The Snorts – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

The Snorts – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Every artist’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?

TS: The first Snorts record is called “Late to the Party” and it’s definitely a different vibe than our latest record “pitter patter”. The first record was more lite hearted and playful while the latest record seems to be a response to the current happenings of the world. We didn’t plan it that way but to paraphrase Ronnie James Dio, when the world is on fire you can’t always write about rainbows.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

TS: Meh, genre’s are silly things for silly people. We play what makes us move, what gets us excited and we don’t worry about what bucket is suppose to fall into. We love all sorts of music, from Ornette Coleman to Heart Attack Man to Leon Redbone, to The Cramps to Dying Fetus.

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?
Oh man, there are so many, in no particular order:

TS: Scott from the record label DCxPC,
Andy Scullin from Metroland Now, Unsigned 518 and Shortwave Radioband,
the boys in Miracle Blood—low key the coolest band in the northeast,
our producer Ryan Dugan,
Jordan Withers from Poison Noises,
TJ over at Love of Fuzz,
the boys in Something Bitter without them we don’t play our first show as The Snorts,
Yeah Universe,
The Hauntings,
No Such Thing As Ghosts,
Grapejuice from Saratoga,

plus a million other people and bands we are leaving out. Without anyone mentioned here the music community simply doesn’t exist. Go see a local band, listen to a local podcast, read your local zine. None of this is guaranteed and it’s up to us to keep it alive.

RRX: A band is a business. A business of love, but you got to work for it. Let’s pretend, instead of a band, you all owned a business. What would it be, and why would it be good?

TS: A record store. We could call it something like “The Snortitorium” and we wouldn’t quite be the asshole that Jack Black’s character in Hi-Fidelity is but we would walk right up to that line. Music isn’t — and shouldn’t be a competitive sport, but that doesn’t mean it’s immune to good honest discussion. The beauty of music is there are no wrong answers.

RRX: What was the very first reaction to your music, from the first person to ever hear so much as a practice jam or the demo of your first song?

TS: “So…you gonna be doing that all day?”

RRX: We have to play somewhere, and sometimes those places have more going for them than a stage and a power outlet. What is a memorable place you played, and bonus points if it’s not a well-known place.

TS: The Herkimer Polish community home. Specifically in December, right before Christmas. It’s a special place, with a lot of history and it was one of the best shows we’ve ever been part of — you had to be there. Much love to Atticus Finch and the boys.