March 18, 2024

Hey guys!! Super excited to be chatting with y’all!! How did you guys become a band?

Lenny: We’ve been obsessed with music since we were really little kids. We got guitars and later, got the game Rock Band which gave us our first experience of playing music together. We started taking music lessons when I was 12. It took us a while to get comfortable enough to play together, but after about a year of practice we formed a jam band with our music instructor as our band coach. That experience really trained us on how to play together and got us in sync. After about a year of that we sang at one of our gigs for the first time which set us on a path that couldn’t be stopped! We realized then how much we loved performing together.

How did you guys come up with the band name “We the Commas” & what’s the meaning of the name?

Cam: “We the Commas” comes from our last name, Comma. We wanted to keep our band name something that was close to home and simple. As three blood brothers, our last name felt right. The “We” in front of our name is a nod to the “We” in “We The People” which signifies unity. The “We” in our band name is used to express unity between us and our fans, between us as brothers and unity within the world.

Can you tell us a little something about each of you?

Lenny: I love surfing almost as much as I love music but I could NEVER be good enough to be pro! I’ve trained myself to not take it so seriously and just have fun with it, but that has been a process. I’ve also found recently that I really like cooking!

Cam: Creating music from start to finish has been my lifelong passion. I spend everyday after school recording friends or anyone who wants to make music in my basement. I also have a huge passion for volleyball. I’ve spent my high school years playing travel volleyball and competing on junior olympic teams.

Jordy: I am high on the adhd spectrum and creating music is absolutely the most stimulating and liberating feeling I can experience. I would encourage anyone with adhd to find a creative outlet. I can’t speak on behalf of everyone, but having a creative outlet, music being mine, has allowed me to find physical and mental stimulation every day.

What is it like being in a band?

Lenny: Being in a band is my favorite thing. It feels like being on a sports team and sports were the most important part of my life when I was a kid. Being in band with my brothers and being part of a team is bringing back that amazing feeling I had when I was a kid.

Jordy: Being in any band is an incredible feeling. Being in a band with my brothers, now that is the experience of a lifetime that I will forever cherish. We learn so much about each other through our music. We are brothers and music has helped make us best friends.

Cam: I feel extremely blessed to be in a band with my two brothers. It’s rare that siblings get to share an experience like this. My brothers are my best friends. We have been creating music together for as long as I can remember. After all this time, it seems only natural that we are in a band together pursuing our dreams.

What’s the difference from your band and all bands that have come before you?

Lenny: The biggest difference between us and bands that have come before is that we have had the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by those bands that came before us. We are so lucky to have music from bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Young the Giant, Dave Matthews Band and so many more because they’ve inspired us and taught us how to be a good band.

How would you describe your musical style as a band?

Lenny: We actually gave our style of music a name… We call it “SARB” music. SARB stands for surf alternative R&B. Our music takes elements from the music we listened to as kids which was R&B, Alternative music and Jazz.

What artists/bands are you influenced by?

Lenny: We are influenced by Young the Giant, Dave Matthews band, Frank Ocean, Santo and Johnny and Justin Bieber.

You guys recently released your debut single, “Sherry”. How excited were y’all to get this song and video out into the world?

BAND: We are so excited!! We’ve been waiting and dreaming about releasing music into the world since we were little kids. We realize how lucky we are to have the opportunity to show our music to people and we don’t take the opportunity lightly. This is literally a dream come true!

Can you tell us how this song came about and the meaning of the song?

Lenny: The idea for “Sherry” came about when all three of us were having a conversation about where we were at in our love lives. We were in the studio and Cam started singing the hook for “Sherry” after we talked about what we all look for in a special someone. We were discussing how blessed and happy we are to have met our special someone or how we can’t wait to meet them some day. “Sherry” is the universal name we use for the perfect person that comes into your life.

Do you guys have a creative say in your music and videos?

Lenny: Yes we do! The music writing is a collaborative effort between us three brothers and our producer Chris Rosa really cares and listens to what we want. He just understood us from day 1! Together we have found a chemistry and a vibe that really works, so the result is always fire. The music video is also a collaborative effort but we definitely rely heavily on our manager for the creative development of our music videos.

What do you hope to gain out of your music careers?

Jordy: We hope to have longevity in the music industry and inspire a new genre of music. We also want to inspire people to do what they love regardless of social norms and constructs.

What’s the feeling you guys get when performing in front of fans?

Cam: The feeling we get while performing together is like the perfect combination of adrenaline and tranquility. We all lock in together and give each other a sense of unbreakable confidence. Performing our songs in front of people is definitely our favorite way to share our music. There is something so special about playing music in its most authentic form, live and in person. We can’t wait to get back to that!

Does your fanbase have a name?

Jordy: Not yet! We’re sure that will happen organically. Hey if anyone out there has name ideas, post it on our socials @wethecommas !

How do you want your relationship to be with your fans?

Jordy: We want to see them all on our tour one day and for them to all come to our future beach bashes!

What social media platform do you use most to stay connected to your fans?

Cam: The social media platform we use most to stay connected to our fans is Instagram. We really appreciate all the love and support we get and we try and make sure we stay interactive with everyone in our comments. We also do intimate live stream performances on both Instagram and Youtube. Usually every Friday we do 5 songs at 5 pm PT!

What was the best fan encounter you guys have had?

Jordy: Two stories in particular will stick with us forever. At one of our local concerts, a random woman stayed for our entire 3 hour set and broke down in tears after we ended our show. I approached her and she said she had been going through an extremely rough time in her relationship for quite some time and that our music touched and inspired her to get through it. This kind hearted lady held my hand for about 30 minutes and explained that our music was refreshing and after listening to each of our original songs, she explained that she no longer felt alone because she related to them so much. Another story with a fan is after we played one of our original songs at a local concert, a woman broke down in tears and hired us on the spot for her wedding. We sang as she walked down the aisle.

Will there be an ep/album out soon?

BAND: Yes, we have fully finished recording the EP and Album that will both be dropping before the end of 2020. We have put our everything into each song and are so excited to tell our story through music.

What’s an average day for you guys look like?

BAND: We wake up, probably hit an early morning surf sesh then a breakfast of California burritos or acai bowls. Then go home and meet as a band and create new songs, perfect old ones, then to the studio to record. Recording in the studio is one of our favorite things to do as a band so if we are not performing, we are probably in the studio or shralping waves.

What goals have you guys set out for the band?

Jordy: We would like to perform on NPR tiny desk, tour, and perform at a major music festival.

Where do you guys hope the band is in 5 years?

Jordy: We hope to be well established in the music industry with a multitude of loyal fans, hopefully we will be touring and selling out large venues as well. We also hope to inspire a new generation of black surfers too.

Do you guys have any last things you want to tell your supporters?

Jordy: We hope to inspire you guys with our music. Every lyric we sing is from our experiences and we hope to connect with so many people through them. Never let fear hold you back. Also, sour patch kids are the greatest candy to ever exist.

Thank you guys for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions!

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