After releasing their highly-praised debut single ‘Drop A Coin’ earlier this year, emerging outfit The Open Flames have been quick to craft a bold and exhilarating approach to the indie-rock sound. And with the buzz around that offering only beginning to settle, they are back once again to deliver their breezy new outing ‘Eat Alone’.
So with that new single doing the rounds, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what they have planned for the future as well.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
Drummer Evan and songwriter Dave were high school friends. As Evan tells it, Dave decided that we would have a band, and assigned an instrument to each of our buddies and we banged away in the attic. Evan went on to great success with the band Harvey Danger with the hit song Flagpole Sitta, and is now in a band with Paige, the OFs’ guitarist. We all got back together virtually during the pandemic and recorded “Lockdown” which will be on the album alongside the current singles “Eat Alone” and “Drop a Coin.”
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
Pavement made us see what’s possible. The Velvet Underground showed what noise and great stories can do. The Beatles and the Beach Boys taught us harmonies. In other words, we like poetic lyrics with a backbeat and harmonies.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
Dave will send a bedroom recording of a new song idea to the band. If they don’t answer, they didn’t like it and Dave should take a hint and stop. If they respond within five minutes, it’s a keeper and it’s time for the studio! Evan will have an emotive song arrangement in mind and work closely with the producer. Paige will flesh out lovely and fascinating guitar sounds and harmonies. Len will add a groovy bassline.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
Dave is always catching lyrics out of the air, like butterflies, especially when someone accidentally mixes words, and then turns them into a story. “Eat Alone” actually puts them into a script, with a caregiver nagging their loved one who is dying. And Evan, Paige and Len never stop listening to new music and creating, creating, creating new sounds!
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Nothing is simple! No one sees the same situation the same way. That’s way our songs usually have two or three meanings at the same time. We hope listeners will want to both trip out and dance to our songs – so even that isn’t simple!
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
Finding enough electric plugs onstage for all of our guitar effects pedals.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
We have loved being together, connecting stories to new sounds, and taking advantage of all the doo-hickeys in the recording studio!
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
TikTok tempts you into doing silly dances from the waist up. We only agree to do full body dances at gigs.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
We have released two singles and videos, and we aim to release a third single in January 2025 – and hopefully the full album “Same Time Next Year”! In the meantime, we’re doing cheeky sneak peak gigs.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
Hearing one of our songs on a pub jukebox while enjoying a pint with friends – what could be better?
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Listen to The Open Flames’ new single ‘Eat Alone’ below.
