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

Ryan Caudle- Guitar, lead vocals

Gaines Cooper- Bass, backing vocals

Grant Bramlett- Drums

Chris Hurst- Guitar

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Sound&Shape? How long has the band been around?

I (Ryan) was in a band called Oliver's Army for a number of years and we gained a bit of a local and regional following around the south and did a bit of touring. Grant and Gaines have played in bands together since high school and Chris was in a local band or two in his native Philly before moving to Nashville for college. Sound&Shape has been a music making entity since 2006, Gaines joined in 2011, Grant in 2014 and Chris in 2016.

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

We were actually still technically called Oliver's Army (named after the Elvis Costello song) when we were doing the first Sound&Shape album but had decided to change the name. Somewhere there exists a notebook with about 1000 of the absolute WORST band names in the universe that we were kicking around. I wish I could remember some of them but it's probably best that I don't. One day our drummer at the time called me and said "how about Sounds & Shapes?" and I said, "how about just Sound & Shape?" and he said, "sure" and that was that. 

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 (Ryan) write the songs. We arrange them as a band. Sometimes I have the whole thing pretty much in my head but most of the time I'll bring in the song (music, lyrics, melody) and then the guys come up with their own parts. Structurally the songs usually stay pretty close to how they were written mainly because I tend to write the structure into the songs. Gaines is one of the most inventive and intuitive musicians I've ever played with and has an incredible talent for coming up with super melodic, impactful bass parts extremely quickly. Grant has just one of the best ears I've ever worked with and is usually playing what I hear in my head before I even have a chance to say "hey let's try it this way." Chris probably has the hardest job since I write on guitar and just in general the parts can take up a lot of sonic room but he's gotten really good at finding a comfortable spot in the spectrum.

As far as topics go, I think I've always written about a pretty wide variety but they all pertain to navigating modern life. I've moved away from relationship oriented material and have drifted more towards big picture stuff. Being the father of a young child (I have a 4 year old son who is the light of my life) has changed my perspective on so much. Recently, my writing has taken a turn to more socio-political stuff. I think we as a country have entered an extremely dangerous and scary time, personally. The rampant marginalization of anyone not white, Christian and male has alienated a lot of people and with our current administration being what and who it is it has, sadly, emboldened people who believe those things are ok. I worry for my son and his generation and what kind of world we will leave them and that has invaded my writing with a vengeance. 

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

We all listen to so much it's a little hard to pin down. Right now I'm going through a major Kinks phase but I've also been listening to a bunch of Talking Heads. I always listen to a ton of Beatles (my favorite band ever), Elvis Costello, Oasis (Noel Gallagher is probably my biggest hero/inspiration aside from The Beatles), Smashing Pumpkins, Neil Young etc etc. Been really digging the new Mastodon album too. Grant is definitely a Beatles guy too and his tastes run to some of the more proggy stuff as well. Gaines is pretty across the board as well but he's also the resident "metal guy." Chris has been listening to a lot of older blues stuff and I know a bunch of Stones recently.

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

I saw Paul McCartney when I was 9 years old and it changed my life forever. An absolutely amazing experience. My first concert on my own was The Smashing Pumpkins in 1996 on the Mellon Collie tour and that show solidified it for me that I wanted to be in a band.

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

Since I'm the singer I try to find a quiet spot and do a few vocal warm ups. I'm not trained so I don't necessarily know what I'm doing but I know I sing better when I'm warmed up. Chris has his guitar around his neck pretty much from the second we load in right until show time and Grant and Gaines do the typical rhythm section section thing and warm up their chops by figuring out what our drink deal is for the night.

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

Probably opening for the Toadies at the Exit In in Nashville a few years ago. The show was sold out and we had a great connection with the crowd. Also, finally getting a booking agent.

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

Past there are probably a few but thinking about it in realistic terms,would you really want to open for Led Zeppelin? Or The Beatles? Or The Who? It's fun to think about but every person there would want you off that stage as quick as possible. As for current I think touring with a band like Coheed and Cambria would be great. Or even Mastodon but we may not be heavy enough for their crowd.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just that I look forward to getting this record out and I hope it brings some joy and happiness to some folks!