20 Questions with Jacob of Treetop Clothing

If you want awesome designs at a price you can afford you need to check these guys out. “Our goal is to bring good quality apparel as cheap as we can sell it. We are here to make you look fly not poor.”- taken directly from their Myspace. At $8 bucks or less, you can’t go wrong with Treetop Clothing.

What inspired the name Treetop?
It was very random, we had thought of many different names, and the idea of a clothing company really came about over the span of about a week, we tried different names but none really fit, some of which were Roadside Apparel, Roach Clothing, which got ditched for its relation to drugs.. haha, and many others. Treetop fit, it really doesn’t have a solid meaning though, we just thought it was cool and it could be worn by a guy or girl and was memorable.

How long has the line been in the works?
Since February 08, which was when the concept was formed, but we didn’t actually start selling shirts until April, so really only about 7 months.

How has your company changed from since you first started?
Well, I think, Lauren and myself have grown and learned tremendously what it takes to run a company so we have definately changed, but really, we are just going with the flow of the company and basing almost all our designs on things relating to the bible and Christianity, so our designs may change a little bit but the main base behind them will always be the same.

On your page you write, "Yeah, we are young, but this isn't a joke though, we really are a serious clothing company, age isn’t really holding any of us back from anything in life." along with the verse 1 Timothy 4:12 that states: "And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity." First of all regarding the term "young" are you referring to the fact that Treetop has been only around since February of 2008 or that everyone involved is under the age of 18?
Both. We want people to know that the company is serious and isn’t going to be a company that is just around for a few months, or that will change their name more than once, haha. We are also referring to the fact that we are both (Lauren and I) under 18, she is 14, and I just turned 15. We don't want anyone taking advantage of us because of the fact that we are young.

What kinds of problems does Treetop face because of the issue of being young?
Right now, we haven’t dealt with many, but this summer we are getting it in the works to do some Warped Tour stops as well as Cornerstone Music Festival, in which case, we will need someone who can [obviously] drive. It’s going to be challenging, but we both have siblings willing to travel with us that are 18. We'll see. We may run into problems down the road because we are young, only time will tell. Haha

How have resources like Myspace helped Treetop out?
We probably wouldn’t be a company without MySpace. I mean, we could be, but so many people use MySpace and it was essential, in the beginning to use it as a tool to let people find out about us. Also, bands posting things on there about us, and support us, and other companies, like PGR or even just personal profiles posting a banner about our company really helped us out by getting our name out there. Now, part of our sales comes from word-of-mouth, etc.

Roughly how many tees has treetop put out since the beginning?
Well, I would say around 10 different designs, but we reprinted the Neon Logo design in about 7 or 8 different styles.

Typically, most clothing companies we've encountered all sell their shirts between $15-20. Why does Treetop sell theirs for $8?
Well, actually, our main reason in the beginning was because we saw other companies selling their merch for that price and we wanted to come out with shirts more affordable because it was the price we would like to see other companies using. Eventually, our prices will have to go up if we want to expand the company and keep it growing, we just wanted to get a strong foundation of customers and get our name out there and we thought, No ones gonna buy a shirt from a company they just found out about for $20, so we took the opposite route and it seems to have worked.

Where do you usually get your inspiration from when it comes to designing your shirts?
Umm, I would have to say, at least 50% of our designs come inspired right out of scripture from the bible, and Lauren is fantastic about representing a verse into a design. On some of our other designs, like The Key, it was just from sketching different things, but once we got it finished, Lauren realized that it had a total spiritual meaning, it was really weird, because it all was put together in that design like a puzzle. Some of our other designs are just fun things we have come up with or sketched up.

All of your shirts seem to be done in a sort of simplistic style. What made you decide on this sort of work?
We felt that it was really cliché to have these really overworked designs with tons of detail, and in some cases, that looks really good, but companies like Glamour Kills releases almost all of their shirts with this sort of scrapbook, busy looking designs and we like the simple feel of the design. It really wasn’t something that we set out to do, but over time, our designs have just sort of stayed pretty simple.

Can you tell us a little about your t-shirt making process? How long does it take to make a shirt from designing it to shipping it out?
The designs can take up to 8 hours to complete, then Lauren emails them to me, and I develop the screens, and get everything set up for printing. We actually have started doing all our printing and so it saves us a lot of time. Its a minimum of at least 1 week to get a shirt from design to on the webstore, but most of the time, its a little longer than that, with the shipping of blank shirts here and then getting everything setup.

How far in advanced do you plan out the release of new shirts?
Haha, you'd be surprised, Not very far... We have some designs that are finished and waiting to be printed and released, but we are releasing our winter line on 12-9 and Lauren is just now finishing the last design, so it’s not like we have designs set out to release for the next 6 months. Eventually, in the future, we will start to have designs done a while before they are ever released.

