Members:
Chris Mclelland, Andrew Echavarria, Cameron Kisel, and Stephen Flynn
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to (insert band/artist name here)? How long has the band been around?
Chris: Some of us, myself included, have been playing music for half of our lives. We were all in bands prior to Nominee. I was in a band called I Call Fives for a few years when I was living in Jersey. Steve played guitar in Just Surrender for a bit, Andy was a founding member of Austin Pop-punk band, Thieves, and Cameron was in a few heavier bands, one of which was called Gentlemen, based out of San Antonio. We started playing together when I moved down from Jersey in the summer of 2013.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Chris: We struggled for a while thinking of a name. We debated some names like "The Living" and "Ever Endearing" so when Cameron brought "Nominee" to the table, we jumped on it. It was far more subtle and we liked that about 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?
(Sorry for the Lengthy answer, here)
Chris: We all write our songs together. One of us will bring a main Idea to the table, then we'll start putting the pieces together and jamming those parts, sometimes for weeks or months, until we feel the song is natural and ready to go.
In June of 2013, I was actually diagnosed with Diabetes and, at the time, we were writing the material for our first EP, I Woke Up. So, naturally, a lot of the lyrics on that record are loosely (sometimes strongly) based on that experience, to one degree or another. It was a scary, lonely time in my life and I feel the record does a good job of illustrating that fear.
As for our new material, lyrically, I think it has a bit more range, but I wrote a lot about the ups and downs of bi-polar disorder and how avoiding help can affect the relationships you have with your loved ones. This is a topic that I've always felt strongly about, because it's a constant in my life. Some of the other songs deal with love loss, drug addiction and more.
Of course the lyrical content of our music will change over time. I feel that’s a necessity. Personally, I find it hard to write lyrics unless I truly have something to write about. I don’t settle for superficial lyrics. If a song doesn’t mean anything to me, we typically won’t use it. This can be a little frustrating, but the rest of the band understands and feels the same way. Some of our new lyrics actually touch on that as well.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Chris: We all have incredibly different backgrounds in music so our inspirations are really all over the place, but, right now I wouldn’t say we’re inspired by another band in particular, we truly just write what comes natural to us. Although, we really love the way the record "Say Hello" by Born Without Bones sounds, so we decided to record our newest material at the same studio.
Steve: Recently I've been discovering a lot of bands that I never would have expected to like before being in Nominee. Bands like Can't Swim and Moose Blood constantly blaring in my car.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Chris: For me, I’d have to say any band that my big brother was in. He played in a bunch of punk bands in high school and I always thought it was the coolest thing, getting to see them play at legion halls and places like that. My first show was Bad Religion and Blink-182, though, and that was pretty life changing.
Steve: I think the first time I saw Story of the Year or The Receiving End of Sirens were two moments for me where I felt way more in tune with the experience. I had been to shows prior to that but it was the first time I felt connected to what the guys were doing on stage and everything they were putting out as people. I walked away thinking that's who and what I want to be when I'm older.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
Chris: Personally, I just like to be up early and get my voice warmed up naturally. A lot of bands have singers that can stay out all night, drink, smoke and party and still some how sound great the next day. Not me. If I’m not in bed by midnight the night prior to a show, you can tell. It’s the worst.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Chris: We’ve done a couple of DIY tours on the east and west coast that have been really fun. We also got to play with Anberlin on their last Austin show. To say goodbye to a band that we all looked up to, in that fashion, was surreal.
Steve: I'll totally agree with Chris that our DIY touring experiences have been great. We have made a ton of friends all over the country and for me personally, touring is a huge reason as to why I love doing this. We also the chance to play So What?! Festival last year and they treated us really well. On top of that we got to see some amazing bands like Underoath and Saosin come back for the first time which was truly remarkable.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Chris: I would love to tour with Jimmy Eat World. To me, they’re a band that hasn’t lost a single step in the entire time they’ve been together, which is rare. Their live show is as good now as it was 10 years ago and I think that’s amazing. I remember seeing them in Philadelphia in 2002 and being blown away, but then I got the chance to see them in 2014 and felt the exact same way. I’d love to see them play every night.
Steve: Jimmy Eat World would be amazing. Personally, I dream about touring with Glassjaw; they have totally defined parts of my life as a musician. I feel like the records they've written and the sound they've developed has become timeless. Also, every time I've ever seen them they've been completely captivating, and their musicianship is unmatched.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Chris: We're thankful for anyone who gives us their time of day. If you watched our set, ripped our music, bought merch, let us sleep on your floor, or read this interview, we truly appreciate it. Like any hard working band, your generosity is our livelihood and we thank you for it.