Published: October 28, 2009 11:52 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight November 2009 Edition
Falling Still
Falling Still From left to right: Eric Podnar (guitar, vocals), Jeremy Cull (drums), Brett Hamilton (bass, vocals)
Longtime friends Eric Podnar, Brett Hamilton, and Jeremy Cull grew up in Akron, OH all sharing a deep love for music. The three friends later moved to Los Angeles forming the Rock band Falling Still. Today, the highly energetic band has carved a solid Rock sound that music lover are currently enjoying. For those music fans who enjoy bands that give their heart, passion, and soul, then Falling Still is the perfect choice. In this special spotlight with our Webzine, Falling Still speaks about their music and what fans can expect from them in the next few years. Here is what formulated.
Isaac: What's the name of your band? What's the origin of that name? Have you changed the band's name before?
Falling Still: It's just a name. It can mean anything you want it to mean. Or it can mean nothing at all. We like to think about the feeling you get when extremely intoxicated and you close your eyes... it kind of feels like you're falling... however, you remain perfectly still!
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Falling Still: We normally tell people we play alternative rock... Although, we don't really like to associate ourselves with any specific genre. We have dance songs, blues songs, good ol' rock n' roll songs... we just do it all.
Isaac: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Falling Still: We grew up together in Akron, Ohio. We all started playing music pretty young, and eventually started playing together. Eric dropped out of high school our junior year and moved to Los Angeles to do some acting, and the rest of us came out after graduating. We've been at it ever since.
Isaac: When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Falling Still: The band formed when we were in 8th grade. It started out with just Eric and Jeremy. Brett was in a different band back then. Even though we were all friends, we didn't actually start playing together until we all reconvened in LA. From that point, it was just our lives that inspired us to play music. We lived together, we suffered together, and at the end of the day, we would go play music together. Everything just sort of snowballed from there.
Isaac: Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
Falling Still: We recently started a company called Peace, Man. It's a record company, a publishing company... it's really just a company to fully represent the entity that is becoming Falling Still. We want to be pioneers in this new age of the music "industry". We want to build ourselves our own musical empire...free from greedy record companies.
Isaac: Amen!
Isaac: What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
Falling Still: Eric plays a 1969 fender competition mustang through a vox heritage ac30. Brett plays a 1972 fender mustang bass through an ampeg svt-vr. Jeremy plays a Ludwig kit from the 70's. We like to play instruments that are older than us...they sound better.
From left to right: Eric Podnar (guitar, vocals), Jeremy Cull (drums), Brett Hamilton (bass, vocals)
Isaac: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Falling Still: The Parish Room at the House of Blues is our favorite spot in LA. There are a few rooms for bands to play there, and it is set up so people can easily walk from room to room and check out the different bands. Sometimes you can start playing to a room with ten people in it, and by the end of the set, another twenty have wandered in to see what all the ruckus is. We hear it's one of Prince's favorite spots too. So we figure if it's good enough for Prince, it is good enough for Falling Still.
Right now, though, we're on the road. We'll be on the east coast for the winter, playing lots of shows in Ohio and the surrounding areas, our last one being on January 2nd at Musica in our home town of Akron, Ohio. We'll be spreading our wings a little more after the first of the year. We'll be in YOUR town soon enough. You can follow us on our website, www.fallingstill.com.
Isaac: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
Falling Still: We only play our own songs. We've never had much luck with covers. For awhile, we were strictly playing songs from our first album, but lately we've been slipping in a bunch of new songs. We have so many these days; it pains us to just leave them alone.
Isaac: Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Falling Still: The song writing process is pretty much a group effort. Eric normally constructs a surplus of compositions and random riffs that we slowly develop into different songs over time. We often joke about how the songs sometimes seem to just write themselves. It's like there's some sort of creative force hovering over us that we manage to channel with the right amount of dedication and the appropriate chemicals. There's really nothing specific we write our songs about. They're just about our lives and our times...a nice mixture of happiness, sadness, and chaos. But it's always positive.
Isaac: Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Falling Still: There is no set process. Sometimes we write a song in a day. Sometimes we write multiple songs in a day. Other times, it takes months to finish a song...maybe even a year or more. We never rush things, unless it's absolutely necessary. We just let it all come, and when we think we're getting close, we just play it over and over and over again. Eventually, we wind up with songs that we love. Most times, we can't even remember how or where the process started.
Isaac: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Falling Still: Since we've pretty much always lived together, we just rehearse as much and as often as we can. Music is really the only thing we've got at this point, and we rarely have anything else to do. If possible, we're either writing or rehearsing everyday.
Isaac: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Falling Still: It's hard to say. Everything is always evolving, and our music is no exception. It changes as we change...grows as we grow.
Isaac: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Falling Still: It seems that the biggest challenge any band faces, or any group of people with similar interests for that matter, is just living together harmoniously. And we have done pretty well at figuring it out. We all lived together in a tiny two-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles for four years, and not only did we not kill each other, we managed to write and record an amazing first album and have had some really good times in the process. If those four years didn't tear us apart, nothing will.
Isaac: What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Falling Still: It seems impossible to determine an ultimate direction for anything these days. Fame seems frightening, and fortune doesn't really exist anymore. We just want to live, love, and write songs about it. So much of this world is troubled by darkness and chaos lately, and we just want to do whatever we can to make it a brighter place.
Isaac: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Falling Still: Love each other, and love what you do. It's just not worth it if you don't.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Falling Still: Our first album, May All Magic Guide And Change You, is out on iTunes, and will eventually be available on our website, www.fallingstill.com. Also, you'll be able to keep up with our various projects on www.peacecommaman.com. And of course, you can find us on Facebook and MySpace.
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Falling Still: Too many people to name. Our friend, lover, and associate, Anthony Michelli must be mentioned though. Also, Mark and Lynn Podnar. And none of us would be standing where we are if not for our producer, and our brother from the same soil, Michael Parnin. But there have been so many people we've met along the way that will never know the extent of their influence on us. Falling Still loves you all.
