Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Nathan Francis - Guitars/Songwriting/Programming

Jesse Moore - Vocals/Bass

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to A Stagnant Notion? How long has the band been around?

It has mostly just always been A Stagnant Motion. Or some iteration of ASM. We started out as a trio in 2008 with our first drummer. Did some shows here and there. After the drummer ditched we just started recording just the two of us. Found other people to help with percussion and other miscellaneous things we needed and kept pushing forward. 

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

The name came about after we realized how people viewed us and how we view ourselves. Others don't hear much from us, so they think we're not around or doing anything musically. When in reality we've been writing, recording, playing shows, and working on getting people interested for the past 8 years. Very much so an oxymoron.

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?

Nathan writes all the music and Jesse writes all the lyrics. There's a common theme throughout the four albums we completed so far. Each record is a chapter in the bigger story. Along with being part of the main story, each song has a personal tie. One song could be deciphered as about drug use, a woman, or the sun and the moon. Or all of them at once. Depends on how the individual hears it. 

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

Musically Coheed and Cambria, The Mars Volta, The Fall of Troy, Circa Survive, Protest the Hero, and The Smiths all have stood the test of time in terms of influencing the music. There's always the occasional band that pops out for a time, becomes the flavor of the week, and influences a song or two. 

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

We saw The Fall of Troy as in 2009 for their 'In The Unlikely Event' release show in Seattle. That show really lit a fire. Eventually we even played a show opening up for The Fall of Troy's frontman, Thomas Erak's other project Just Like Vinyl. 

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

Have a couple drinks, socialize, listen to the other bands, and just try to relax. Even after doing this for the better part of a decade we get very anxious and nervous. 

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

Playing the show with Just Like Vinyl was an amazing experience. We've had a lot of great things happen to us in our time as A Stagnant Motion. All in all the music itself is the biggest highlight. It allows two anxiety ridden introverts without a voice in the world to be heard. 

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Coheed and Cambria, The Mars Volta, The Fall of Troy, Circa Survive, and Protest the Hero. They all have influenced us immensely and I fell like we wouldn't get things thrown at us if we opened for them. Or maybe we would. Who knows?

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We have a new album coming out called 'Firewater Trance'. We've been around for years and we're really bad about keeping people updated, but we're never not working on music. We've done damn near everything ourselves and are extremely proud of the music we do. Once we actually get some people to pay attention to us. To listen... There won't be anything to stop us.