Formed in Downtown Manhattan in 2012, The Howlin’ Souls have emerged onto the music scene with a fresh yet classic sound that has been welcomed by critics & fans alike.
Singer/Songwriter Pete Smith has infused his Indiana roots into his songs with raspy and honest vocals and lyrics reminiscent of Petty and Dylan. Pete’s guitar playing is supported by lead guitarist and New York native Scott Sepe, who lends his nostalgic riffs to the Souls’ sound, pulling from the blues standards he mastered as a teenager. The rhythm section is comprised of New England natives Nate Lang (drums) and Robbie Sokolowsky (bass). Their shared love of Classic Blues, Motown, and R&B offer a humble yet infectious back-beat groove.
Smith and Sokolowsky self-produce the band’s music videos while Lang has been taking roles in front of the camera, most recently as drummer Carl Tanner in the Oscar nominated film Whiplash. The band has released 3 videos, “Black Heart”, “Anyway You Take It,” and “Free & Young”.
In this interview spotlight, we chat with The Howlin’ Souls about influences, the latest project, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and streams below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into The Howlin’ Souls, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
Pete Smith: We play rock n’ roll. It’s what I’ve always listened to so it was natural for me to write in that genre.
Nate Lang: I’ve always been attracted to the sound of old blues, country and rock n’ roll records. The real, old, no frills stuff. So that is always the sound I have in my head when we are creating something.
How long have you been creating and sharing your music with the public?
PS: We released our first EP in April 2017 and we’ve been playing live as a band since 2012.
Who or what influences your playing and/or writing? Also, what motivates you to keep going?
PS: My influences are John Lennon, Keith Richards, Neil Young and Joe Strummer. I keep making music because it’s just a part of me and what I do. I’ve always done it.
NL: Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific with your new video “Free & Young”? Creatively or otherwise?
PS: Yes. How to make a video on a $10 budget.
NL: I think it’s a cool song to listen to for the last days of summer. When you’re having fun before it all comes crashing down. I think the video has that feel.
What was the last song you listened to?
PS: “Death or Glory” by The Clash
NL: “River” by Bishop Briggs
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
PS: Whatever is available. Digital is so easy to get. Reel to reel tapes sound better than anything I’ve ever heard, but they get expensive. In the end, the most important thing are the speakers.
NL: I like listening to a track the way it was meant to be listened to. If it came out as a record, I want to hear the vinyl. If it was a mono recording, I want to hear it in mono. If it was recorded for digital a few weeks ago, then I want to hear it like that. For me, it’s on a song by song basis.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
PS: I usually use YouTube to check out new bands or listen to music. It’s the easiest way for me to find stuff.
NL: I like the randomness of Pandora. There are some really cool blues and 1950s country stations that I listen to. I also use YouTube a lot to watch old live performances of bands.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract listeners to your music?
PS: I think it’s the same problem I have as a listener; where do you go to find new bands? I just don’t know where to look.
NL: The social media can sometimes be challenging because it’s the way people find music these days. If you don’t have social media presence, you may not reach your audience. It’s like another full time job on top of making the music.
Do you gig, tour or perform? Do you ever live stream? Where can music lovers see you live?
NL: We’ve live streamed shows on Facebook. Right now, we’re playing a lot in the NYC area, with some shows coming up in Los Angeles. We’d love to play in Nashville and Memphis, places that have strong musical history.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more of your music?
CONNECT with us:
Website- www.thehowlinsouls.com
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/thehowlinsouls
Twitter- https://twitter.com/TheHowlinSoulsDISCOVER our music:
Bandcamp- https://thehowlinsouls.bandcamp.com/releases
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/artist/659TGoGRjiO9TVAmdm1CY7Our latest video “Free & Young” can be seen here-
https://youtu.be/g2ChhWJTkRc
Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?
PS: Here’s some good advice I saw recently from David Hasselhoff. “If you wait around for someone else to do it, it won’t get done. So do it yourself.”
NL: Always trust a guy who quotes David Hasselhoff.
