SZNS- The Monkees meet the Spies Girls?
Interview conducted Feb. 18, 2021
by Dan Locke
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn each bring their own unique vocals and styles that blend together to create the vibrant SZNS sound. The pop-quartet aims to create a fresh new take on the classic 90’s girl group music we all know and love- blending EDM, latin-synth, and house inspired beats. Their conversational lyricism stems from the four’s collaborative writing style- a late night kitchen heart-to-heart. Their relatable and empowering tracks call to girls, as well as anyone feeling pressured into submission to address and disrupt the status quo. SZNS will have a series of four EPs, crafted for each season, emanating power, vulnerability, wit, and reality ranging from bass dropping dance beats to sultry ballads.
How did you discover music?
- Winter: I’ve been performing ever since I could talk. My mom always had music playing and was always having me sing for friends. So the bug bit me real young!
- Autumn: I grew up on a lot of musical theater- Les Mis, Wicked, Rent, Jersey Boys. I think that really influenced my writing and how I like to make a narrative and tell a story.
- Spring: I grew up watching The Rockadoodle and I just wanted to be that rooster.
- Summer: I grew up in a very musical household and I started dancing at a very young age. I picked up trumpet when I was around 8 and I’ve been doin it ever since!
Who brought the band together?
Fate
Why do each of the members represent one of the four seasons? How did your band get its name?
- “SZNS” highlights our uniqueness and individuality while also being a cohesive balanced group. Each of us has her own style, music taste, drives, inspirations, but we all come together in a harmonious blend like the seasons! Each of our personalities really does reflect the nuances of each season though- it is kinda wild.
Do any of you play any instruments? Summer, I did see a photo of you holding a trumpet
Describe your music.
- Summer: I’d say we make fun, feel good pop music that has that 90s girl group classic feel to it.
What makes a good songwriter?
- Winter: I believe what makes a good songwriter is vulnerability & the ability to have a great top line. If you can talk about the nitty gritty, you end up getting a song that people can relate to and a good top line allows people to sing along and really feel heard. That’s what I think music is all about, connecting.
- Summer: I think anyone can be a good songwriter! As long as you’re willing to be honest and dive into however you’re feeling
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
- The first song we ever wrote together was actually Tequila w Lime which was our first single that we dropped in July 2020.
Tell me about your debut single “Tequila w Lime” and the follow-up single Faster?
- Autumn: Tequila w/ Lime was the first song we wrote as a group- it all started with us just lying around on Summer’s old apartment floor talking about the nightlife scene and our own experiences going out. It was a really amazing experience, the four of us essentially strangers at this point, but connecting through the writing process and getting to know each other.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
- Winter: We just started performing so I hope my hard work in the gym pays off! Spring & I weight lift & do cardio about 3 times a week together and make sure we eat pretty healthy, with the occasional cheat day. 😉 We all hold each other accountable, which is my fav!
- Autumn: I do yoga sometimes but I need to step it up- Winter and Spring are fitness gods and they really inspire me to get my booty in shape.
- Summer: honestly I think skateboarding gives me good stamina lol
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
- Spring: We are so excited about the streams on our songs! We didn’t know what to expect but to see people jamming to our music is so cool.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
- Autumn: I’ve recently been thinking a lot about Selena Gomez’s “Back to You.” I feel like she really encapsulated the essence of yearning for that one ex that will never be right but you know you’d go back to. OOf. This be hitting a lil too close to home right now. Excuse me I… need a second lmao.
- Summer: in my life by the Beatles has been giving me all the nostalgic good vibes ive needed lately.
- Winter: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. Nuff said, no explanation needed. Love my girls and love what we get to create together.
- Spring: Up by Cardi! I feel so powerful and I just want everyone to be in their power!
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine? Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
- Autumn: We’ve really just been using this time to practice and expand musically- I’m trying to write as much as possible and focus on developing my piano skills too.
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?
- Winter: Love me some Amazon Prime.
- Autumn: I’m a huge rewatcher- so I gotta say Netflix for my vamp diaries and bojack.
- Summer: Hulu!!
- Spring: Apple TV because my parents pay for it.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
- Winter: We love our fans so much, so this has been something that is heavy on our minds. But we’ve been working on many avenues that will allow our fans to be included, more so, in our lives and our process. And we can’t wait to share everything that’s to come.
- Autumn: yeah it’s true we can’t really be meeting fans in person, but tiktok, instagram, and youtube have really made it possible to interact and chat with people all over the world! Honestly I feel really close to a lot of people who found us on tiktok and get invested in the group and we’ll start to chat and send each other frog videos and memes- i love it so much.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
- Winter: All I can say is, SIGN ME UP!
In the past if a musician stop doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
- Winter: Music, to me, is something I would do even if I never performed for another person. It’s just something my soul needs and allows me to express myself. But I also love acting for this same reason. Both music and acting hold my heart because they both connect people & perspectives.
- Autumn: I think I would maybe try to be an astronaut but I think I’m too short unfortunately. NASA, my dm’s are open, what’s good.
- Summer: I’ve always wanted to be a professional figure skater but I’m not very good at it.
- Spring: I would probably be a stewardess so I could just travel the world and see new places.
What is your happy place?
- Autumn: Ok so here’s the scene- I’m driving my Prius, both hands on the wheel, everyone roasts me for being the slowest driver but it’s ok. Summer is in the front seat on aux and Spring and Winter are in the back singing their hearts out along to Tove Lo or Megan. We’re running a little early to wherever we’re going so we grabbed some coffee and the sun is shining but it’s not too hot and the windows are down.
- Summer: I’d say my happy place is in the studio with the girls after we finish a song and we’re just hangin out
- Spring: Being at home with my parents.
Do you see yourself having a television series in the future? Maybe a series similar to the Monkees meet the Spies Girls?
- YES. one hundred p. Stay tuned… maybe we got something coookin
Anything you would like to say in closing.
- Thank you for having us, Unrated! And thank you to everyone who’s been coming along with us on our journey- we can’t wait to see what the future brings and we love you!
