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New Jersey ska/pop-punkers Survay Says! continue to have their biggest year to date, having just returned from their first UK tour. The quintet continue to emerge as one of the country’s leading and hardest working self-managed bands on the East Coast. Featuring a horn-centric backdrop for intricate guitars and infectious pop-punk hooks, their tracks ooze fun and creativity.
GroundSounds recently caught up with Henry Menzel, lead vocals, for an exclusive interview on the bands latest projects and more check it out below.
For those just discovering Survay Says! how did all of you guys meet up, form the band and start making music?
Well at this point, most of the very original members of the band have moved on. Survay Says! started as more as goof than a band. A handful of my friends could kind of play instruments so we wrote a couple silly ska songs, put them up on MySpace and then we were a “band”. When the band got serious, we brought people aboard that were down with the mission of pushing this as hard as possible. Me (Henry, guitar/vocals), D.Jay (trombone/vocals), and Mike (saxophone/vocals) are the originals and Brent (drums) and Ricky (trumpet) joined later on.
How did you guys decide on the band name Survay Says!?
Back to MySpace. One of the original founders of the band, Charlie, thought it would be a catchy name for a band. When we made our page, there were 2 “Survey Says” made. So we switched the E for an A and added an exclamation point. The name didn’t and still doesn’t really matter in terms of relevance. Just a name.
You have just started your summer tour, what do you enjoy most about being on the road? What cities are you most looking forward to performing in?
I have an addiction to performing. I can’t get enough. But I like being with my band, seeing my friends across the country, and making new friends. I’m 800+ shows in and its still new and fun every night. It’s a release I crave every night.
I like any city that will have us. I know that sounds cheesy but its true. We’re lucky enough to do well in many areas of the country that now I like so many places. It’s a great feeling.
Can you tell us about working on and bringing your latest album ‘Observations Of The Human Condition’ to fruition?
Most of that record was written during a long year of touring the US and Canada. We did 208 shows that year and most of it was conceived while travelling.
It was the first record we did in a legitimate studio. We had to do a Kickstarter to fund it. It was a hard decision to come to but we needed to it. It wouldn’t have happened without it.
John Naclario did an excellent job engineering and co-producing. We will most likely be teaming up on the next release. It was a pleasure to make this record and I think we have a good thing going.
Can you tell us about the creative and writing process for the track “Show Me Potato Salad!?”
Sometimes I have to write a song as a self motivator. This is one of them. At time I was just becoming the lead singer of the band. I had always wrote the majority of the music but I never originally intended to be the frontman, but I was kinda thrust into it. In the meantime, I had started the task of taking our act on the road as much as possible. In song, I wanted to tell the world I’m ready. “Try and stop me. Only I can stop me”
Can you tell us about the inspiration for the track “Ode To My Willpower?”
One night, I literally passed out on my own wooden floor. I didn’t want to move, I didn’t want to talk to anyone, the only thing I could motivate myself to do was eat snacks and watch TV. This is something I do a lot in my life; ignore the world, let the world ignore me while creating the nasty cycle of self pity and discontentment. Somehow I managed to get up and write the song. I had the instrumental for a while and originally wanted to put a different concept of lyrics over it. But I decided to write what I was feeling, mostly in stream of consciousness.
What was it like filming the music video for “Ode To My Willpower?”
Very enjoyable. John Komar is a great guy and great director and it was awesome to work with him on a video. I’m hoping we can do it again soon, maybe something with a little more gravitas. It was our first video ever so we took it easy. But I have many ideas for future videos.
What music/bands are you guys currently listening to?
I can’t speak for everyone at the moment. I know D.Jay is on a Taylor Swift/Meghan Trainor kick. Right now I’m hooked on 2 records. 1. The new Four Year Strong and 2. The new Giants At Large. Outstanding.
What it is about the ska/punk-pop sound that attracts you guys to it?
Our sound comes from me wanting to play many facets of punk rock without pigeonholing us into one category. I love fast melodic punk. I love catchy pop punk. I love the easycore heavy guitar sound. And of course, I love horn driven third wave ska. My plan is always to throw all those elements in a blender and hope the end result is something I like and other people will like. It important to play music you truly like, and I do!
After you guys get off tour, what is next for Survay Says!? What can fans look forward to?
There’s always more tour. We’re still pushing this record as hard as possible. But I can say that a new EP, followed by a full length are in the works. Stay tuned folks!
