Southern California based quartet, Dinosaur Parade, released their debut EP ‘Reading Clouds’ in the spring of 2015, and is set to premier their first studio single this month from their upcoming sophomore EP ‘Feel It’. Blending an indie-rock vibe with a hint of pop and folk, Dinosaur Parade has drawn comparisons to acts such as Of Monsters and Men, Hippo Campus and Fleetwood Mac. Producer Maxwell Moon (Young the Giant, Braveves, and Laura Jean Anderson) describes the sound as “music that invokes emotions everyone is familiar with, while keeping the mood light and airy.”
In this interview spotlight, we have a virtual pow wow with Dinosaur Parade to discuss influences, the new project, and much more.
Full Q&A, links, and a stream of I’ll Be Around can be found below.
Let’s get to know you, the artist and your music a little better. What attracted you to genre(s) or style(s) you practice?
Stylistically each member is very different. Our styles range from indie, folk, funk and pop. When I started the band I heavily favored an indie sound (Cayucas, Vampire Weekend, Young the Giant, Born Ruffians, Minus The Bear) but once we began collaborating our sound became enhanced with a folk style vocals with a pop structure and underlying indie vibe. Our diversity makes more sense when you realize where everyone is from Brittany (West Virgina), Anthony (Texas), Michael (England), and James (myself from LA).
How long have you been making music? Have you been performing or sharing it with the public all that time?
We began writing music and performing in 2014. Since then we have played about 30 shows primarily in the greater LA area. We did a small tour in California (LA, SF, SD, Santa Cruz, Oakland) in 2015.
Who or what influences your writing and performance?
The LA music scene is extremely influential. Lots of great music. Bands such as Private Island, Polaris Rose, Chicano Batman, Braeves, etc.
It seems all creative people go through rough patches or writer’s block of some sort. What motivates you to keep going?
Our friends and family waiting for new music motivated us. We went through rough patch for about a month or two which was very discouraging but we just kept going and eventually something would materialize. Those moments when you realize you have something each member enjoys are really special and make writing music feel like a drug.
Were you trying to accomplish something different or specific with this project – creatively or otherwise?
Lots of artists focus too much on trying to be unique and different. We simply focus on writing music we enjoy while keeping it relatable. Our sound is maturing and evolving. From our first EP, Reading clouds to our Sophomore EP, Feel It, there will be a noticeable difference in sound. I’d expect that trend to continue.
What was the last song you listened to?
Seabass by Private Island
Do you prefer a certain medium for listening – vinyl, CDs, mp3, reel-to-reel, Pono,(lol sort of)?
Vinyl definitely has a unique texture but I would have to say mp3 because that medium has made it possible for artists, like ourselves, to easily share music.
If you had to choose one place to host your music, would you prefer Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, or … ?
Apple Music, they seem to be the better bet long term.
Do you ever feel as if your tunes are lost in a sea of music? What are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract new listeners?
YES! New music comes out every day and people’s attention is much less now a days. Getting attention from blogs can be very difficult at times. We simply want the opportunity to have a platform to share our music with people.
Are you playing on live stages, clubs, bars, the local town picnic, festivals?
We plan on hosting a release show in LA sometime in the middle of Fall and hopefully playing some festivals in the beginning of 2017.
Do you ever stream your performances over the net? Where can music lovers see you perform?
We have not done so yet but we plan on taking advantage of the new Facebook Live feature for upcoming shows.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and/or discover more of your music?
All of our music is on iTunes, Spotify and Soundcloud.
Can you share an anecdote or tale of woe or inspiration like a story about an out-of-touch club manager, your favorite fan interaction, broken busses, or you know… just some experience in your musical journey you’ll never forget?
Chubbies, the shorts company and viral video makers, recently used our music for a few of their videos. We gained new fans from different parts of the country, places we’ve never been. To see comments/messages from random people telling you that they love your music….well that’s just heartwarming. Moments like that encourage us to keep writing and it lets us know that there is an audience out there who’s receptive to our music.
What’s your favorite ice cream?
Cookies and Cream
Dream vehicle?
BMW i8
Sailing yacht, catamaran, bass boat, or kayak?
Sailing yacht but I am sure Anthony (bass) would pick kayak.
Place on Earth you must visit some day?
Machu Picchu
Batman or Spiderman?
Batman
James Bond or Jason Borne?
Jason Bourne
Bugs Bunny or Anime?
Bugs Bunny
Favorite beer or beverage of pleasure?
Golden Road Hefe
Movie or book quote you are liable to drop at the wrong moment?
Sandlot….great story and great music
Left with a choice of one instrument, which would you keep?
Fender Telecaster
Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?
Thanks to all of our family and friends for supporting us!
