Honeycock? No, Honyock is a band! They took time out of their peyote trip to answer some important questions about the band!
Honyock is an indie rock band whose music sounds like it’s on magic mushrooms. Starting around 2010 in Sacramento, the band released their debut LP, El Castillo, on July 20th, 2018. The band is Spencer and Mason Hoffman, bassist, Tyler Wolter, and drummer, Christian Midthun.
First off, what’s the story behind the name?
- The story behind the name is that Honyock, a term for farmers who try to till barren land, was something the Brothers Hoffman’s Grandpa used to call them as kids when they were being bad. I think we all have a degree of mischievous youngster in us to this day.
How would you describe the band’s sound?
- I think the band’s sound is a combination of our latest whims, our current struggle to continue to grow, and everything that inspires us. We tend to use elements of classic rock, modern pop, and old school country.
Which bands had the biggest influence on the band’s sound?
- Wilco, Dr. Dog, Elvis Costello, probably.
What’s the last song you listened to?
- The last song I listened to was Another Life by Rufrano off of their EP It Looks.
What’s your source for hearing new music?
- KDVS 90.3 FM for me. That and the occasional Spotify playlist and whatever my Dad, girlfriend, and band mates stumble across.
What led you to music and what motivates you to keep making it?
- Music was everywhere for me growing up. My Dad’s record collection was vast, and my Mom would be singing along to oldies any time she took me anywhere. When my sister turned sixteen, she got a bass for her birthday that she never really learned to play. 2 years later, I turned 16 and decided to pick it up to play with my cousin and try to fit in with friends in high school. I met Mason in high school and went to the punk/hardcore shows he played, and that really got me excited to be doing something similar. Nowadays I think none of us have any worthwhile skills other than music, so we’ve decided to continue to hone our craft haha.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
- The brothers usually start with a song idea and a chord structure that they bring to the band to be fleshed out. The majority of the songs on El Castillo came to be that way. Lately, we’ve been collaborating a little more from the fledgling stage. Sending each other demos and talking about different things we want to do and try and building the songs that way.
If you could write one more song, what would it be about?
- I’m (Tyler) currently working on a song called Animal Control. It’s about someone who camouflages themselves to acclimate to a skunk’s stomping ground in someone’s backyard and eventually eradicate it, however, he ends up falling in love with the skunk. Keep your ears peeled for that one. But seriously, to write the grooviest groove ever grooved is on our to-do list.
What’s the one story you want to tell the world through song that you haven’t yet?
- This is a question that leaves a lot of room for hopes and ideologies, doesn’t it? Haha. That’s a tough one. I think all of us want to tell stories of respect and acceptance and introspection that would lead people to thinking about themselves and how their actions affect others and maybe, learn and grow to make the world a better place. I mean that, and to have as much fun as possible maybe.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
- We connect with our audience in a lot of ways. Just about any social media platform, email, and in-person at shows. They should send us a message or an email or come to a show to connect with us! We like to be approachable and would be flattered if someone went out of their way to chat with us for a few moments. We had a fan from rural France send an email asking for a signed photograph of the band. We need to find that email and get back to them!
Connect with Honyock via their website, Instagram, Band Camp, their label’s website, and their label’s YouTube!
What’s next for the band?
- The next step is Los Angeles and beyond. More music, more tours, more live performances, more media to connect with people.
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
- Uhm, yeah, come to a show. Listen to us on Spotify, ask us for some other indie recommendations. Just because someone hasn’t blown up yet doesn’t mean they aren’t writing amazing and worthwhile songs. Keep listening.
What was it like recording in a legendary studio that once belonged to Elliot Smith? Was it intimidating or inspiring?
- Recording at New Monkey was an inspiring thing right out of the gate. The history of the studio, the contents, and the people we were working with all felt right and comforting. It was too many cool things happening at once. We may have been the right amount of intimidated because we made sure to rehearse like mad people leading up to the recording dates and when we got there, we felt ok after the first couple of takes because we were undoubtedly ready for the recording process. We like to think the ghost of Elliot Smith helped us out by causing some technical difficulties during our second day that lead to us getting a third day in the studio for free.
