In the Whale’s music resonates with anyone thirsting for the time when bands simply rocked. That nostalgia, and the Denver, CO based duo’s need for a vehicle to figure out a way to navigate a world that’s quick to judge and write-off a book by its cover is the foundation for their alternative-punk-blues sound that is showcased on the band’s new EP, Quicksand.
Celebrating their five year anniversary in 2016, the band has grown significantly from thanks to a relentless tour schedule and a live show that’s likened to a sonic boom. Artists and festival promoters have caught notice with the band playing Riot Fest, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and over 400 shows with the likes of Jane’s Addiction, the Toadies, Electric 6 and many more.
Instead of boasting themselves, Nate Valdez (guitar/vocals) and Eric Riley (drums/vocals) said, “the Chicago Tribune described us best, ‘Stripped down to a simple essence, the band’s hard-edged fare scampers, thrusts and giddily thrashes…Dirty, fun and caked in garage grime, the songs are unconcerned with trends.’ Ok, we have a show to play.”
In this interview spotlight, we speak with In The Whale about the new project, music, influences, and more.
Full Q&A, links, and streams can be found below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
We are a two piece rock band that calls Denver home. We first formed in Greeley, CO and eventually moved to Denver. We play Rock music with Punk rock undertones.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
I grew up singing music in church and always had a strong desire to play music and to create it. I taught myself to play guitar and to continue my interest in music. I eventually started a band with a few friends in middle school which pushed me further into learning how to play music. It wasn’t until high school that I had a Music teacher names Brent Woods that pushed me to play music and to continue writing.
What motivates me to continue playing music is my desire to learn new things and to make music that helps others. Whether it is helping someone have a good time or giving someone a song that can help them through a rough time.
Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?
I was very heavily influenced by early punk bands (Bad Brains, the Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion) as well as alternative rock (Smashing pumpkins, Meat puppets, Melvins, and Helmet) There was something about these genres of music that felt “Real” to me. It made me want to make music that I felt was genuine.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
We set out to grow as a group and I feel that we have defiantly taken a step toward being more diverse and more efficient in conveying a message. This new release is more relevant to what is going on culturally as well as pushed us to mature our sound.
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
We have a strong work ethic and it has been paying off. We tour as much as possible and go to our fans instead of asking them to try and find our stuff online, not to say that that we are not using technology. We have used all the social media outlets to our advantage. It has given us the ability to reach our fans directly and to answer questions and give them updates on what we are doing.
How do you feel about streaming services? Any romantic attachments to the physical formats: vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, CDs?
I personally love vinyl, but also know how important it is to have your music on all formats. There are many that enjoy listening to music while they are working or traveling and having music easily accessible is very important.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
- Facebook – inthewhale/facebook
- Instagram – in_the_whale
- Twitter – inthewhale/twitter
- Bands In Town – bandsintown.com/InTheWhale
- Soundcloud – soundcloud.com/in-the-whale
https://soundcloud.com/in-the-whale/american-eyes/
