Alternative/Rock band Machineheart is set to go on tour later this month first with Night Terrors of 1927 and then with Smallpools. Excited by their hit song “Circle” and other highlights including “Watercolors” and “Best Thing”, Tapsongz spoke to the group’s lead vocalist, Stevie Scott.
How did you meet/form the band?
The boys have been playing since they were teens – they’re all from Washington Seattle area. I was here in LA and I met them through mutual friends; they were moving down here, and when they came we started writing together. We liked each other and clearly were products of the 90s – we had the same taste in music which was really weird. I’d been doing a solo project for a while and kind of got tired of it, and meeting the boys it was so fun – I’d forgotten how fun music was and they really reminded me of that. When we started writing together it was really easy, it came naturally and the sound is really unique. And from there we had these great songs and were like – I guess we should have a name for all of this: who are we? We have these awesome songs and we love hanging out with each other.
How did you come up with your group’s name?
That was a grueling process. We all didn’t hate Machineheart – so that was a good start. I think Carmen our electric guitarist kind of threw it out – it felt like a good mix of girly and guy. It felt good; there was nothing really profound behind that.
What is your favorite song to perform? What’s been your best show/favorite place?
We love playing festivals. I think they’re so full of life and energy and very electric; everybody comes out looking to be inspired whether its music or fashion, it’s just very fun and communal too. We love playing festivals. I feel like you get a different side of artists that you don’t get in maybe a smaller venue because it’s a little more crazy and carefree.
For the last, I guess, year and a half we’ve only had one song out – Circle – so that was the only song people really knew. So that was always fun to have the audience singing along with us. Because really for us that what it’s like – it’s not us singing to them, it’s them singing to us and having that conversation and feeding off of each other’s energy. It’s always the best when you get your crowd to know every song. We’re still in the beginning stage.
Your video for “Circles” is beautiful. What motivated you to make it that way?
Well we’ve done our own guerilla-style shoots which are fun and pretty crazy, but that was our first video on this huge set with a full crew. We got there on set that day for the first shot of the day [the production team said,] “You’re on first, you’re on the rotating circle wheel,” and I just got up there and danced it out. It was just me and 30 or 40 people watching me have my dance party for one – which was hilarious because I’m a dancer only in my mind. We had a good time. I think the plan was just to take that feel of the circle: it’s organic meets electronic and that was their interpretation visually. We are shooting our videos for “Best Thing” and “Watercolors” right now. For us as a band it’s so important that the visuals go with what we’re getting at in the song. We have so much fun on Instagram and Tumblr creating this landscape that people can see to get a feel for who we are.
Did you have any artist idols or musical inspirations growing up? What inspires your sound now?
I definitely had a thing for the 90s. There’s something special about being in a band – it’s individuals coming together and making one sound – so what’s really unique about [that] is figuring out what pieces go together to create the song. You know, the boys come from Seattle where Radiohead is a huge influence; Fleetwood Mac would be one of mine.
And I think it’s unique – it’s the melding of that coming together. It takes a lot of grace to come together and make something – it’s laying down your opinion and then hearing what another member thinks and then they do that for you, and that’s how you get the best bond: listening to each other and working together. We feel really lucky to have found each other because we really like each other and really like working together, and I think we’re really good at it. We’re almost like siblings, we somehow made our own little family together.
Which artist, past or present, do you think your music is most similar to or resembles?
I like to think hopefully when you’re like, “We want to sound kind of like…” or “What about a piece that sounds like M83…” you hope that you’re tweaking it and finding your own sound and inspiring bands so that they’ll say, “Oh let’s get a little guitar like Machineheart”. I think you’re constantly inspiring more music. Art inspires art – there’s nothing new under the sun, but you have to find your own light.
You worked with Vanic for “Circles”. Is there an artist that you hope to collaborate or work with in the future?
It’s fun being on the actual instrument side where we have real guitars or drums and then we get to team up with someone like Vanic. It’s really cool because it’s a new time in music; I don’t think it’s something to be afraid of, it’s where music is headed and being open minded in that is important. Like, Kygo is killing it right now. We also worked with this upcoming remixer DJ Miles Travis – he did a remix of one of our demos which will be out on the LP next year.
How did you meet/form the band?
The boys have been playing since they were teens – they’re all from Washington Seattle area. I was here in LA and I met them through mutual friends; they were moving down here, and when they came we started writing together. We liked each other and clearly were products of the 90s – we had the same taste in music which was really weird. I’d been doing a solo project for a while and kind of got tired of it, and meeting the boys it was so fun – I’d forgotten how fun music was and they really reminded me of that. When we started writing together it was really easy, it came naturally and the sound is really unique. And from there we had these great songs and were like – I guess we should have a name for all of this: who are we? We have these awesome songs and we love hanging out with each other.
