Long Gone is a Chicago Pop-Punk band that bring aspects of the Pop-Punk we all grew up on into the new styles sweeping the airwaves. We sat down with them so that you could get to know your next favorite band as you watch a music video for their new song “September”:
What is involved in your writing process?
Matt: The songwriting process varies greatly from song to song. Some songs on the upcoming release have been around for three or four years, and others were finished in thirty minutes on a random 3 AM writing session right before we decided to hit the studio. Most of the ideas are drafts I send to the guys over time, and they give me feedback as we pick and choose what we like about each of the songs.
What makes your sound unique?
M: This might not sound entirely modest, but I think a big part of Long Gone’s sound is my voice. I hear of a lot of people saying, “Damn, your singer sings HIGH,” and that’s a point of pride for me personally. I’m in love with singers, like Brendon Urie and Josh Ramsay, who can just let those high notes rip, so I feel awesome when people even slightly group me in that class of singers. Long Gone also kind of sits between the pop punk and the more indie-alt bands with the way our guitar parts use the full, overdriven sound, but still rocking riffy leads and spaced-out chords.
Trevor: I think a big part of what makes our sound unique is that while the three of us have common ground in a handful of artists, we listen to music that’s largely different from one another and unique to us. Those different influences shine through in ways that make the music take different turns and go different places than one might expect from a pop punk/pop rock band.
Who is your dream producer to work with?
M: I love learning how to improve my real-world interpretations of the songs in my head whilst recording, so I’d be really interested in working with artists who do their own production like Alex Gaskarth, Brendon Urie, or Josh Ramsay.
T: We spent many years coming up in the Chicago scene listening to records that our current producer, Seth Henderson, was knocking out of the park, so in a lot of ways it is very cool and surreal just to be working with him. Looking at it from the viewpoint of who we have yet to work with, though, Mike Green and Kyle Black have produced almost every one of my favorite releases of the past few years.
What artists would you like to play with within the next year?
M: All Time Low, The Wrecks, or Sleep On It. More modestly, I’d love to get a show or two with The Weekend Run Club, Better Love, Like Wilde, or Rematch. We’ve got good friends in those bands, and friend-band shows are always tight.
T: If I’m shooting for the stars, I’m all about this Jonas Brothers reunion currently happening. They play pop rock music, we play pop rock music. They’re a trio, we are also a trio…all I’m saying is that it could happen. More realistically though, we have spent a long time not playing shows at all, so I look forward to getting back with some of our friends around the local scene like Tiny Kingdoms, City Mouth, and Better Love.
Patrick: So many have already been said but I’ll add Save Face, Homesafe, Post Malone, and Motion City Soundtrack if they get back together (please dear god.)
Which of your songs represent you best?
M: Of our released songs, I think “September” fits the attitude Long Gone wants to project. The song is a bit of a rollercoaster, with its moody jabs, shots of truth, and sober moments. “September” and an unreleased song really felt like coming of age pieces as I wrote them, so I hope they become as anthemic to everyone as they are to me.
T: I think that answer has changed for me over time. When we first came together, we put out our debut single “Heads Down” first because we thought it was the best representation of us at the time. Now that we have an idea for what the entire record is, I think track five on the EP will be one that resonates with a lot of people.
P: “September” would also be mine. It’s a great summary of the overall sound we were going for this record.
Could you describe the theme of your most recent video, “September?”
M: Patrick Smith and the Sometimes Blues.
T: For our visual debut, I think we really wanted something that ties in with a lot of the other art and imagery around us. Our first promo pictures were black and white and silhouetted, hence the black and white video, the blue light comes from the single art being blue, and the flower comes from the imagery that is present on the EP’s cover, which you’ll see soon. It is all kind of small pieces to a bigger puzzle and that coherence is something we have strived for and (hopefully) pulled off.
P: Patrick Smith and the Sweaty Foreheads.
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