Interviews: SELL YOURSELF SHORT

We have had the opportunity to interview the Alternative Rock/Pop Punk band SELL YOURSELF SHORT from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or come out just like that?

MARK: The song “Savers” by Bomb the Music Industry says a line at the end of the first verse “On nights where all I could afford, was to sell myself short”. I just thought sell myself short...hmmm, sell yourself short! That's a great band name.

BRIAN: We were originally called Best Regards but another band with the same name tried to sue us so we changed. I’m pretty sure Mark came up with the name.

TOM: Mark came up with the name, I just slapped my knee and said “hot damn that’s a great band name!”

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

MARK: I would say we try to write music we would like to listen to.

BRIAN: I am a fan of many musical genres but there’s something about the energy of punk and alternative music that makes it the most fun to play in my opinion. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

TOM: Yeah, I and Mark have known each other since High School. Mark joined the band through Criagslist

MARK: And Brian we met through the original singer of that band, Tyler, who was in a previous band with him. He recruited Brian to play bass.

BRIAN: I didn’t know Mark or Tom before but I was in a band with our original singer/guitarist a few years before Sell Yourself Short was formed.

4. Each band member favourite band?

TOM: Radiohead

MARK: Blind Guardian

BRIAN: Black Sabbath

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

BRIAN: I’m mostly inspired by my various rock star idols.

MARK: Life situations, the urge to just keep writing music. I write songs constantly. It's one of my favorite pastimes.

TOM: Other forms of art, like comic books and movies, as well as issues that I deal with in my own life.

6. Where was your last gig?

BRIAN: A basement in Union, NJ

TOM: At Champs in Trenton with Anticosm on March 13th, 2020. It was the day that everything was getting shut down before the pandemic and it seemed like it was the last show before the end of the world. It was awesome.

MARK: Same as Tom. We are in Anticosm together. 

7. Where would you like to act?

BRIAN: I don’t know, I haven’t done much acting.

MARK: Interesting question. If I were to act in something I would want to do a Film Noir. Definitely my preferred style of the film.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

BRIAN: I would feature with pretty much anybody

MARK: Humphrey Bogart if he was still alive, or Orson Welles.

9. Whom not?

BRIAN: I don’t know? Nazis?

MARK: Alec Baldwin

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

BRIAN: My philosophy has always been that it’s way less embarrassing to just get up there and play than it is to get scared and not play. Most people won't even notice/care if the performance isn’t perfect but it’s hard to live down getting up on a stage and panicking.

TOM: Look into the Alexander Technique.

MARK: I never have always been fine in front of a crowd. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

BRIAN: The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, The Smashing Pumpkins, Taking Back Sunday

MARK: That is a long list. Dissection, Mayhem, Blind Guardian. But for this band for me, AFI, Alkaline Trio, Danzig/Misfits, Bomb the Music Industry/Jeff Rosenstock. I could go on.

TOM: Alkaline Trio, AFI, Fugazi. I’m also a huge fan of RHCP (with John Frusciante), Radiohead, and Mars Volta.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

BRIAN: It’s always kind of weird when someone at a show asks for a picture.

MARK: I never had anyone ask me for anything weird.

13. What do you think of your fans?

BRIAN: Very supportive

MARK: Great, fun, and supportive group of people.

14. What do you think of our site?

TOM: Lots of great artists to explore!

BRIAN: Great site

15. Something to add?

MARK: Thanks for the interview and Happy Holidays!