How did you come up with your group’s name?
That was a grueling process. We all didn’t hate Machineheart – so that was a good start. I think Carmen our electric guitarist kind of threw it out – it felt like a good mix of girly and guy. It felt good; there was nothing really profound behind that.
What is your favorite song to perform? What’s been your best show/favorite place?
We love playing festivals. I think they’re so full of life and energy and very electric; everybody comes out looking to be inspired whether its music or fashion, it’s just very fun and communal too. We love playing festivals. I feel like you get a different side of artists that you don’t get in maybe a smaller venue because it’s a little more crazy and carefree.
For the last, I guess, year and a half we’ve only had one song out – Circle – so that was the only song people really knew. So that was always fun to have the audience singing along with us. Because really for us that what it’s like – it’s not us singing to them, it’s them singing to us and having that conversation and feeding off of each other’s energy. It’s always the best when you get your crowd to know every song. We’re still in the beginning stage.
Your video for “Circles” is beautiful. What motivated you to make it that way?
Well we’ve done our own guerilla-style shoots which are fun and pretty crazy, but that was our first video on this huge set with a full crew. We got there on set that day for the first shot of the day [the production team said,] “You’re on first, you’re on the rotating circle wheel,” and I just got up there and danced it out. It was just me and 30 or 40 people watching me have my dance party for one – which was hilarious because I’m a dancer only in my mind. We had a good time. I think the plan was just to take that feel of the circle: it’s organic meets electronic and that was their interpretation visually. We are shooting our videos for “Best Thing” and “Watercolors” right now. For us as a band it’s so important that the visuals go with what we’re getting at in the song. We have so much fun on Instagram and Tumblr creating this landscape that people can see to get a feel for who we are.
Did you have any artist idols or musical inspirations growing up? What inspires your sound now?
I definitely had a thing for the 90s. There’s something special about being in a band – it’s individuals coming together and making one sound – so what’s really unique about [that] is figuring out what pieces go together to create the song. You know, the boys come from Seattle where Radiohead is a huge influence; Fleetwood Mac would be one of mine.
And I think it’s unique – it’s the melding of that coming together. It takes a lot of grace to come together and make something – it’s laying down your opinion and then hearing what another member thinks and then they do that for you, and that’s how you get the best bond: listening to each other and working together. We feel really lucky to have found each other because we really like each other and really like working together, and I think we’re really good at it. We’re almost like siblings, we somehow made our own little family together.
Which artist, past or present, do you think your music is most similar to or resembles?
I like to think hopefully when you’re like, “We want to sound kind of like…” or “What about a piece that sounds like M83…” you hope that you’re tweaking it and finding your own sound and inspiring bands so that they’ll say, “Oh let’s get a little guitar like Machineheart”. I think you’re constantly inspiring more music. Art inspires art – there’s nothing new under the sun, but you have to find your own light.
You worked with Vanic for “Circles”. Is there an artist that you hope to collaborate or work with in the future?
It’s fun being on the actual instrument side where we have real guitars or drums and then we get to team up with someone like Vanic. It’s really cool because it’s a new time in music; I don’t think it’s something to be afraid of, it’s where music is headed and being open minded in that is important. Like, Kygo is killing it right now. We also worked with this upcoming remixer DJ Miles Travis – he did a remix of one of our demos which will be out on the LP next year.
My favorite song is “Watercolors”. Would you mind sharing a little about the process of writing and playing that song?
It’s about being real and authentic because that’s what people want, and need, you know? That’s how you can really resonate with a listener – is with the honesty. So for us with the watercolors – it just had that magic and that’s what you want, is that moment of magic. It’s something that puts you back there between adolescence and growing up, in between that place when you’re right about to fall asleep and you’re dreaming, and the lines get really blurry. And that’s what “Watercolors” felt like to us. It was this beautiful mural and painting and a feeling of getting lost in all of that, and wanting to stay in that moment and remember those things and feel that nostalgia. And we worked to put the words and the music to that feeling.
What was the best piece of advice that you all have learned along the way?
