Unsigned Spotlight: 7274
7274’s – Named after a popular anxiety medication, this band is anything but chill. They are loud and soft, heavy and mellow, aggressive and insightful, but none the less always fun! Their self-described ‘junk rock’ sound is based on their tendency to blend & mix various styles, sounds, and vibes together to make something totally new with every creation.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Shane Arden (Vocals/Guitar/Bass) Travis Baylor (Drums)
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to 7274? How long has the band been around?
Both of us - Travis and myself - have been a part of other bands for years. Nothing of notoriety, but certainly formative the music we make today. Travis played drums for The Vibe Tribe, and Harvest while attending college. I (Shane) formed all of the bands I was in. No one ever invited me to be a part of theirs - maybe I wasn’t very good or something..HA. The band I was most recognized for was Honest Pod who had experienced some minor success before disbanding in 2006.
7274’s formed February 2019 was the first time we met up to discuss the idea. I (Shane) had just seen ’68 play a small show in Champaign, IL. - “They totally inspired me to start writing music and playing again after a nearly 15 year hiatus. I saw them and realized I don’t have to get 3 or 4 other people to make noise I just needed a killer drummer - and Travis was that drummer.” - Shane Arden.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
7274’s - Named after a popular anxiety medication that I have been taking over the past few years to help cope with feelings of anxiety and panic. I started having dreams a few years ago where I was suffocating. Since that time I have had an issue with feeling like I couldn’t get my breathe so my doctor prescribed the little yellow pill with the imprint 7274. So I named the band after the medication that makes things less intense in times of panic….my chill pill.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
I (Shane) usually begin the writing process for there band by looping a beat/tempo and just start playing. Stream of consciousness style of writing. We like to see what comes out naturally before ‘working’ on an idea. For us those ideas are the best because they didn’t come from a place of ‘trying’ or overthinking like we often do as people and creatives.
I am not certain we have a theme or mantra, though it does seem we are drawn to speak up where others are quiet or are unable to be heard. We are not social justice warriors or anything, but we do believe music and art can have an impact on changing the world - hopefully for the better.
Our most recent release - Damn The Lights - includes songs about gun violence, social justice, racism, narcissism, and more, but not in a one side or another kind of way, but more of a reflection on the current trends or conversations about a topic. We like to ask questions that others aren’t asking regardless of our personal views, opinions, or beliefs.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
As we mentioned earlier we formed after seeing ’68 play a small tent event in Champaign, IL. They are the first and most obvious inspiration for us as a band, but also as creatives. They don’t over complicate things with adding musicians to ‘fill-up’ the sound or occupy the stage. It’s not about all the hype and lights - it’s about the music, the emotion, and the connection to the audience that makes rock-n-roll the greatest means of connecting people together.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
SEE ABOVE
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
Yeah, of course, we stretch and warm-up our voices, hands, and even our minds to play the songs well and to also entertain the people who were kind enough to attend the show. We believe we have an obligation to do just that, but it’s an obligation that we gladly embrace. The stage is the place where we get to let it all go, all of the rehearsals, all of the recording time, all of the getting ready. It’s SHOWTIME!!!!
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
It has certainly been a super fun ride thus far. We just released our very first E.P. - Damn The Lights - July 26 2021 and on August 1 2021 we played our very first show as a band with our favorite band ’68. How cool?! The band that got us started was the band we were opening for and two days later they would be heading out with Korn and Staind for a summer/fall tour. WOW!!!
Following all of this - within two weeks of releasing our E.P. we have received over 30,000 Spotify plays, 500 Apple Music Downloads, and have been offered numerous opportunities to appear on music podcasts, curated playlists, and even some soundtrack work for independent films.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Gunna sound like we are beating a dead horse, but we want to tour with ’68. It would be a dream for us to get to hang with this guys and make some fun memories and music. We also would love to tour with Deftness, He Is Legend, and My Chemical Romance. All of those bands inspired us over the years and it would be incredible to share the stage with them.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It’s not about the fame or money - which we have none of. It’s about the journey, the process, the trip, the moments leading up to big moments, the idea that made the song, the chord that moved the heart….it’s that kind of stuff that means the most and are the things worthy of story telling through song/video.
We are so young as a band that we have a lot of growing to do so we really don’t know where this thing will end up as far a musical style and direction, but we are super excited about the journey to find it.