Texas alternative pop act southstate is out to correct the misconception that the Southern states are without culture and diversity.

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

Hi, I’m Sam, and I play all the instruments on the record. I also have a few friends pop in and help out with different parts of the songs from time to time.

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of before southstate? How long has the band been around?

I was in a few bands before southstate - a punk band, a country band (Hi, Gunner), and a prog-rock band. southstate came together around 2019 with the help of a friend I met through the country band and a few of the friends I made in the punk band.

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

“southstate” is a reference to a gymnastics competition I used to compete in as a kid. I thought it was fitting because people often think of the South as a rural, podunk place, but in reality, it’s an incredibly diverse area with many different people and vibes. I thought the name was a great way to reference the stereotypical “sports” names of emo bands (like State Champs and Modern Baseball) while snarkily acknowledging my unique blend of musical genres and multicultural background.

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?

Billie Eilish writes all my songs. Jk. I write the music and lyrics. Unrelated, I have a friend who calls her ‘William Eyelashes,’ and I think that’s hysterical.

As for themes, I use writing music for southstate as a creative outlet to process my existential anxieties and shortcomings as a human. Lately, I’ve been processing my impending mortality, you know, especially with this huge-ass pandemic going on. I write quite a bit about trying to grow as a person to avoid getting “stuck” in place, whether that place is physical or metaphysical.

I also use references to substances because that’s something I’ve used to self-medicate my mental health struggles in the past.

As for the future, as I grow and change, the themes of my writing will evolve, which is a natural part of growth. Like, if I’m 32 and still writing about first dates, I’m doing something wrong. Lol

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

This is a great question! Currently, I’ve been absolutely IN LOVE with music from Keshi. He’s an AAPI artist who has been absolutely killing it, and that’s been really inspirational to me. Like, if he can make the music he loves, then I can too.

Jeremy Zucker is also great, and I literally sent his track “Supercuts” to Luke (my mix engineer who has a goat named Larry) as a reference track.

Broadside is also one of my favorite bands; I actually have a framed setlist they gave me on my studio wall. All that said, it’s incredible that I was able to get Ollie (the vocalist from Broadside) on a track I have dropping this year. That has been one of my goals for the last few years, so it’s gratifying to have that feature come together.

Finally, I’ve got some extraordinarily talented friends KILLING it in the game; Penny Bored in the punk scene, Vinayak in the Hindi scene, and Indego in the prog-rock scene. Every time I catch their socials, it inspires me to keep hustling and creating.

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

Yeah! When I was like 13, I heard “Sugar, We’re Going Down” for the first time on the radio, and I fell deeply, madly in love. Then, my mom bought me an off-brand MP3 player with like space for 300 songs, and that was IT. After that, I started teaching how to play the guitar, grew my hair out, and BOOM. Now I’m here.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc.

Vocal warmups are huge; not only to avoid hurting, but also to feel confident and to get some mindfulness in.

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

Getting on a Spotify Editorial was a massive goal for us as we started out, so we were elated when it happened. Also, getting Oliver Baxxter on a track.

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

Mmmm… Bearings are excellent, and they’re small enough that we could do direct support for them on tour. In an out there, perfect world, answer, I’d love to tour with blackbear or Wiz Khalifa. That would be a genre-bending tour with some genuinely chill legends. It would be DOPE.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yeah! Have a great weekend, and take some time to do things you enjoy. Don’t forget to stream Idwda w/ Oliver Baxxter, and share it with a friend who you think would like it.

Unsigned Spotlight: southstate