Exclusive: Turnover Interview

Turnover is one of Broken Rim Records' latest additions, with their self-titled EP having received a remarkable amount of attention. The band is also heading out on tour later this month with True Things and will be releasing a split with Citizen in Spring 2012. Read on to catch our interview with the band's vocalist, Austin, where we discuss the band's inception and their self-views.

First of all, can you state your name and role in the band?

Austin: I’m Austin and I sing.

Tell us a little about how the band was formed and how the band name was chosen.

Austin: I had just gotten out of a band I’d been in for a while playing with some friends and I wanted to start something a little different. Alex, Mike (our old bass player) and I started writing some stuff and found out Kyle was into starting something similar to what we were going for. We got Casey to play drums for us even though he was reluctant at first and then just kind of hit the ground running. This is all back in mid 2009. About a year and a half later we parted ways with Mike and Danny joined up. The name isn’t a reference to food, sports, employment rates or the Fugazi song (although I do like Fugazi).

The band's self-titled EP was released in March through Broken Rim Records and has since received a very positive response. How do you feel about the band's overall progress and the exposure you've gained so far?

Austin: Truthfully, it’s much more than I ever expected. I never thought that the response would be as good as it was and never thought it would kind of explode as fast as it did. It’s definitely awesome and we’re all beyond grateful to everyone who made it possible.

It's not often that bands are signed with a label as of their first release. How did you guys get involved with Broken Rim and what has it been like working with them?

Austin: After we released the EP ourselves, digitally, a few indie labels hit me up trying to put it out on vinyl. I was really stoked just to be getting offers, but nothing really struck me like it was the right thing. Then I got a Facebook friend request from Kyle and we got to talking and he just seemed 100% like the right dude to work with. It’s been nothing short of phenomenal. Kyle works his ass off more than anyone I’ve ever met. We would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for his help.

You guys recently came out of the studio with some new songs for a split with Citizen set to be released next Spring. How did writing and recording these compare to the self-titled EP?

Austin: It was actually extremely different. Kyle lives up in Richmond now and we’re all down here at the beach still, so getting together twice a week and jamming out material like we did for the last record wasn’t really an option. We all came up with ideas and would send them to each other via email and communicate that way. The rest of us got together fairly frequently and when Kyle could make it down we would sit down for hours and get songs done. I think the record came out a lot better this way. When we’re all together things get frustrating and a lot of things are just like OK sure we’ll use that but it’s not great but when you have time to sit down and think of things on your own and you don’t have others shooting you down you can get a lot more creative and the environment is less heated. I like everything on this set of songs more than the last. The lyrics, the guitar work, the drums, everything is just more solid. I think everyone's really going to enjoy them.

If someone were to ask you what the band sounds like or what the songs are about, how would you answer?

Austin: I really don’t like comparing us to any other bands. We definitely have some influences that come out in the songs, though. I love the energy and speed of bands like Lifetime and Can’t Slow Down era Saves the day. As far as how we sound I would tell someone the music is powerful and melodic. Maybe if you somehow fused the speed and anger of an old Hardcore band like Gorilla Biscuits with the thoughtfulness and melody of American Football. As far as lyrics go, I just try and write simple things. Things anyone can relate to. I don’t want someone to have to try and figure out what I’m saying in a song. I want people to listen and say I know exactly how that feels. I really just try to paint a picture in listeners heads with what I say.

What would you say are the band's biggest influences when composing new material? It's great to see more and more bands with the newer Pop Punk/Indie sound.

Austin: Too many to name. I also don’t really like confining our band to Pop Punk. I truthfully don’t think it accurately describes our music. Do we have Pop Punk influences? Yes. Do we have Indie, Hardcore, Grunge, Punk, and Emo influences? Certainly. I’m sorry if that doesn’t answer the question very well, haha. But it’ll have to do.

A Winter tour with True Things was also recently announced. There're still a few weeks before you guys head out but what're you looking forward to the most about being on the road? Are there any places in particular you're anticipating?

Austin: I miss it so much. We were only gone for 2 weeks this past summer and it was the greatest experience ever. I mean what isn’t to love? On a big ass road trip with your best friends playing music and meeting new people every day. It’s awesome. I’m really stoked for all of these new cities we get to play, but it’ll also be sweet to see familiar faces where we played last time.

I understand some of you are still in high school - would you say this often holds you back from being a potentially more active band or is the impact not too much?

Austin: Yeah I think it definitely does. I’m 19 and I’m the oldest and Casey and Alex are both Seniors this year. We can’t tour a ton with them still being in high school, but once this summer hits everyone can expect to see a lot more of us. We’re all looking forward to it.

Thanks for doing this, would you like to add anything else?

Austin: It’s always a pleasure. And to everyone reading: thank you so much for all of your support, it really means the world. Catch a show this Winter!

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