INTERVIEW: 82FIFTY
Photo Credit: Sheena Marie Photography
82Fifty is progressive rock band from Hawaii that took some time to answer some questions I had regarding their latest self-titled record.
Meaghan: Thanks for taking time to answer my questions! How do you think Hawaii has influenced your music? Because 82fifty have a genuine, different sound and Hawai’i isn’t usually a place the public thinks about when they think of rock music.
82Fifty: Hawai’i definitely has had a big influence on our music. In general, Hawai’i embraces a lot of the “reggae island” sound which we feel we incorporate in our music. We add that “reggae skank” into a lot of our tracks, but it’s a little more progressive than your typical reggae style. Our track “Shining” was actually a song we wrote lyrically about being on a beach in Hawai’i - enjoying the sand, waves, and sun like every local out here.
Meaghan: Who were some of any of your favorite bands growing up?
Jessie: The Beatles, Bob Marley, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime, Nirvana, No Doubt, and Rage Against The Machine.
Zach: 80’s hair rock from Van Halen, Poison, Journey, Bon Jovi to pop-punks of New Found Glory, Blink 182, State Champs, etc.
Max: The Beatles, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin, Toto, Operation Ivy, Mxpx, and everything 80’s.
Ryan: Supertones, Five Iron Frenzy, Slick Shoes, Dogwood, MxPx, Saves the Day, John Browns Body, Groundation, Ookla da Moc, Hepcat, Rage Against the Machine, And the entire ska and punk local scene in the 90s.
SKA NEVER DIES!
Meaghan: What made you decide to release during a pandemic?
82FIFTY: We initially wanted to release this album in 2019 but we wanted a to add a few more tracks onto the album before our bass player, Ryan Dela Cruz, moved to Australia. So once 2020 came and COVID-19 hit, we had a long discussion on wondering if this was a good time to release or not. Normally we’d do a big release party at HB Social but being that this pandemic happened we thought, why not do a digital release while everyone is home? They’ll have the time to stream and listen, and once the clubs are open again we’ll do a big release party!
Meaghan: Similarly, do you think having to social distance during an album release is helping you or hurting you as a band, and what are you doing specifically to keep up and in people’s faces?
82FIFTY: Honestly, we feel it actually worked out best for us especially since our bass player moved to Australia. Besides being able to do shows and make some money as a band, we’ve been hitting social media hard and selling new merchandise as well to keep relevant during these times.
Meaghan: What was hosting the virtual album release party like? Did it have a good turn out?
82FIFTY: Hosting a virtual album release was a crazy idea but it actually worked out great and we believe it was a great turnout! We did a bunch of quarantine type videos that worked perfectly being that Ryan was in Australia.
Meaghan: Would you host another virtual party?
82FIFTY: Most definitely!! Especially during these times, this is almost the “new norm”, so we’re down to do more for sure!
Meaghan: Clearly based on “Good Die Young” you guys are into Nirvana and other musicians who’s lives ended tragically. What made you want to use that as a reference?
Jessie: I first wrote the song using Bradley Nowell’s (Sublime) lyrics, “The day that I die will be the day, I shut my mouth and put down my guitar”. I always felt those lyrics were so relatable to the way I’d never give up playing music. Then I thought, why not write the rest of the song with lyrics from artists that influenced my taste in music that passed away too soon. This song hits home for me, my good friend Daniel Villanueva passed away in 2018, and I always think of him when I hear this track.
Meaghan: How does a song typically start? Do you guys all write together or does someone lead the writing, bringing in words or riffs?
Jessie: For this album a lot of the tracks started with us writing the music together in Zach’s studio (Audio Ramen). For example “Dancin’ and Romancin’” was an 80’s riff that Zach was messing around with and the rest of the band just followed and worked around. This was a great way for us to write especially for me being able to listen to the music and write more catchy melodies, lyrics and hooks. With each band member having different musical influences, really helped give this album a different sound.
Meaghan: Lastly, what’s one thing or message you want people to take away from 82Fifty?
82FIFTY: One message we’d want people to take from 82FIFTY is to never give up on your dreams, no matter how hard the struggle! Follow your passion and give it everything you got!