Good Morning Music Lovers! Would you like some great new music to fill your ears with? Of course you do, why else would you be here?!  Today I would like to introduce you to an up-and-coming Orange County band, Island Apollo. The band is made up of five members: Ryan Kilpatrick (Vocals & Guitar), Matty champagne (Drums),  Addam Farmer (Bassist), Heath Farmer (Guitarist), and Austin Farmer (keyboardist).  The band has released a new song, a follow-up to their 2015 self titled “Island Apollo” EP. At first listen, I absolutely loved “Hold It Down” and it just kept getting better with time. The mixture of the southern grunge guitar sound and crisp clear vocals gives them a sound all their own, can you dig it?!

I was lucky enough to interview the band and ask a handful of questions so we could get to know them a little better. Their answers even helped me digest their music a little differently knowing their background and musical influences. Check out the interview and their latest song “Hold It Down” below…

IMHB: How did you all meet and what made you want to make music together as a profession?

IA: We have three brothers in the band; they grew up in a pretty musical family so they’ve always played together.  And the brothers and I actually took our first guitar lessons together back when we were in 4th grade or something.  They met Matt playing in worship bands for church services, and they brought us all together to start a band nearly a decade ago.

IMHB: Where did the name Island Apollo come from?

IA: Addam and Heath went to college in Long Beach.  There are these oil rigs out there off the coast disguised as islands to make them look more aesthetically pleasing.  Heath came up with the name, and was influenced by those islands.  I believe each island was named after an Apollo 1 astronaut.

IMHB: What is your favorite part of the music making process?

IA: I’m a big fan of the process itself.  I love generating an idea in its most basic form, and following it through to its final one.  I love the feeling of discovery.  It feels best when you don’t feel like you’re making something, but rather you’re uncovering something that had already existed.

IMHB: What’s your favorite song you’ve recorded so far?

IA: My favorite would be Hold It Down.  I think the sound is very reflective of this band at its core.

IMHB: What are some bands that you really admire and that inspire your sound?

IA: I love The Shins and Cage the Elephant.  But if you asked me a couple of years ago I would have talked your ear off about Arcade Fire.  We’re constantly digesting and absorbing new music.  At the time that Hold it Down was written, we were listening a lot to Arctic Monkeys’ “AM”.  I think you can hear a good amount of that album on this track.

IMHB: What are you listening to now? There are tons of albums coming out this year, any in particular you’re excited about?

IA: I’m listening to The Shins’ newer albums Port of Morrow and Heartworms.  Heartworms just dropped this year, and I’m just now really diving into Port of Morrow, so I have this playlist of twenty something Shins songs that I’m obsessing over.  I think Port of Morrow is my favorite album they’ve done.  It was right after James Mercer got back from Broken Bells, and I think his experience with Brian changed how he approached production with The Shins.

IMHB: If you could perform at any venue you want, which would you choose and why?

IA: I would perform with Broken Bells, at the Roxy.  I feel like who they are as people and artists vibes with who I am pretty well.  The Roxy was sort of our home for a long time so I have this attachment to it now.

IMHB: What artist would you like to collaborate with?

IA: I would love to collaborate with Danger Mouse or Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.  I love the albums that they’ve been producing.  I think the engineering is really clean, but has character.  And the production is never overburdened, but still feels full and emotional.

IMHB: Can you tell me more about your next record?

IA: We have this collection of songs that we’d love to record, but I think we’re gonna focus on pushing the current EP for a while.  There’s no point in recording and then not putting the proper time into promoting it.  Hopefully within the next year we will be back in studio!

IMHB: What TV shows are you watching right now?
IA: Archer and Bob’s Burgers.  And who isn’t watching Game of Thrones?

IMHB: Vinyl or streaming?
IA: I think its a much more enjoyable experience to slide a Vinyl out of its casing and put it on the record player.  Its sort of ritualistic.  And I love collecting albums that I think are great; its sort of a way of finding yourself.  But that being said, I’m not going to be playing a vinyl the next time I get into the car.  Streaming is just incredibly convenient and easy.  And with Spotify you have access to so many great works.  Its really an amazing thing.

Thanks to the guys for taking the time to give some great answers to these questions! And happy listening to you music fam!!