Hey Richie!! You’ve been busy with music recently. Can you tell us what you’ve been up to over the past few months?
NEW RECORD!!! i relocated back to jersey early in the year and when i finished up my studio, i felt it was the perfect time to gather up all my demos from the last few years and finally make a full length. on top of that, we’re on tour all of june with the stolen and are planning to be on the road for the rest of this year.
Where did your love of music come from?
long story short, when i was a kid i went deaf in my left ear and after the surgery, my parents got me a drum kit as a witty gift and it grew into it’s own thing over time. it’s something i’ve been apart of since basically my first memory and just never had an itch to let it go.
How did you guys all meet & become a band?
i’m a solo act haha. as far as the live band, my bassist, James, is my cousin and drummer, Steve, i met when i was part of School of Rock about 10-12 years ago. we reconnected early this year and it was like no time was ever lost, feels like we’ve been jamming for years but we’re really just 5 shows into our first tour as of now.
What’s the meaning of the name “States & Capitals”?
a fellow musician suggested the name awhile back when my teenage project was looking for a name. it’s the only name that ever stuck with me and i always remembered and knew i would eventually have a project under that name.
Can you tell us a little something about you?
huge john mayer fan
Your debut album “The Feelings LP” is coming out soon. Can you spill any details about the new album?
it’s out in august!! it’s the first self-produced project i’m ever gonna put out which is exciting yet terrifying. it’s a little bit of everything that i’ve grown to love at 22. some are more organic and band driven, some are more programmed based, some hard hitters some softies.. i like to think it’s something mom dad brother and sister could jam to together.
How excited are you to get this project out into the world?
it’s 1000% the most excited i’ve been about any project. i had a lot of self-evaluation between the early EP’s and now, and i’m real proud about how i’ve been able to bounce back and make something i truly believe in. no matter how well it’s perceived, it’s definitely the one i’m most proud of to this point.
You just released the first single off the album, what has your reaction been to the success of the new single?
it’s been nice seeing it grow a little bit. i’m starting to see more and more kids sing the tune at each show which is the coolest part. they’re tunes i’ve had for a little while now so it was a little scary when release came, i kinda felt like maybe they ran it’s time and it may not be cool enough for 2019 but i feel a lot better about it by seeing some of the reactions. it’s relieving for sure
What do you think is the benefit of having a following on social media in the music industry?
it makes it easy to release your content and have it seen by every single person that would want to see or hear it. you can literally have your phone beep at you when a new tune or video or show is announced. as well as interacting, back in the day the only chance you had to answering people’s question or meeting everyone was at a show. now you can open an app and do all of that in a matter of seconds. it’s opened a whole new world for musicians when it comes to releasing content at a reasonable pace.
What’s the feeling you get when performing in front of your fans?
it’s the most free i feel without sounding clichè haha. i kinda go numb and black out from the second i go on til about 5-10 minutes after i’m off. like anything else you have your good days and not so good days, but even when i feel it went absolutely awful, there’s still that sense of joy and satisfaction when all is said and done. i’ve never had a night on stage where i didn’t want to be there.
Does your fanbase have a name?
haha not yet. that’s up to them to create, i think once it grows a little more that topic will eventually come up. i’m just gonna let that one happen naturally.
How do you want your relationship to be with your fans?
equal. i want to be on the same page with everybody. nobody’s better or worse or above or anything like that. everybody’s there to do the same thing and enjoy something we all like. i remember going to shows when i was younger and thinking how far away the guys on stage were or how much better other kids were at being fans and all that nonsense. as long as we all enjoy the music and have fun while it lasts, that feels like a good thing.
What social media platform do you use most to stay connected to your fans?
instagram. in 2019 that’s the one we all check first and really care about. i think it’s because how genuine it can be, you can literally watch every step of a band’s day on tour in real time which is something that wasn’t a thing a few years ago. i used to think it was this crazy big ordeal going on throughout the days but having this platform can show you how chill and fun it all is and you can have everybody be apart of that.
What was the craziest fan encounter you have had?
i honestly never had one that crazy. everybody’s been really chill around me from what i can remember haha
What’s an average day for you look like?
on tour: up early, drive a few hours to the next city, hit the hotel for a bit, go to the venue, load in, soundcheck, dinner, show, hangout with everybody, load up, more food, do it all again the next day. when not on tour, it’s honestly just me in my studio working on the next move for the project.
Where do you hope the band is in 5 years?
i hope i’m living happy and am still able to freely create what it is i feel like creating each day. nothing is better than touring and making music and i genuinely feel that i’ll still be out there doing it. wether it’s popular, equal to today, or if nobody cares. i just know this won’t end anytime soon.
Do you have any last things you want to tell your supporters?
well i know this is relatively new to the public eye so thank you to everyone that’s giving the new song a chance and i hope that snowballs into coming out to a show to see the live show. and to anyone that’s been there for awhile, thanks for sticking around through all the trial and errors. it means a lot that you kept giving each song and EP a listen even though it was just me trying to figure out what it is i want to do. i finally found that in the newly found SC and can’t wait for you all to hear this record.
