Rivals

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Rivals

Interview conducted February 07, 2021

By Dan Locke

Along with a stunning music video of the same title, dark pop powerhouse RIVALS (RVLS) announced details for their latest full-length album, Sad Looks Pretty on Me, which will be released on March 19, 2021 via Smartpunk Records. RVLS’ new album, Sad Looks Pretty on Me, exists in two worlds. The Los Angeles quartet — vocalist Kalie Wolfe, bassist Sebastian Clarke, guitarist Micket Woodle, and drummer Josh Alves — draw a wobbly line between blossoming pop-rock and wilting post-hardcore, often alternating between sides for earth-shattering effects. By wearing their inspirations proudly (and enlisting the help of contemporaries), RVLS clamor for the attention of both radio listeners and bedroom moshers. Eventually, their explosive live act—which has garnered the attention of audiences nationwide—will wear this new set of songs.

What is your upbringing?

– Our upbringing in music is actually pretty interesting, Kalie grew up listening to pop and started doing music as a career when she was about 21. Micket grew up listening to mostly old school metal and started doing music at around 17. Josh started music at a super young age of 13 and has always been the person in the band with a very eclectic taste overall and Seb started doing music at 17 and was very prominent in the hardcore music scene.

How did you discover music?

I think I can speak for all of us when I say that music has been such an important part of our lives growing up (even before we chose music as a career) that it was never something that we discovered per say but something that was just always intertwined with each of us personally that we were magnetized too. I have fond memories of singing in the car on the way to school to bands like; Fall Out Boy, Panic At The Disco, Paramore, and tons more. Before I even realized how much I love music, it was always such an important part of my life and I’m excited that my father put up with me screaming in the car on the way to Jr high School haha.

How did you start to write music?

Kalie – Typically I just have random melody ideas that just either turn into an idea or just live on my voice memos (I have like 1000 voice memos on my phone lol)
Micket- I actually started writing music on paper writing a crude version of tabs and it translated into a program called Tabit haha it was super basic

Describe your music.

– If I could describe RIVALS music, I would say it’s a constant surprise, we initially say dark pop and I think for us that really means that we’re a little bit of this and a little bit of that. We kinda just do what feels right musically in the moment

What was your first performance like?

Our first performance as a band was actually pretty solid, we played in a garage in east LA and it was RIVALS and then all the other bands were deathcore bands. This is awesome because most of us in the band love deathcore music. It was actually Kalie’s 2nd show ever in her life playing live.

What makes a good songwriter?

A good songwriter is someone who’s adaptable to the style that’s in play. Someone who can objectively look at a song regardless of the style and be able to create within its boundaries and even be able to push those boundaries without distorting the overall feeling of the song.

What is the process of writing your music?

Usually, it starts with an idea from one of us, could be a vocal idea or even just a cool drum beat and typically we end writing an entire song around that.

You have toured with the likes of Jumpsuit Apparatus, New Year’s Day, Tilian. Has any band given you any words of wisdom about the music business?

wear leggings under your jeans while touring through snowy areas haha

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

RIVALS first song together ever was called the Life of a Monarch and it was demoed out in Micket’s room but then re-recorded out in a studio in Riverside, we don’t have that EP publicly posted but if you do some digging you can find it haha

How did you enjoy Inkcarceration in 2019?

Incarceration was honestly one of the coolest festivals we’ve ever done. The tour was terrific, the crew was awesome and every person we met (whether they were fans of our band or not) we’re super nice and super easy to talk to. The whole band is in total agreement that we would totally do it again.

How long did you hang out in the jail?

We were in the jail for a few hours surprisingly, we love movie stuff and old history so it was cool to be immersed in something like that. We even got a chance to do a photoshoot in one of the main hallways.

Tell me about your latest CD? Album comes out on 3/19/21 via Smartpunk Records!

In this record, we really tried to expand our musical reach. We really tried to show everyone our personal music tastes that we grew up with and how it influences our music today stemming from hardcore music to pop to even some indie feels.

What is your favorite track on the album?

–        Kalie- Strawberries
–        Micket- Sad Looks Pretty on Me
–        Seb- Fake Rich
–        Josh- On The Loose

How do you stay healthy while performing?

-We all do different things but planet fitness has always been good to us!

Did you find Sebastian’s bass yet?

Seb’s bass was never found sadly but thank you so much to everyone who could help get him another. It’s kindness like that that helps musicians like us keep creating the music.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

–        Kalie- I’ve been going to school for computer science, working on my 3D art/Graphic design, and working a lot. I also moved back to Nashville recently as well which has been amazing but miss the guys a lot.
–        Micket- I’m going back to school for mechanical engineering and I’ve been building a lot of things.
–        Seb- Mostly working and I’ve recently picked up Muay Thai
–        Josh- working and I’ve picked up stick fighting on my time off

Kalie- How is your custom art pieces coming along?

Pretty great actually! Last year was tough but work has been picking back up which has been great, been doing lots of merch and even started working with some Twitchers!

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

Kalie – Computer Science! Coding, Math, Science, I never graduated high school so going back to school has been such an adventure for me, and being an adult and learning has really shown me the importance of going to school when you’re ready and not forcing it.
Micket- since quarantine started, I’ve learned how to build guitar pickups, cast metal, print decals, slice 3D renders for 3D printing and I’m learning Spanish

95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?

I’m personally (Kalie) all over the place with my streaming services, we pretty much have everything so really it depends on what I wanna watch. I’m a binge-watcher though, I don’t watch shows till the whole season out, then I spend 2 days watching the whole thing lol.

With the streaming services (Disney (50+ new shows/movies Lizzie McGuire, The Sandlot, Beauty and the Beast prequel, Moana, Cars, Soul, Raya and the Last Dragon, Sister Act 3, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, and Wendy, all future Star Wars and Marvel movies and shows) and HOB Max ( including Wonder Woman 2, Godzilla vs Kong, Top Gun: Maverick, Mortal Kombat, Tom and Jerry, The Many Saints of Newark, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Dune, The Matrix 4) planning to pull all the upcoming movies from next year and put them on their streaming service. How will that affect the entertainment industry?

Micket: One thing you have to remember also most of these movies are already in the can ready to be released. The original agreement was for the movies to come out at the theater first. The actors and crew make most of their money from the residuals (financial compensations that are paid to the actors, film directors, and others involved (including music) in the making of the movie in cases of reruns, syndication, DVD release, and online streaming release).

How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?

It’s been a challenge but we love those, we’ve had to step outside of our norms for promotions and provide a lot more online content for fans. We started a Patreon just to give content to those who really wanna support us and we also started a TikTok to show our weird moments as a band haha.

Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like the playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.

I’m sure it still applies, I know Spotify tried their best to shut down playlists that aren’t Spotify Curated, that are charging because that does go against their terms of service and sort of defeats the point of Spotify to begin with. Paying for tour spots is still extremely common tbh!

Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, which provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” .”

Will this help save the industry?

I think it’s helping but barely, were watching an entire industry crumble right now and not much help has really surfaced to save us. Were all doing what we can to stay alive right now and this includes; managers, artists, crew members, venue, labels, etc

Anything you would like to say in closing.