Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Marlon Harder- vocals guitar
Jose Fuenzalida- drums
Brandon Tenold- bass
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Autopilot? How long has the band been around?
I (Marlon) started Autopilot when I was really young (in the early 2000s). It's been the only project I've written music under.
Jose started playing with Autopilot around 2004. He has played with a number of bands both before and while being a part of Autopilot, such as Oral Fuentes, Absofunkinlutely, and Alma Flamenca, just to name a few.
Brandon has played bass with Reignwolf (AKA Jordan Cook) and Violent Kin.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Honestly, we came up with the name Autopilot so long ago, I don’t really remember our reasoning behind it, but it stuck and we’ve been playing under that name all these years.
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 write the songs and have collaborated with our producer, SJ Kardash, on a few albums as far as the writing goes. The songs always change over time as I grow as a songwriter – I think every writer will change over time. The topics that Autopilot songs have been based on have varied. We have had songs that touched on social and political topics. I write about the road, as that has been a big part of life for us the last several years. Some songs just have more to them when you listen. What makes songwriters better is always trying to perfect their craft. I don't think you can ever really reach that point and that's what keeps a lot of musicians writing. We as a band always try to progress with every record. If you listen to our first record and to our upcoming, it's going to be a lot different. I always like listening to a band’s early albums to hear how they have changed.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
As a band we listen to a lot of different music. The music that I've been listening to quite a bit on this tour has been Band of Horses, The Shins, Bear Hands, Radiohead, Wintersleep, and Modest Mouse, to name a few.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
This first time I saw a show in a small bar setting was some band playing original songs. I was under age, the bar was packed, and I thought this is want I want to do – write songs and play them live. I don't even remember what band it was, just how they had the audience so interested in the music. This, in contrast to some awful arena shows I saw, stuck in my mind.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
When things go according to plan, we get into town, check into the hotel, and try to get to the venue early to have a beer and relax after the drive and before the set. If we’re lucky and get into town early, we like to walk around and check out the city.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
We have been lucky to play some really fun shows and some great tours. I think the biggest highlights have been the festivals where we have had a chance to play to crazy crowds of music lovers. The energy when you get a lot of people together is just amazing. Getting emails from people telling us what the music means to them is also a big highlight to being in this band.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
I think Modest Mouse would be one of my favourite bands to tour with. I've met Isaac Brock a few times and he's really a great guy. They have been a big influence on my song writing too.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you! You can follow us at:
Website I Facebook I Twitter I Instagram I YouTube I Bandcamp
https://soundcloud.com/autopilotmusic/crooked-lines
Come say hi while we’re on tour through November. More info at http://autopilottheband.com/
Tour Dates:
October 1: Minneapolis, MN
October 2: Madison, WI
October 3: Chicago, IL
October 4: Cincinnati, OH
October 5: Louisville, KY
October 6: Columbus, OH
October 7: Wyandotte, MI
October 8: Cleveland, OH
October 9: Uniontown, PA
October 10 Buffalo, NY
October 11: Toronto, ON
October 12: Syracuse, NY
October 13: Utica, NY
October 14: Philadelphia, PA
October 15: New York, NY
October 16: Baltimore, MD
October 18: Richmond, VA
October 19: Chapel Hill, NC
October 20: Charlotte, NC
October 21: Asheville, NC
October 22: Athens, GA
October 23: Atlanta, GA
October 24: Charleston, SC
October 25: Savannah, GA
October 26: Jacksonville, FL
October 27: Gainesville, FL
October 28: Tallahassee, FL
October 29: Birmingham, AL
October 30: New Orleans, LA
October 31: Lafayette, LA
November 1: Houston, TX
November 2: Austin, TX
November 3: Dallas, TX
November 4: Oklahoma City, OK
November 5: Norman, OK
November 6: Lawrence, KS
November 7: Kansas City, MO
November 8: Lincoln, NE
November 9: Denver, CO
November 10: Albuquerque, NM
November 11: Tucson, AZ
November 12: Phoenix, AZ
November 13: Las Vegas, NV
November 14: San Diego, CA
November 15: Los Angeles, CA
November 16: San Francisco, CA
November 17: Sacramento, CA
November 18: Reno, NV
November 19: Boise, ID
November 20: Portland, OR
November 21: Seattle, WA
November 22: Spokane, WA
November 23: Helena, MT