Your current line has a lot of really cool shirts like previous lines. What is your favorite shirt that you've printed?
Hmm, I like them all. Surprisingly, I only own 4 Treetop shirts, haha. I really like the Octopus design, so it’s probably my favorite but the Baseball shirts are pretty cool as well as the Key.

Besides Treetop, what are some of your favorite brands out right now?
Haha, I knew that question was coming. I really like Shipshape Clothing, Veil Arms, Awaken, Linty Fresh, Drop Dead and many others; my list would be 12 miles long.

Are there any design trends that other brands use that you will never catch on a Treetop design?
I am going to have to say no, I mean, we are going to try our best to keep it original, but there will probably be a design or two in the future that are somewhat cliché to every other company out there.

You endorse and work heavily with some great bands; does music have a big impact on Treetop?
Not really on the designs, but yes, music does impact us. We try to keep our endorsements to mostly Christian bands, and some electronica/indie type stuff, we are willing to endorse any serious band though. Some of the bands have really inspired us like Nice Guys Finish First, NeverSayNever and In Dependence.

What are you currently listening to?
Right at the moment, I am listening to Kill Paradise. Lately, I have been into a band called Argyle Street, check him out. I am also really into Attack Attack! Owl City, See You Soon, and A Rocket To The Moon. I am always listening to music though, so this list is always changing.

If you could sponsor one singer/band you don't already sponsor who would it be?
Probably Adam Young, of Owl City. We have talked to him about an endorsement, but he really isn’t interested, which is totally fine. Some bands want to stay totally independent and not rely on companies for promotional reasons, we totally understand. It'd also be pretty cool to sponsor Aaron Gillespie of The Almost/UnderØath or Haley Williams.

What are some goals for Treetop you have for the next 5 years?
Wow, I would like to see us still a strong company that has grown. The bigger question is where do I see Treetop in a year, the answer to that would be, Working on huge lines to release with cut and sew hoodies and stuff, also, traveling a lot and doing some tours. It’s hard to say where we will be in 5 years, because we just started.

What advice can you give others on building a strong clothing line like Treetop?
Try not to conform to what all these other companies do. Expect to make no money. We seriously have invested all our profits straight back into the company, so many people tell me, "I so have to get my merch sold because I need money bad!" If you are going into this industry to make a quick buck then you better be coming up with a different game plan.

Well, that's 20 questions :] Is there anything you'd like to say to conclude this interview?
No, I think that covers basically everything. Anyone reading this interview can use the promo code: PGRBLOG at treetopclothing.bigcartel.com to get a rad discount.

20 Questions with Anthony Roe of Awaken Clothing

Are you awake? Awaken is an up and coming clothing and design company that is not about being another Myspace clothing company. I recently preordered the new "Beauty At Its Best" shirt and made it a priority to ask Anthony Roe, the very insightful mastermind behind Awaken, a few questions about his brand.

What does the name Awaken mean to you?
Oh wow. This is kind of a hard one for me to answer actually. But i was sitting in church about a year and a half ago before i started my company. and i was still stuck in the mindset of wanting to be in a band. so i was trying to think of cool ways to incorporate the word Awaken into a band name. well about 2-3 days went by, and i hadn't come up with anything. But Awaken was still sticking with me. so i decided to build on the foundation of art that i had already lived out my whole life and start Awaken Clothing. As for the "meaning" behind it...it really can go in any way that fits your life/thinking/etc. Whatever you need to wake up to and realize to better yourself i hope that my companies name makes that happen. And grabs your attention. sorry i don't have a real cool story behind it.

That's rather deep. How did the clothing line come into existence?
Well, I've been into drawing since i was about 4 actually. So art has always served as a huge part of my life. I've always seen things through a mature and graphical perspective. So now that I'm older and wanting clothing that fits to my needs/wants it just seems right to do it myself. I was also pretty fed up with all of the current fads in the clothing industry. So I'm hoping to breathe a breath of fresh air into it somehow.

How has your brand changed from when you first started out?
First word that comes to mind is DRASTICALLY! Even though when i first started out i was trying to break away from some of the trends that were already in place, i wasn't confident enough to really branch out and break them. But with my recent addition of the "Beauty At Its Best" design i feel that it has changed my image a lot! That design was purely inspired by things i love (nature, stars, and just the beauty of the earth around us)So i would definitely have to say that I'm taking more risks by not sticking with the cliche/worn out fads just because i think they'll sell, and keep me in a comfort zone.

What are some of the design trends that you were tired of seeing that you have vowed not to ever comform to?
I did NOT want to stick to the bright colors, and large text based designs that just looked like i laid it out in notepad with times new roman, that was seriously my first words that i vowed NOT to do. Recently, i've vowed not to go with the fad of.....cheesy phrases on tees, or coloring book looking designs that look like a 4 year old did them. I mean come on, what self respecting adult wants to run around with that on their shirts they've designed?

