How did you guys come together to form Downshift? Myself (Jordan Payne) and Aaron Parrett (a previous member) had written the songs on the album “one in the chamber” and we were looking to build the right group of guys around it. A mutual friend of ours was playing bass at the time, and introduced us to Jordan McAdams (drummer). The night before his tryout, another mutual friend of Aaron and I’s (Clayton barber), had reached out to me asking if I knew of any bands looking

What inspired the creation of this single? Well, this song has been kicking around since the start of the band, it was one of the original early songs in our original line up. I really liked the lyrics, and they showed up really easily. I had the harmonies, and the structure pretty much dialed immediately. If memory serves, this song showed up with the riff and the title for some reason, so I wrote it based on the title.

What inspired the theme or concept behind this album? The idea behind The Imperfectionist grew out of a kind of joyful rebellion — a refusal to chase perfection in a world obsessed with it. As a band, we’re more interested in honesty, in character, in the stories that come out of the cracks. The album explores themes like tolerance, solidarity, absurdity, ageing, and the awkward beauty of being human. Musically, it jumps between genres — swing, Afrobeat, folk, cumbia,

What first got you into music? I remember being about five or six years old when my family took a trip to Daytona Beach, Florida. One evening, while we were having dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, my grandpa got up to sing karaoke. He chose What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. Watching him perform was unforgettable — he looked so joyful, and his energy lit up the entire room. In that moment, I realized I wanted to do the same: bring happiness to others through music

What first got you into music? Being born? Seriously, as far back as I can remember, I was just absolutely obsessed with music. And by the look of the old family movies my parents still have, I was into music before my memories even began. There’s a video of me runnin’ circles around a little inflatable kiddie pool in the back yard when I was about two with a little white plastic guitar, and I was making up songs. I guess you could say my first original song lyric

What inspired the creation of this single? "Hide Away" for some reason has a power to orient us as a band. We usually start our rehearsals with it. It’s a rock for us. What story or message does the song convey? Too often the art of living is traded away for a smaller personal narrative of sadness and disappointments. It sounds dreary when you say it like that. But that’s the idea behind it. It’s probably better if you just listen to the song.

What inspired the creation of this single? My beautiful wife and the life we’ve made together. We’ve been together 22 years and have two wonderful kids. The story is plain and simple.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before? Alt Rock with a good mix of indie for fans of the Strokes, The Killers, and Dinosaur Jr. What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far? Being able to tour the US and Canada has definitely been a highlight for us. We have played with so many great bands over the years and met a bunch of amazing people.

What first got you into music? It may be a cliché, but I’ve always felt that music chose me. I’ve been singing at family events since I was a little girl, and even performed live covers of my favorite band, Placebo, at a young age. Music has always been a source of healing for me, and I’ve known for as long as I can remember that it’s my greatest passion.

What inspired the theme or concept behind this album? Stereophile is about our connection. We need each other. It's about my own personal commitment to continue to cultivate relationships and be with one another in real time, in an age where we're becoming more isolated than ever.

Interview with Wil Martin of Earshot about their new single “Where Were You?”. What inspired the creation of this single? I tend to...

What first got you into music? I started making music when I was 14. Back then, it was just something I did for fun — writing, recording,

What inspired the creation of this single? “Nothing But You” was inspired by personal events in my life & also channeled from the dead.

What inspired the theme or concept behind this album? It's not really a concept album and the songs differ a lot in their themes, but a

What first got you into music? Music was always around me growing up, but I think the real turning point was when I picked up a guitar