Since their inception in 2017, Buddy Rundblade and Vanessa Wolff have crafted an emotive and thoughtful brand of hook-heavy, alternative rock.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Summerfell is Vanessa Wolff (vocals) and Buddy Rundblade (vocals & guitar)
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Summerfell? How long has the band been around?
B: As we’ve both loved music from a young age and went on to go to music school (where we met!), both of us have been involved in numerous side projects through the years. Most recently we were both part of, Just A Spark, which is the first band we’d been in together from where we decided to create Summerfell in 2017.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
V: Naming Summerfell was tough because so many awesome names are already taken. Summerfell came from one of our earlier band members after we all spent weeks writing lists of possible names. We settled on Summerfell because to us it signifies that moment of melancholy right between the end of an awesome summer and the beginning of fall.
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?
V: We have a very specific writing process where Buddy writes the instrumentation of the songs and then he passes the demos to me to write lyrics to. After we have a foundation for the song, we usually get together to work on some of the demo production and song structure and make changes based on each other’s opinions. It’s kind of important to me to be able to be alone while writing the lyrics because it can get so personal. Most of my lyrics come from my experiences growing up and dealing with a lot of anxiety trying to find my place in all of this.
When we wrote our first EP “Locked Away” the main theme had to do with finally feeling like I’d found a place where I belonged as working on that EP was such a special experience in my life. Since then, I feel like a lot of the newer songs have gone a bit darker as I had to deal with losing someone that was very special to me and going through a very anxious period of my life, and I feel like that has really come through in some of our newer music.
As I’m starting to come out of that, we’re also coming back to more upbeat and positive themes. I definitely feel like the topics should change over time as it’s important to us that we continue growing both as people and musicians.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
B: We’ve been trying to incorporate some pop elements mixed in with our other rock and pop punk influences. I really love how bands like Bring Me the Horizon and Linkin Park can incorporate catchy synths sounds into rock so that’s definitely something I’ve been having fun playing with lately. Production wise I also really admire PVRIS and Tonight Alive.
V: I’ve been listening to a lot of pop and indie rock and I’m not sure how much that has been influencing my process, but there has been a lot of Young the Giant on repeat in my life lately.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
B: My first concert was Linkin Park when I was about 11 or 12 years old. They had a huge impact in my life. Ever since then I wanted to be in a band and write music.
V: First and foremost: MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE!!! I don’t think I need to explain that one. They’re just awesome. As we’re a female fronted band, Paramore gets brough up a lot. Though I think we’re musically different than them, of course Paramore is a huge influence for me. They’re the reason why I wanted to be in a band instead of doing solo music. Music wise, I think we have our own sound, but as a person I feel like I’ve grown with them through the years and I will always look up to Hayley as an artist.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …
B: Lately we’ve been drinking a lot of honey while listening to Rick and Morty’s Get Schwifty to try to loosen up.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
V: I’m grateful for everything we’ve gotten to experience together, from our first tour to playing Chain Reaction and so many other venues. Going up to the Midwest to work on “Locked Away” will always hold a special place in my heart because working with Seth (producer from Always Be Genius) and being in a place I’d never been before just focusing on music was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
B: Neck Deep is so cool. I’d love to tour with them just so I could see their set every night.
V: I agree. One of my favorite shows I’ve ever been to was during their tour with State Champs and Knuckle Puck and I would’ve loved being part of that line-up.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We’re working on a lot of new material that we can’t wait to share with everyone. Our newest single “On My Own” comes out September 4th and it’s one of our favorite songs we’ve done this far so we hope you enjoy it and be on the lookout for many more to come!