The It City is releasing their sophomore record, Together. The Nashville-based pop/funk band of veteran musicians have come together again to create a new EP – sharing their life experiences to inspire thoughtfulness. Hustling full-time musicians of Nashville, they work by day as the professional talent that powers the city, so that they can then break away, come together, and create exceptional music with a thought-provoking perspective.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with The It City about the latest music, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music 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 based in Nashville, TN. I’d call us a Funk-Pop band with elements of Soul and Rock in the mix as well.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
The four of us eat, sleep and breathe music. We’ve been professional sidemen, writers and session musicians for longer than we’d like to admit. It’s incredible to experience bringing a piece of music to life, whether it’s beginning with a single idea and writing the song ourselves or helping someone else realize their artistic vision, we consider ourselves very lucky to be a piece of the craft.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
Our first project had a lot of the same subject matter and attitude (truth vs. lies, toxic optimism, empathy, injustice, etc.), but it was a bit more subtle. I think I’ve lost a bit of my patience for subtlety as the years have worn on and it was written in a very tumultuous time for everyone, so this project is a bit more explicit in its themes.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
On one hand, the barrier of entry has worn down to almost nil. Which means nearly anyone can release music and get it in front of at least some people. But, of course, the flip side of that is that you need to fight through even more material for a shot at someone’s brief attention. It’s not just about releasing music and calling it done. You have to work to create a compelling reason for people to listen. That’s never been easy and the landscape and methods by which to do that change constantly.
But honestly, I think there’s room for all of it. It’s easy for someone to see a clip of someone on TikTok and not take them seriously, but there are incredible artists doing amazing things on there. By the same token, there are amazing artists out there doing it the “old” way too by hitting the road. There is an inconceivable volume of material out there being released each day, but there’s also a nearly equal appetite for it as we consume more and more art.
What was the last song you listened to?
“Dance Alone” by Tayla Parx. Such a jam and I could listen to the bassline on repeat for hours.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I know it’s sacrilege to audiophiles and our bass player Rich will be disappointed in me, but I’m almost exclusively streaming now. It’s just so convenient to have nearly every song ever released at your fingertips.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I use Spotify personally, I think mostly because that’s what I started with when I started to stream instead of using MP3s and so it’s easy. The Bandcamp Fridays sales they have been doing have been awesome, though, and I always find some good music and new artists to support.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
We are most active on Instagram and YouTube, but you can find us at all your favorite music dispensaries: Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Tidal, etc.!
Anything else before we sign off?
“Carried Away,” the first single from our new project is out now, also “Wonderful Day” and the full project Together on August 13th. Thanks for talking with us!
