Unsigned Spotlight: Serious Matters
Serious Matters takes influence from across alternative and hardcore, delivering a sound that balances impactful, driving rock with emotive lyricism.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Criss Madd- Guitar
Kenny Byles- Guitar/Vocals
Matt Sandelman- Vocals
Mike Seltzer- Bass
Daryian Kelton- Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Serious Matters? How long has the band been around?
Before Serious Matters Criss and I were in a band called ‘Burned At Both Ends’. When that project disbanded, Criss moved on to a band called ‘The Bombshell Renegades’. Mike and Matt are currently in another project called ‘The Highschool Superstars’. Daryian plays in numerous projects.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
When the band started, we had a singer that couldn’t keep up with the amount of demo’s Criss and I (Kenny) were pumping out. While I was at work one day, he sent a message saying that he didn’t want to do it anymore so I took a screenshot and sent it over to Criss. I said “Oh well, on to more serious matters.” and Criss claimed that as the name. We’ve been Serious Matters since.
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?
Criss and I will normally come up with a riff and we pass it back and forth. Once the guitars are worked out and everything is structured out, we will pass it along to the rest of the guys. Everyone works out there parts and the lyrics will come from whoever wrote the idea or Matt. The big themes for the new LP has been growing up and coping with the difficulties of being a touring musician while still supporting a personal life. We’ve been keeping this band going for almost 5 years now and as we get older, we are realizing how hard it’s becoming to keep this project funded for touring and albums. While we keep this project alive, it seems sometimes as if we are falling behind on our personal adult lives.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Mike- “ Jeff Rosentstock and At The Drive In”
Criss- “Armor For Sleep and So Much Light”
Kenny- “William Bonney and a lot of different classic rock starting with Led Zeppelin”
Matt-”Judge and Thin Lizzy”
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Kenny- Coheed and Cambria’s Neverender
Mike- Coheed and Cambria at Hammerstein Ballroom
Criss- Watsky at the Gramercy Theatre
Matt- Blind Justice
Daryian- The World Alive
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …
We definitely stretch before a show. We’ve also developed this new huddle where we reflect on how far the band has come and just take a minute to appreciate each other.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
The biggest highlight so far was opening for Kings X at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. It was a dream that we’ve had since we were kids growing up seeing our favorite bands there.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
The answers vary by member drastically. So far we’ve named Dance Gavin Dance, PUP, Drug Church, Tiny Moving Parts, Coheed and Cambria, and a bunch more that have inspired us.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We are working on a debut LP that will be out sometime in the first half of next year. If you can, check out our music on all major streaming platforms. It would mean the world to us. Thank you for reading this interview!