Meet our newest Artist of the Week, The Ones You Forgot. We talked to the New Jersey pop-rock band to learn about their musical influences, their upcoming EP and more. Check it out below:
- Can you introduce yourself to those who may not know you?
My names Matt Thompson and I play Guitar!
My name is Ferd and I play guitar.
I’m Lance Nelson and I play bass.
My name is Justin Rodman and I play drums.
I’m Jenna and I sing. We make Up The Ones you Forgot!
- How would you describe your music to people who have never heard it before?
A nice dose of pop-rock and pop-punk. Catchy leads and melodies!
- What are you looking forward to most for the rest of 2018?
Matt: Releasing our EP and hearing everyone’s reactions.
Ferd: Getting this EP out, playing shows and to finally be playing these songs that we have been working on for years.
Lance: I can’t wait to see what kind of opportunities we can get later this year now that people can hear new music from us!
Justin: Playing Too Afraid To Say live and touring.
Jenna: a pure combination of what everyone else said!
- Who are your musical influences?
Jenna: Currently, City & Colour and Paramore are my main musical influences.
Matt: The Wonder Years, State Champs, Blink 182, Slipknot, Black Sabbath
Ferd: Sum 41, All Time Low and Paramore are big musical influences of mine
Lance: August Burns Red, Paramore, State Champs
Justin: This is a timeline that got me where I am today and transition to what I listen to! Led Zeppelin, The Who, Rush, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Blink 182, Incubus, The Story So Far, Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, August Burns Red, Born of Osiris, Veil of Maya, Periphery, The Contortionist, Northlane, Erra,… etc
- What about nonmusical influences?
Jenna: Visual art, my family, and my favorite characters in movies/comics/tv shows.
Matt: My parents, my friends, Guy Fieri, Gordan Ramsey, Overwatch, my Pug
Ferd: My family & friends, my dogs, Anthony Bourdain, and Blizzard games
Lance: My friends, family, Bungie, Rooster Teeth
Justin: Family, Friends, Exercising, Body Building, and Beer
- If you could collaborate with any musician, who would it be and why?
Matt: Post Malone. He’s one of my favorite musicians right now, he listens to a lot of the same music as us and he just seems like a real talented down to earth dude.
Ferd: I would love to collab with Chon! I feel like I would learn a lot from jamming with them.
Lance: Jeremy Mckinnon of A Day to Remember
Jenna: This answer of mine changes a lot, but right now I would love to collab with Tash Sultana.
Justin: Mike Johnston. I’ve been following his videos and teachings for quite sometime and he’s someone I’ve always wanted to sit down with to learn and be taught by.
- What do you hope fans get from your music?
Jenna: I hope they get the same feeling(s) that music gives me. Joy, comfort, acceptance and excitement!
Matt: An experience. I want people to feel Like they aren’t alone and they can use our music as an escape
Ferd: To know that they’re not alone with whatever they’re going through.
Lance: A feeling that they’re not alone, and to be able to relate to the music.
Justin: I hope our fans can interpret our songs with their own life scenarios. I hope our message of overcoming fear can be something that helps them in their own similar situations.
- Tell us a little bit about your EP, Too Afraid to Say
Jenna: Too Afraid To Say is a collection of songs based on fear. These songs are literally things that I have been too afraid to say, whether it be to a loved one, to someone who hurt me, or to myself. The title track of the EP is the final song, and kind of wraps up all the songs by telling my story of fighting through self-doubt – something that has always lived in the depths of my fears.
- What is something that you’ve accomplished so far in your career that you are most proud of?
Matt: This EP. we put so much time and heart into this and this ep means the absolute world to all of us.
Ferd: Creating this EP and being able to open for bands I looked up to.
Jenna: Definitely the release of this EP. Being able to play Starland Ballroom, a venue I essentially grew up at, has been amazing as well.
Lance: Playing Starland Ballroom and getting on Alternative Press are my two favorite things we’ve accomplished.
Justin: Premiering our music video on Alt Press
- Can you tell as a little bit about your single, “Here Forever?”
Jenna: Here Forever is all about the fear of the death of a loved one. I’m very close to my friends and family, they mean the world to me, and I truly can’t imagine life without them.
Lance: Here Forever definitely hits hard. It’s something I feel anyone can relate to, and it WILL hit you in the feels.
- What is your go-to drink from a coffee shop?
Matt: A caramel Frappuccino
Ferd: A nice cold brew coffee 100%!
Lance: Anything hot with espresso in it. I’m a caffeine fiend and coffee snob
Jenna: I don’t drink coffee cause I’m a weirdo so I would probably get a chai tea
Justin: Just plain black coffee
- What is your current favorite song?
Jenna: Halo by Boston Manor
Matt: Criminal by State Champs
Ferd: I’ve been putting “All The Way” by Cherry Pools on repeat lately!
Lance: My current favorite song is Chucky vs. the Giant Tortoise by Dance Gavin Dance
Justin: Quantum Flux by Northlane
- What was the first concert you went to?
Matt: CKY at starland ballroom
Lance: My first concert was Social Distortion when I was like 4 years old at the Tony Hawk Boom Boom Huck Jam
Ferd: Bullet For My Valentine at a House Of Blues
Jenna: Paramore when I was 11!
Justin: Aerosmith and Motley Crue
- What is your favorite movie?
Matt: The Star Wars series
Jenna: Currently, Infinity War
Ferd: Fight Club
Lance: My favorite movie is Inglorious Bastards
Justin: Pulp Fiction
- If you could create your dream tour, who would be on the lineup?
Matt: it would be literally all over the place. Post Malone, A Day To Remember, The Wonder Years, Turnstile, Backtrack
Ferd: Sum 41, Paramore, All Time Low, State Champs
Lance: Wage War, Northlane, Erra, Motionless in White, and Ice Nine Kills
Jenna: Incubus, Paramore, Death Cab for Cutie, Major League (RIP)
Justin: August Burns Red, Erra, Northlane, Veil of Maya, and Wage War
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