Interviews: Troubled Minds

This is a new interview with the Rock band Troubled Minds 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 plan it or came out just like that?

I've had this band for a really long time, and this is actually a pretty funny story. Back when I was like 18 or 19, I had a job working at Sonic. And yes, they made me wear the rollerskates, and also yes, it totally sucked. Anyways, I was having a pretty bad day and my inner dialogue said something along the lines of, "Man, I need to leave this job, it's giving me a troubled mind." And then I immediately thought, "Troubled Minds has a pretty nice ring to it for a band name" So I wrote the name down on a napkin, and put that napkin in my pocket. Later down the line, I found that scrunched-up napkin and still thought it sounded like a cool band name. So I started a band.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I've always just made music that I want to listen to. Some of my biggest influences are bands like Balance and Composure, Title Fight, and The Wonder Years. Hearing influences from those bands on our upcoming record is pretty clear, and I'm really excited to get our new music out there.

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

This band has always been led by me with a bit of a revolving lineup. I knew our bass player Gabe from his other band Adult Feelings. They were a really sick band in the valley that's unfortunately inactive at the moment. I met our guitarist John at a show when we opened for The World Is a Beautiful Place. I knew he was in a band called Constellations at the time. He had a lot of great things to say about us, he mentioned he wanted to make similar music to us, and when the opportunity arose for us to need a new guitar player, I hit him up to be in the band. 

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Okay, we're going to do this in two categories, favorite band of all time and favorite band right now. Matt: all-time fav: Title Fight current fav: Drug Church or Fiddlehead John: all-time fav: Mastodon current fav: Pup or Lurk

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Good songs inspire me to write songs. I wish it was deeper than that, but it really isn't haha. Whenever I hear a song or band that's super sick that always encourages me to write another song.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was opening for Heart Attack Man! It was our second time playing with them. Those dudes are the homies and we love the hell out of them!

7. Where would you like to act?

We'd love to perform anywhere people are into us! We haven't toured since 2019 and we've been anxious to get out again.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Heart Attack Man, Cliffdiver, Anxious, Calmgrove, Sunsleeper, probably a bunch more. We love great bands that make great music that is fun to kick it with. Those are the types of bands we would love to feature with.

9. Who not?

I'm not really about throwing shade, but I'd probably pass on an MGK feature. Idk if I'd want to work with Kanye either. I'm not really about artists that are full of themselves. When people are down to earth it's so much easier to work together and just be friends.

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

I mean, I've been nervous playing shows before. Ultimately, people need to understand that anxiety to get up on stage and represent themselves is really a good thing. It shows that you care about yourself. But also understand, if you have good intentions, you're nice to people, and you're having a good time, people are going to love you. And if someone dislikes you when all you've done is bring a good vibe, that issue is kind of on them. That realization helped me out a lot. So whenever I'm at a show, or even a party, I always just bring my best vibe; and if someone wants to be negative about me, I do what I can to make it right, but beyond that, I don't stress about it too much.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

I'm going to be really vanilla and boring and start it off with Title Fight because that band really did change it all for me. Also, Snowing and Algernon Cadwallader had a huge impact on my wanting to start this band. All the bands we've watched start as small artists, and then land cool record deals, or hop on sick tours really inspire us, too. I'm specifically thinking about our local artist Sydney Sprague. She started as another name in Phoenix and then signed with Rude Records and land tours with Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, The Front Bottoms, and Oso Oso. It's so cool and inspiring to see our friends land great opportunities like that.

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

I don't think anyone has asked us for something weird. We've had a few weird situations on tour staying with people overnight. One time we stayed in a gym equipment store overnight and the owner just wanted to party and do coke all night while the rest of us just wanted to sleep. He ended up kicking a hole in his drywall and blamed it on us the next morning. We just ignored him, packed our bags, and left. It was a weird night for sure.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Our fans have always been nice and cool to us! I love the people our music attracts.

14. What do you think of our site?

It's cool! I like how you have a section for free music. I also enjoyed seeing our name in the new band's section. Keep it up!

15. Something to add?

Check out our new single "like I used to be"! We're really proud of it and hope you dig it!