Published: July 22, 2009 1:12 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight July 2009 Edition
Stem
Stem
Get ready to be rocked out of this world with the melodious tunes of Stem. Stem is made up of four guys who all share a deep love for good rock music. When merged together, the four guys harmoniously create the perfect sound. What makes the band a sure win is their fusion of Punk, Reggae, Blues, Funk and Hip-Hop into their music. Check out this recent interview we had with the members of the band in this super cool spotlight.
Band Members:
AJ Butler - Guitar / Vocals
Matt Smith - Guitar
Tony Hollums - Bass
Matt Butler - Drums
Isaac: What was the best part of 2008 for you musically?
Stem: I think we really branched out in terms of styles and genres in 2008, and found our sound. From all of the practicing and live shows, we were able to really tighten up our songs, and we also did a lot of experimentation (both in the studio and live settings). When we recorded our album "Vs. Them," we were really able to have a lot of creative freedom with it and we actually ended up writing some of the songs in the studio, which gave it a cool vibe.
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Stem: Definitely the release of "Vs. Them" and the record release show (which ended up selling out). We put a lot of planning into the release of the album and the show, which was complete with an ornate stage setup, a live painter, a splatter box, a videographer, and a line out the door! Aside from actually recording the songs in the studio and getting them mixed/mastered, we wanted the album to look really cool so we incorporated a lot of artwork and design elements that are tied to our branding as a band. We often describe our sound as organic so we wanted the album to be that way too. We also played a ton of shows in 2008, in a lot of different areas, which gave us the opportunity to bring our music to a wider fan base. Aside from the CD release show being one of the first bands in the area to play at the Hard Rock Café and sell it out was a huge accomplishment.
Isaac: Describe the music scene in your area.
Stem: Boston has an interesting music scene - there are a ton of bands and tons of cool venues, but there are so many "niche" markets in terms of the overall scene. For example, there could be a funk jam band playing at the Paradise and down the street at Harper's Ferry there could be a crazy death metal band playing. Since Boston is so spread out in terms of geography, it allows for mini-scenes to form and thrive in different areas. With our sound, we try to appeal to as many people as possible by tapping into multiple niches but at the same time defining our own. We all moved to the area from NJ and CT, where the music scenes were a bit different, but I think we definitely bring some of our hometown vibes into our music.
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
Stem: Hmm…good question. We've played in all sorts of venues, from Good Times Emporium (where we got to play with metal bands and ride go-karts afterwards) to Harper's Ferry (which has an awesome sound system and a gigantic stage). I would say that one of the coolest shows we played was on a Brooklyn rooftop, with the New York skyline behind us and a crazy crowd of drunken animals (you know who you are!). It was neat because the sound traveled and didn't get "trapped" anywhere, which was awesome. And we played for like 3 hours too. We've always had fun playing in New York, at places like Mercury Lounge where the place was completely packed and people were going off the wall (sold out show), and Snitch Bar (except for the exploding guitar amp). But in Boston, Harper's Ferry is near the top of the list because it's such an iconic venue in that area and the stage is gigantic, and it was a cool feeling to share the same stage with so many other amazing bands that've played there, some of whom are world-renowned.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Stem: We each have a wide variety of influences, but many of them have their roots in rock, funk, blues, reggae, and hip-hop. We draw on a lot of influences from "classic rock," such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC because we grew up listening to a lot of guitar-driven rock, but most of our influences lie in the 90's alternative/grunge scene - bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Nirvana. We try to embody some of the spirit of those bands and that whole movement - there was a lot of passion in those songs and it was a pretty new style when it came out, and we definitely all grew up listening to that stuff too. There's also some major influence from funk and reggae bands of the 60's and 70's, as well as a lot of hip-hop. The list goes on and on, and I think that a lot of the open-mindedness of our music stems from our open-mindedness as music fans.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Stem: We've always been about bringing things back to their roots, to the way things started, and then use that as a foundation for forming something. It's pretty obvious that the music industry has changed dramatically in recent years, and we try to bring things back to the days when things weren't so over-produced and the music had this raw energy to it that was irreplaceable, and back when music was more about music than image. We want to bring something fresh to the industry, in terms of our sound, our branding, our live show, and everything tied to the band. We want our music to be an experience for the listener, and we want everyone to feel that they're a part of it, because they really are.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Stem: In general we'd like to open for larger more established bands that we are all fans of because it would be awesome to be at the same level as some of our heroes. Bands like Rx Bandits, Moe, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Stem: This is a great question and something we've spent a lot of time thinking about because we do combine so many musical influences. If someone was to ask what your band sounds like we would say driving groove rock that fuses elements of reggae, hip-hop, and blues.
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Stem: We've generally received really good feedback from fans. It's interesting to hear what people's favorite songs are. Some may like the harder, more rocking tunes like Gritty Smitty, Wakefield, or Empty Pockets while some like the more groovin' tunes like Dig My Own Grave, Shake It, and Lost Love. Then you have a few that like the lighter songs like People Say and Ups & Downs.
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
Stem: Well the biggest news we have is we are getting ready to change our name and record some new material. There are a few other bands with the name Stem and we really want to make sure we have a unique name moving forward. We also plan to tour in more states so if anyone out there reading this likes our sound give us a shout and we'll come play your town.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Stem: Well first and foremost, our Moms & Dads who instilled the gift of music into us all. Our wives and girlfriends who put up with our non conventional schedules and all those fans who continue to support us, you know who are :-)
Isaac: Final words…
Stem: To all our present and future fans, thanks for supporting our music. We will continue to give you the best music we can make for as long as you let us.