What was it like working with David Vandervelde? How did he help shape your songs into becoming what they are on El Castillo?
- Working with Dave and Elijah Thompson was awesome. Being a fan of Father John Misty, I felt like I was in the presence of a superb bassist (Thompson). I had to let go of my validation seeking and lay down my parts though; there was no time for gushing. Dave had suggestions for a couple of song structures, radio edits if you will. He helped us get to the point with a couple of tunes. Eli was an efficient engineer and always knew how to break any tension or bring relief to the room with a quick-witted remark or comical juxtaposition to Dave’s straightforward and objective production notes. They made a great team, and I’m happy we got to work with them.
Tells us about your recording process on El Castillo. Were there any techniques you employed to give it a warm and alive sound?
- Hmm technically speaking, I’m unsure. We recorded everything live, that may have helped. Some tracks were taken from recordings we had done in our own rehearsal/recording space, The Record Dungeon. It’s literally a dark room with records floor to ceiling. That may have had something to do with it.
What has changed since signing to Friendship Fever?
- Since signing to Friendship Fever, we’ve benefitted from the guidance of the owner, Chris Watson. He acts as a pseudo-manager for us and knows how and when to say the right things. He also keeps us in mind for a plethora of opportunities. He really cares about what he does, and that helps.
You played in South by Southwest festival 2019. How did that feel? What was it like being part of such a popular and long-running festival?
- Playing SXSW was somewhat surreal and a little nerve-wracking. Most bands probably rehearse their hearts out leading up to something like that, not to say that we didn’t because we did. However, we decided to let go of our drummer leading up to that festival due to philosophical differences. So our SXSW performance features Spencer on drums rather than guitar and our friend Stefan Sorgea on guitar and lending a voice to the harmonies. During our load-in and soundcheck, we learned that YouTube was going to be there, live streaming the showcase. The pressure was on! We were also playing the Park The Van showcase and Park The Van was one of Mason’s and Spencer’s favorite labels as they were growing up. It was always a dream to work with Chris Watson and to play that showcase at that festival just layered the surrealism. I think our performance was great. Our hard work, despite our setbacks, really showed and for anyone familiar with Honyock, that set will be unique and unlike any other. We’re good at thinking on our feet and always keeping things interesting.
Patron is your most popular song on Spotify. What is it about? Tell us the thought process behind creating it and why you think it resonates with your audience so well.
- Patron, from my peripheral understanding, is based loosely on the relationships we have with people and how we value those relationships compares to the value they put on other relationships. Significant others, family, or I think more specifically to the song, substances. I think it resonates so well with so many people because everyone out there has thought at one time or another that either they were worth more than how they felt they were being treated, or that someone they cared about was worth more than that person valued/cared about themselves. Realizing self-worth and recognizing another’s processing of their own self-worth are signs of maturity and, sooner or later, everyone matured to some degree. I think the song is very relatable . . . And pretty good in a sweet, dreamy, poppy sort of way. And have you seen the music video?!
What’s up with the music video to Patron? Did you guys have any input in its creation, or did you let the director run with it? Does it embody the meaning of the song?
- The music video is a brilliant work by Graham Lovelis. When we went down to record at New Monkey, we had booked an Airbnb, which is another story altogether. I’ll try to streamline it. Basically, as we walked up to the house that we were considering staying at, a sad clown, walking in the gutter, crossed our paths. He looked up from his big red shoes to look at us with eyes devoid of hope, filled with crushed dreams, deep sadness, and a longing to be anywhere but where he was. We took that clown crossing as a bad omen and decided to stay in a hotel that night and avoid that Airbnb renter. Later, we told the story of the clown to Graham, and he took it from there. That music video was a stylized perspective of the clown that crossed our paths, and I fall in love with it again every time I watch it.
Review: Honyock’s El Castillo sounds like the 70s cruised through the 60s while on a vision quest fueled by peyote buttons. The music takes you on a toe-tapping journey that will leave you swaying and humming their tunes long after you’ve heard them. If you enjoy indie-folk pop, you’ll love this album. Fans of Dr. Dog will instantly fall in love with Honyock. This album is a must-have for people that enjoy psychedelic rock!