Be yourself. My mom really encouraged me just to be myself, and you sometimes don’t realize that you’re doing it until you’re growing up and you see that a lot of people aren’t sure of who they are. A lot of us went through that. The boys and I have done a lot of projects on our own and [it was important to] finding out who we are and wanting to see who we are musically. When you do find it, it’s a great feeling and that’s what it feels like being in Machineheart. It’s weird having people come up to you at shows saying, “This is right – this is really you” and you’re in an authentic honest place when other people who don’t know you are able to identify that. My mom always said to be ready to play for an audience for 5 or 50 or 500 or 5000 and then back to 500 or 50 or 5 because fame is fleeting. Hopefully our music resonates deeply enough that we can do this for decades – I mean that’s our goal – to not just be something here and now, but really to create something that leaves a lasting impression.
What is the next project that you guys are working on? What can fans get excited about for your future plans? Goals?
We released our “In Your Dreams EP” a couple of months ago and we just finished up in the studio writing our LP. That was really fun because you want to be able to paint a larger, broader picture for your listeners and fans to really understand you and where you’re coming from. That’s going to be really exciting because when people are coming to our shows they’re going to see the closest representation of who we really are. And we go out with Smallpools and Phoebe Ryan in the fall, and those are all going to be really fun.
What other hobbies do you guys have besides music? What do you like to do in your free time?
Everyone [in the group] has his or her own hobbies for sure. It’s funny because a couple of people will go split off into pairs and do whatever they want. There are a couple of us that are coffee lovers or coffee snobs; we like to scope out the best cool places to go hang out and find cool eateries. Then we love going to see other live music shows – there’s so much music and so much talent and it’s great to go out and hear other musicians and just get inspired. We love art, and I really truly believe that what goes in comes out, so it’s important that we are taking in things to be inspired by. We get to do so much of that when we’re on the road; it’s so special to be in an industry where you actually get to travel and meet new people every day.
Be sure to give Machineheart’s EP a listen and be on the lookout for their upcoming LP. Check out their tour schedule below and see them perform live in a city near you.
It’s about being real and authentic because that’s what people want, and need, you know? That’s how you can really resonate with a listener – is with the honesty. So for us with the watercolors – it just had that magic and that’s what you want, is that moment of magic. It’s something that puts you back there between adolescence and growing up, in between that place when you’re right about to fall asleep and you’re dreaming, and the lines get really blurry. And that’s what “Watercolors” felt like to us. It was this beautiful mural and painting and a feeling of getting lost in all of that, and wanting to stay in that moment and remember those things and feel that nostalgia. And we worked to put the words and the music to that feeling.
What was the best piece of advice that you all have learned along the way?
Be yourself. My mom really encouraged me just to be myself, and you sometimes don’t realize that you’re doing it until you’re growing up and you see that a lot of people aren’t sure of who they are. A lot of us went through that. The boys and I have done a lot of projects on our own and [it was important to] finding out who we are and wanting to see who we are musically. When you do find it, it’s a great feeling and that’s what it feels like being in Machineheart. It’s weird having people come up to you at shows saying, “This is right – this is really you” and you’re in an authentic honest place when other people who don’t know you are able to identify that. My mom always said to be ready to play for an audience for 5 or 50 or 500 or 5000 and then back to 500 or 50 or 5 because fame is fleeting. Hopefully our music resonates deeply enough that we can do this for decades – I mean that’s our goal – to not just be something here and now, but really to create something that leaves a lasting impression.
What is the next project that you guys are working on? What can fans get excited about for your future plans? Goals?
We released our “In Your Dreams EP” a couple of months ago and we just finished up in the studio writing our LP. That was really fun because you want to be able to paint a larger, broader picture for your listeners and fans to really understand you and where you’re coming from. That’s going to be really exciting because when people are coming to our shows they’re going to see the closest representation of who we really are. And we go out with Smallpools and Phoebe Ryan in the fall, and those are all going to be really fun.
What other hobbies do you guys have besides music? What do you like to do in your free time?
Everyone [in the group] has his or her own hobbies for sure. It’s funny because a couple of people will go split off into pairs and do whatever they want. There are a couple of us that are coffee lovers or coffee snobs; we like to scope out the best cool places to go hang out and find cool eateries. Then we love going to see other live music shows – there’s so much music and so much talent and it’s great to go out and hear other musicians and just get inspired. We love art, and I really truly believe that what goes in comes out, so it’s important that we are taking in things to be inspired by. We get to do so much of that when we’re on the road; it’s so special to be in an industry where you actually get to travel and meet new people every day.
Be sure to give Machineheart’s EP a listen and be on the lookout for their upcoming LP. Check out their tour schedule below and see them perform live in a city near you.
