Straight Up Random

SUR Featured Unsigned Band: Stay

Hard work pays off, and the members of STAY know this concept well. From self-booking and promoting a nationwide tour to filming a music video for their song “Maddie Kthx,” STAY are doing things that some signed bands haven’t even accomplished yet. They recently were named one of Purevolume’s Top Unsigned Bands, and currently have their “Games With Girls” EP up for free download on their site. This band is doing everything they can to stay on your radar, so give them a chance, and check out a song because you’ll be hearing more from this band in the future.

LINKS: Official Website |MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | Purevolume

INTERVIEW:

**All questions answered by Steve Ackles, guitarist of STAY**

How’d the band come together? Did you all know each other previously?

The band came together through going to local shows, performing in past bands, and mutual friends. We all sort of went to shows in the area and came to know each other through our past bands that we had played in and we all kept in contact with each other and then eventually formed Stay.

Is being in a band everything you thought it would be like or have there been any misconceptions?

Being in a band is totally awesome. It really is everything we expected it to be; tons of hard work but a very rewarding experience. It’s seriously awesome to have kids sing along to your songs live at a concert. The hard work is all worthwhile when you start to see more and more kids listen to the band. But, I’d say we all agree that the best part of being in a band is not only being able to write songs, but just being able to make a positive impact on someone else’s life…that’s the best part.

How would you describe your music for people who have never heard it before?

Our music is usually considered pop/rock. If you like artists such as Jimmy Eat World, Third Eye Blind, and All Time Low, you’ll most likely enjoy our sound too!

How does the scene in Boston influence your sound?

The Boston, MA music scene consists of a lot of hardcore/heavier bands. While we totally respect their sound and actually listen to quite a few of these bands, it’s definitely been a little bit more difficult growing up in the Boston area with a band like ours, just because our sound is most relevant in states such as Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. It’s all good though, we’re up for the challenge!

How does your band try and stand out from other bands within your genre?

That’s a really good question. There are a lot of bands within the pop/rock genre so we have to do our best to offer kids and music listeners something different. We take a lot of influence from 90s music and sorta incorporate that twist within our sound. We also really take pride in answering every comment and message that we receive on our MySpace or Facebook pages - we like to let fans know that we DO take the time to answer their questions and comments. I mean, it’s the very least we can do for them.

What was it like working with Shane Nelson when making your music video for your song “Maddie kthx?”

Shane has worked on a lot of awesome music videos with some great bands. It was definitely a great experience working with him throughout the planning and production stages of the music video. We shot the music video back in October in Minneapolis, MN so it was pretty cold outside but we got through it! We had never filmed a music video before so it was a very interesting experience to see how the whole process came together. But yeah, Shane is the man and we’re really happy with the way the music video turned out.

You’ve already released two EPs, so is there a full-length album in the works at all?

Definitely! We’re actually at home right now working on some demos for a full length that we’ll hopefully release sometime in 2010. We’re in the beginning stages of writing and demoing so we’re just putting ideas together and seeing how different things sound. It’s a fun process, we plan on having a collection of songs to bring to a producer for a full length when the time is right.

What motivates you to pursue a career in the music industry as a band?

Well first off, we love writing and arranging songs. But, we’ve decided to pursue a band because we want to be able to convey a message to people and impact the lives of others through something musical. We’re also really adamant about donating money to amazing organizations such as the American Cancer Society, To Write Love On Her Arms, Habitat For Humanity, and Invisible Children, so having a voice as a band, we hope to encourage people to take action and help out these organizations as well.

Have you guys been offered any record deals as of yet?

We have had some label interest but we’re really waiting until the time is right to get signed.

Can you give me one straight up random fact about each member of the band?

Haha yeah I’ll give this a try…I (Steve) am sorta afraid of heights. Anthony, our singer, sometimes is forgetful. Liam, our guitarist, used to be a famous soccer player, at least so he says. And Anthony, our drummer, really hates the blooming onion from Outback Steakhouse.

Any last words for the readers of Straight Up Random?

Sure thing! Thank you so much for putting this interview together! Also, a big thank you to our fans and supporters! Make sure you check out the new music video for our song “Maddie kthx” and head on over to STAYROCK.com to download our EP for free!