” to our most recent, Marty. The EP was inspired in part by listening to bands we look up to, and by seeing them live. Seeing how they resonate with a live audience really gives us perspective on how we want to come off to our own fans and who we want to be/become. The EP also draws a lot from our own experience growing into young adulthood in our local sphere here in Southern California.
1127: You guys have such a classic southern California sound so to speak, how do you feel growing up in SoCal impacted your music?
Rec Hall: Having grown up in Southern California, it’s a bit a bit hard to see things from another perspective, but the music scene in LA undoubtedly broadened our exposure to indie music.
1127: What song from the EP was the most challenging to write, and why?
Rec Hall: “If You Run” for sure. The initial idea for that song came to us earlier than most of the other songs on this EP, but the process of finishing it took way longer. I think that song just sort of had some growing pains, but working through them was really important for us.
1127: What do you hope listeners will take away from the new EP?
Rec Hall: We hope listeners will attach these songs to special times in their lives and, be reminded of specific moments each time they listen.
1127: What are you guys most looking forward to on your upcoming tour with Beach Weather and Almost Monday?
Rec Hall: We are looking forward to learning from the other band’s live presences and seeing how our own songs resonate with a live audience. We’re also looking forward to exploring parts the country that we haven’t been to. Plus, it’s always really great to meet fans and talk to new people.
1127: What would be your guys’ dream venue to play?
Rec Hall: John - Red Rocks, Lance - Las Vegas Sphere, Ben - Hollywood Bowl.
1127: How has your music style changed over the years? Is there a particular direction that you see the band heading in?
Rec Hall: When we were younger (as in highschool) we wrote much more in the vein of blues and classic rock. We’re not sure exactly where we’re headed but we’re excited to evolve.
1127: If you guys could compare the feeling of your music to any film scene, what would it be and why?
Rec Hall: In “SpongeBob: The Movie” when David Hasselhoff becomes a motorboat and sends SpongeBob and Patrick back to Bikini Bottom with ferocious speed from the power of his pectoral muscles.
1127: Are there any upcoming plans or exciting news you can share with us?
Rec Hall: We’re continuously writing music and can’t wait to show it to the world.
Listen to their new EP “Localism”