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With the release of their latest ‘People Say’ EP, Hartford based rockers McLovins are making moves with pure sonic goodness. Songs like “Great Escape”, “Anxious”, “One More” tell the story of a young band seeking to find its voice in an erratic and uncertain world.
GroundSounds recently caught up with the guys for an exclusive interview to talk about their latest music and more, check it out below.
For those just discovering McLovins, how did you all meet, form the band and start making music?
The original version of McLovins formed in the summer of 2008 (the line up at the time being Jake Huffman, Jason Ott, and Jeff Howard) after a Youtube video of Phish’s “YEM” went viral and sent the band into the Jam world spotlight. During this time Atticus Kelly and I were enrolled in a performing arts magnet school together studying Jazz music. In 2011, with Atticus on Keys, Justin Berger met the group while attending the University of Hartford and quickly took up the lead guitar role on January 1st 2012 after Jeff had left the band amicably. It wasn’t until 2015 when Grammy winner Bill Sherman (Hamilton) and Glee producer Michael Novick came on board to produce “McLovins” (known as the red album) when our band finally found its place musically and personally.
What made you guys decide on the name McLovins?
The first couple hundred comments on the viral YEM video were all like, “wow bass player looks like McLovin from super bad”. So I guess you can say that the internet named us and we just ran with it because thats how people were finding our band.
Can you tell us about working on your latest EP ‘People Say’ and bringing it to fruition?
After relentlessly touring the country for two years we had created an extensive catalogue of unreleased music. We had absorbed so much from working with Bill and Mike that our songwriting process not only changed but really took a new direction. People Say was a self production of songs that we had played almost every night on our previous tours. They are songs that describe our growth, our inner demons and the outlook of some young 20 year olds traveling the country in a rock band.
What inspired the track “Great Escape?”
During the time the song was written a lot was happening personally in my life and in the country. It was a song that just fell out of us and my lyrics seemed to be a much needed reminder that no matter which way life pulls you, and no matter what obstacles occur along this journey “It’s gonna be okay”.
You guys are currently on tour what do you enjoy most about being on the road?
It’s funny we were just talking about this… being able to travel, play music, and meet new humans every night is a blessing that not enough people get to experience. What we’ve learned is that most people are all trying to find their place and be the best they can be. Being able to connect on stage with a group of like minded people is a feeling like no other. Plus, there is no greater feeling than when fans sing along to a song you’ve written.
Can you tell us about the writing and creative process behind the single “One More?”
Like a lot of our songs, “One More” was written through a guitar lick. I must have listened to the progression for a few hours and pulled as many words and feelings out if it that I could think of. During the time of writing the song I was heavy into the bar scene in NYC’s East Village and also drinking whiskey, a lot of whisky. I was ending up in bars after-hours and subsequently wrote this song in hopes of truly understanding what was going on in my life at the moment.
What bands/musicians are you guys currently listening to?
On any typical day in the van you can hear artists like, Hiss Golden Messenger, War on Drugs, Anderson Paak., Leon Bridges, Randy Newman, Daniel Romano, and we always are scouring new Apple Music and Spotify playlists to stay up to date.
What do you guys enjoy most about making rock? What attracted you all to this genre?
There is nothing like the energy of a rock show. Sometimes I’m actually lifted off the drum throne because I’m head banging too hard. I think that as a band we listened to and have played so many different genres that we naturally ended up here as a rock band. It was something organic that sparked in us and we just took it and ran with it.
What’s next for McLovins? What can fans look forward to?
As always we have new music for days, brand new and an entirely new level of hilarious #AtticusFacts, as well as some awesome new show and festival announcements. We are really excited to headline Gramercy Theatre in NYC on April 6th. Our closest friends and families are all in the Hartford to Philly east coast corridor so to headline an iconic venue like Gramercy in NYC at the tail end of this tour, is special. And our fans are always up to date because of our McMonthley email blasts from McLovins.Band.
