Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Tyler Irby - Guitar/Vocals
Anissa Acoff - Guitar/Backing Vocals
Max Frazier - Bass/Backing Vocals
Colin Eckenroad - Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Clumsy Words? How long has the band been around?
Tyler was in a different local pop-punk outfit called Slinkweed. Anissa came from a punk act called Short Side Shot, Colin came from a metal-core band called Live Or Regret, and Max played in a hard rock band called Idle Hour, and a Metallica tribute band. The first Clumsy Words release was originally in 2013, but Tyler is the only one still here from that time period. Anissa joined in early 2015, Colin joined in 2016, and Max came in 2017.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
The reference point of Clumsy Words is from a Blink-182 song called Going Away To College, but we also chose it because the meaning behind it of always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and we really dig the poetic sound of it. We've never changed it.
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?
We all have a big part in the songwriting process, but most of the lyrics are written by Tyler and a lot of our songs are about relationships, heartbreak, and depression. On our newest EP, we have a song about domestic abuse and another song about the dark side of the music industry, so we do try to change the subjects up from time to time. We like to challenge ourselves, so they will undoubtedly change here and there.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Too many to name because there's so many bands doing great things in our eyes, but probably Sorority Noise, The Front Bottoms, Blink-182, A Day To Remember, just to name a few.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Tyler: Blink-182, Brand New, Taking Back Sunday
Anissa: A Day To Remember, Blink-182, Rise Against, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Max: Steely Dan and Municipal Waste
Colin: David Bowie, The Police, Lou Reed
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …
Probably just listening to music, joking around and laughing to calm our nerves so we don't hyperventilate when we realize that we have to actually play in front of people that night.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Playing with Hawthorne Heights and I Set My Friends On Fire. Any time you get to share the stage with bands that you listened to when you were growing up, you start to really feel like a rock star, and that's a great feeling.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
The Wonder Years, Neck Deep, Moose Blood, Hawthorne Heights. We love their music and look up to all of these bands in some way, so touring with them would be a dream come true.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Check out our new EP, Rumination! We're pretty sure it's not terrible.