Gone Stereo took a moment to answer our questions about their music and how they make it. Let’s see what they have to say!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
So prior to becoming a “band” this was entirely just an acoustic project called Lupopunk. While I was writing these acoustic tunes I started to mess around with some old pop punk style riffs I had then decided to write a couple of pop punk tunes. As the time passed, I was getting that itch to play out there again, after all it’s been over a decade.
A mutual friend put me in touch with guitarist Chris Lynam who onboarded our bassist, Mike Drinkwalter. I called up my friend and drummer Jayson Howard who I’ve played in a band with a long time ago then later on, we added lead guitarist Josh Freeman and our project was complete.
In January 2022, we played our first show as “Lupopunk” and shortly after, we decided that we were going to continue being a band like so, we changed the name to Gone Stereo. As far as how the name came about, literally googling and putting words together.
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
I started to play music in a church band then later learned how to play a little bit of drums. While playing in this church group, I met a friend who introduced me to Green Day and Screeching Weasel. We started a band called “409” that later became 48 in the basement.
The Long Island music scene was unbelievable back in the late 90’s. No matter what show you went to, there were dozens of people there. Throughout the years, I linked up with another group called Whoopie Cushion and my last project was called Idle Vice. Both groups toured extensively playing shows with New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday, the Ataris, Midtown, Vince Neil, etc.
The best part about this whole thing is that some of us here in have met in the past when we were kids and at one time or another played shows together and now all of these years later, we are still here and still playing music.
How would you describe your sound?
Well what I tell people when they ask “What kind of music is it” I simply say, it’s Melodic Punk Rock Music. I suppose you could call us in a Pop Punk band.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
We all listen to an array of different music and each of us like different things. Hell, I’m a big old school country music fan. Some of us enjoy the early 2000’s style of punk rock, pop punk and that is mainly what you ear when you listen to Gone Stereo. Some of our influences are REM, Operation Ivy, Weezer, Oasis, Face to Face etc.
What’s the last song you listened to?
Tarnish – by Dave House ex The Loved Ones. Song is so good!
What’s your source for hearing new music?
I have Spotify and Apple Music subscriptions so I listen to new music when it comes out on Friday’s. I also check out a lot of the local groups on Instagram There are some really good bands out there.
Who is your dream producer?
I’ll tell you what I told a co worker last week… I’d do anything to work just one song with Feldy, John Feldmann. Guy is a legend. I also wouldn’t mind working with Jack Antonoff
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Personally, It would be awesome to collaborate with Elvis or George Harrison if they were still around. The dudes in Jimmy Eat World for sure. Im also a big Face to Face fan so Trevor Keith. Oh and yeah I’ll say it, Taylor Swift too.
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
When I was a kid, my father introduced me to the guitar and I took it from there. When I’m not playing music, I’m at my real job and it drains the absolute life from me and that alone would motivate anybody to never stop following their dream. More importantly, my son is the one who motivates me the most to never give up.
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
We didn’t really begin to write with each other until after our first release as those song’s I had already written and recorded by myself. These new songs that are coming out we started to write and collaborate together during practices.
Our most newest ones, we’ve been creating them in a little studio in a town on Long Island called Sea cliff. Technology these days also make it very easy to share our ideas when we can’t be with each other in person.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
These days for us at least it’s social media, social media, social media. All of us have responsibilities, careers, families that make touring not really a solid option. However, we do play a lot and have been moving around the tristate area I mean we’ve only been a band for about a year and a half.
Our fans connect with us pretty much the same… social media. The big supporters are the ones who come out to see us play. We appreciate all of you!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6a08ymeTRxyCVM2wp4LxAY?si=s8nmEvvkQHyTYiuYLexEOA
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lupopunk/1586849966
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gonestereo/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/gonestereoliny
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCztyaGgbed3DORwaR7OY6-Q
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/search/Gone+stereo?filter=IsLibrary%7Cfalse&sc=none
What’s next for you?
We just released our newest song Twin Pines and have another song to follow. We also have resigned with Negative Progression Records for a two song single that is expected to come out digitally a little later this summer, and on vinyl towards the end of the year. Our first release under NPR will also be available on vinyl as well.
We have a small show schedule on Long Island this summer and a few shows that are in the works this winter. Next year we are hoping to play some festivals and we will probably be doing a couple weekender tours next summer that are off of Long Island.
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
Please follow us on Instagram or any of our social media platforms for updates as we do post frequently. We also have a couple videos that we are working on that will be out in the near future!
Oh and we enjoy pizza, craft beers, and very fine whiskey.
Thanks! Matty Stereo.
Bio:
Gone Stereo is a melodic pop punk band with a distinctive early 2000’s sound reminiscent of Blink 182, Mxpx, The Ataris, Fenix TX and Allister. If you are a fan of that era and love catchy sing a long choruses with soaring melodies, Gone Stereo is the band for you
