Interviews: Amber Pacific

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Pop Punk band Amber Pacific 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 come out just like that?

Justin (our guitarist) was an incredible golfer with incredible ideas and originally provided the name, “Follow Through” when we started together as a band. Just prior to signing our deal with Hopeless Records, our attorney discovered a band on the East Coast had legal rights to the name, “Follow Through” so I drew up roughly 4 pages of band names and on our ride to the oKice to sign our deal, we chose the words “Amber” and “Pacific” from two separate names, cross-checked it with our attorney and we were good to go hence AP was born! 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

My first show took place at an absolutely stunning venue here in Eastern WA called The Gorge Ampitheater. It was Blink 182, New Found Glory, and Jimmy Eat World and it was the first time I had really experienced live music. I vividly remember New Found Glory coming out to “Sucker” and I was immediately hooked, after seeing Blink’s set I knew it was something I wanted to do and the best part of this story was getting multiple opportunities to play on that very stage during the Vans Warped Tour when it rolled through WA.

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

Yes, we were all close friends out of Federal Way High School and Dango was the only member who wasn’t local. He came over to us fairly early on and has been with AP ever since dating back to our first real tour out of Washington. 4. Each band member's favorite band?

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

That seems to change from album to album, our first album was really about teenage heartbreak coming oK of a long-term relationship, and the second was a product of touring and listening to how those songs oK our first album helped our fans through all the things life throws our way. The third was a departure from the first two as we had a new singer which allowed us to write a little differently and develop a new sound, The Turn was our fourth and marked the return of Matt (our original vocalist) so it was comprised of ideas I had been working on from the end of our third to recording that fourth album. Our fifth album focuses on truly a blend of the last 4 in terms of inspiration and also touches on mental health.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our most recent run was spent in Texas with our friends in Mest, prior to that we played Texas a few more times with an amazing cover band called Van Full of Nuns.

7. Where would you like to act?

On Days of Our Lives. (I don’t actually know if this was part of the questionnaire...haha)

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We have had some amazing opportunities to feature several of our close friends in the industry including Mike from MxPx and Alex from All Time Low. We continue to work closely with Mike but had an opportunity to work with Sebastian from Simple Plan on our latest album which should be released in early 2025.

9. Whom not?

There really isn’t anyone in particular we wouldn’t want to collaborate with unless the person just wasn’t a fan of the band because what’s the point right?

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

I think we all enjoy performing and playing for our fans, it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe but the moments before, during, and after the show are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced from anything else in life. Suppose stage fright is something that you experience. In that case, I’ve found connecting with fans before you play can help ease some of that anxiety, or talking to the ones who are upfront, just getting comfortable with who is there helps take some of the mystery away or the concern of “are these people going to like what they hear?”

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Cliché I know but Green Day and Blink were the bands I learned how to play guitar on, from there the list grew to Saves The Day, AFI, Bad Religion, etc. Currently, I love listening to Sum 41, Falling in Reverse, and Bad Omens. I know for the rest of the guys and myself included, MxPx, The Starting Line, New Found Glory, NoFx, there are so many and all have a small part in what Amber Pacific sounds like today.

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

I’m not sure if it was something we were asked for but one of our strangest fan interactions happened at a signing we were doing for Warped Tour when someone brought up a hospital bedpan to sign, it was the first and only time we’ve ever had that request and definitely stands out in my mind.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Another cliché, but we have the best fans in the world. I think the thing that makes our relationship special with our fans is the amount of time we’ve spent with each of them, we literally spent hours upon hours at our merch table (even to this day) to allow anyone who cares about us to come up and talk, we love the interaction and it’s their love for AP that really keeps our motor running and gives us the platform to continue making music as long as they continue coming to the shows!

14. What do you think of our site?

Awesome!

15. Something to add?

We just announced signing to Manic Kat Records and are super excited about it and we just released our debut single, “Young and Reckless” available now on all streaming platforms!