Hotspur
10th Annual Indie/Alt./Hard Rock Song Nominee
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Record Label: n/a
www.myspace.com/hotspur
Home Base: Washington, DC
Describe your music genre: Fancy Rock
Category Entered: Indie/Alt Rock/Hard Rock Song
Work Submitted: “Chandelier”
Label: Unsigned
URLs:
@hotspurtweets
facebook.com/hotspurmusic
myspace.com/hotspur
hotspurmusic.com
What artists and bands are your musical influences: The Killers, Muse, All-American Rejects
What’s the meaning of your band name? Our old bass player wanted to name the band “Arsenal”— which felt a little too much like a German industrial metal band to me — but their arch rivals are Tottenham Hotspur. We started researching the name a bit, and after finding the ties to Shakespeare and the historical figure Hotspur (a hot-headed rebel hero from the 14th century, total rockstar of his day) we decided that the name fit. Still have to correct people who call us “Hot Spur” — at least until our country album…
Describe your nominated work: “Chandelier” is a song about being totally enamored with someone and putting them up on a pedestal, and the ensuing emotional turmoil.
Why did you choose to submit this work to The 10th IMA’s? I think a lot of bands spend too much time watching the Grammy’s and the VMA’s–and don’t realize there are events like the IMA’s that not only seek to recognize smaller acts, but actually provide them with the support and connections to further their career.
Did you use any unusual effects or instruments in this recording? At the end of the previous track on the album “Hypochondria,” there’s a short speech in the background that gets all crazy and distorted, which was actually recorded by accident. We were tracking a heavily effects-laden guitar part at full volume, and in the midst of swirling guitar noise, the amplifier started picking up a radio signal of a speech on “expanding the imagination.” Very trippy.
Were there any happy accidents while in the studio, or did everything go as planned? See above. I came up with a lot of the vocal effects on the album by sitting in ProTools and chopping up vocals and putting them in different parts of the song. Most of the time it doesn’t make any sense, but every once in awhile you come away with something really cool that never would have come about in the traditional writing process.
Did fans help you fund this project? Yup–about halfway through recording YSKBBN we basically ran our of money, so we launched the Hotspur UnderGround Society (HUGS) where we auctioned off various prizes (including the band coming to your house to cook dinner, which we did, quite successfully. Fajitas.) Who’s sitting in your audience? Hotspur has a pretty broad appeal. We’ve played Warped Tour and opened for bands like Boys Like Girls and Metro Station, so I think the younger fanbase caught on earlier–but particular with our new album and college tours, we’re starting to see a much wider demographic.
What makes your fans unique? A lot of our fans have become friends through Hotspur, which is pretty unique. We have a very active street team and have organized party buses and ride shares so many of our fans have bonded–which makes our hometown shows one big reunion party!
Are there any songs you wish you wrote? Tons, especially songs that are based around a clever idea. In pop songwriting, it’s all about finding a unique concept or a clever way to say something in a way that no one has ever done before. Britney‘s “If You Seek Amy,” for example–the music isn’t particularly inspired–but in terms of the pop world, the concept is brilliant, and well executed.
What artists are you listening to that would surprise your fans? I’ve had Lily Allen‘s new record on repeat for quite some time. Same with Ke$ha and Katy Perry…I guess I kind of have a thing for trashy female pop singers.
What is your dream show lineup? I think being on the opening slot of the U2/Muse tour last year would have fulfilled the dream show for most of us. We’re actually in a contest to open for Bon Jovi in London right now. What is your guilty pleasure on the road? We hit Chinese buffets pretty hard while we’re on the road–it’s super cheap and a great way to kill a few hours. I also have a pretty mean sweet tooth, which a lot of our fans have picked up on and bring us baked goods to shows–which only makes it worse. I’ve been known to go through an entire package of oreos in one sitting.
Any close calls or mishaps while on tour? We recently played a one-off at the University of Evansville in Indiana, a 14 hour drive from DC. As I said, we’re big on buffets, so around the West Virginia/Kentucky border, we put “buffet” into the GPS and came up with “AJ’s Pig Pickin’ Buffet.” The “buffet,” located deep in the woods (right next to an old slaughterhouse), had a sign on the front door that said “come around back, we’re on the boat.” Curiosity peaked, we walk around to the back of the facility, and sure enough, there is a 30-ft boat grounded in the backyard, complete with tiki torches, a firepit and a shirtless West Virginian named AJ. Turns out it was a catering business and not a buffet at all–but AJ decided to cook for us anyways, and outdid every buffet we’ve ever been to– cooked us 6 full racks of the best ribs i’ve ever tasted, plus bought us a case of beer and all the moonshine we could drink. Plus we were on a boat.
Do you have any rituals before you go on stage? Our live show is a pretty strenuous affair so before gigs we’re warming up and stretching–safety first!
Should music be free? For up-and-coming bands like us, the most important thing is word of mouth and getting people out to our shows. If someone steals our album but tells three friends about us and they all come see us when we’re on tour, that does a whole lot more for us than a few bucks from iTunes.
How has digital affected your career? I think it changed how we look at releasing music. In the past, “putting out” music meant months of planning and lots of overhead pressing CDs, artwork, etc. It’s a lot easier for bands to put out singles or EP’s without a whole lot of logistical work.
Are digital singles vs. full albums the future of music? I think the album will never die. Digital singles are a great way to gain exposure, but it’s hard to fall in love with a band or artist off of one or two songs. Personally, I still listen through full albums when I listen to music; there’s something about listening to the whole body of work that is lost on compilations or greatest hits.
Finish this sentence: The music industry is… a fickle mistress.