I always wondered about that coloring book style! What have been some of your biggest challenges for growing Awaken?
ha ha. so have many of us in the design community. we would all like to see it dead! lol oh wow. biggest challenges......I'd say one of the biggest challenges right off was the immediate hate that my hometown gained for me when i started my company. I wont expound upon the story, but that was a bit of a struggle to deal with. But if they still hate me for starting what i have then that's cool, I'm bigger than that to hold stupid grudges. Um. My second biggest challenge had to have been dropping out of college. I went for one year, and Awaken started devouring all of my time, so i prayed about the decision and felt i was lead to come down the path of making this full time. That was definitely a test of faith, and a test to multiple areas of my life, my relationship with my g/f, my parents, and many other things (full story at my blog.)Awaken has definitely been something that was on the verge of being called quits at times due to the challenges that i faced. But I'm very thankful I've stuck with my dreams and had faith in this. It's definitely been a learning experience to say the least!

Sometimes you just have to go with what God gives you I think. Speaking of things that God gives you...I read that the cancer benefit tee was made for your mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Can you explain to the readers why you decided to make it and why you only printed 50?
Oh yes, i am definitely a firm believer in that! Ah, the "Mighty Warrior" tee. I was out with my girlfriend one day and my mom give me a call telling me that she had been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Well anytime you hear that word it just sends a terror through you. So i kept thinking about things that i could do for her, and the only thing that really stuck with me was just loving her, and being there for her with my support/care as i always have been. And in those thoughts an idea came about to use the creative outlets that i have at my fingertips to show her that she has my support, and that she is a Mighty Warrior for fighting through this without showing a sign of weakness. She ended up loving it, and it was a big motivation/boost for her! Only 50 were made because I only really wanted a select group of people to have the shirts to be honest. And the group that have really went after these shirts are the people that know us/her, or the ones that i talk with online a lot and know the story. This design was released with a special meaning, so i feel like printing a limited number of them makes it seems less like 'just another product' ya know?

Yeah. Roughly how many tees have you sold since you released it?
Hm, i think around 20 of them have been sold. I haven't really gotten around to talking about it that much to people, simply because of how busy I've been lately.

I know what that's like. So I understand that Awaken Clothing is one of two companies you own and operate yourself. Can you tell us a little about your other company and its current status?
Yes, Awaken is not just a clothing company, but i run a full time design company as well (Awaken Design Company) The status of Awaken Design Company is absolutely wild all the time haha. I juggle between a minimum of 7 projects a week, lately it's been more. I have just recently started getting my name out there a lot more, and made my way into hot topic locations both online and in physical stores with one of my designs. So things are definitely progressing!

What has been your favorite project so far?
Hmmm....that is really hard to say. The most exciting project so far is definitely the Metro Station design. And it's been one of the most rewarding ones as well! My favorite project that i have completed recently is probably the Awaken Online Store, but deeming a favorite overall project is a very hard thing to say.

Haha well since you've brought up hot topic and the metro station design I might as well ask you the question specifically regarding it: Your metro station shirt design was recently put into hot topic stores. How did you accomplish this and what were your exact feelings that came over you when you saw it up on the famous wall of shirts?
It's all about knowing the right people haha. I used to hear that SO much from everyone, and it's such a frustrating answer to hear. But it really is all about getting your name in with the people who can make things happen. And that's what happened there. The feeling would best be described as ecstatic. I would always walk in there and see designs mainly by Kyle Crawford (Electric Zombie) and dream of being on "the wall". And when it finally happened i was just in awe.

haha it's like that in the industry I'm working with as well. Our role model Rossstar told me "it's 90% connections and money and 10% talent" Can you elaborate on how knowing the right people made things happen?
I want to expound on this a bit, and add something in here...You have to really work your butt off 24/7 basically, and get your name out there in anyway that you can to make it ANYWHERE in this industry. It's definitely not for the people who want to hear that everything they do is perfect and ready to be sent to Underoath's merch booth. You gotta know the right people that are in charge of getting designers in place for the bands, or you wont have a chance with getting your stuff seen. So i guess just getting in contact in a professional way and making a strong/positive influence is the only way to really make things happen. It's all really up to them if you get seen or not. hope that answered that question somehow.

What sets your brand apart from every other clothing line?
I think just the fact that I'm really trying to strive for something that i, myself love and not something that is 'the cool thing to wear' is really starting to mold an image for my company. also that I'm running it as a business, and not just another myspace clothing company that is selling the shirts for the cost of a blank tee out of the American Apparel store, and sponsoring a ton of bands so i can get "famous" or whatever. I think a lot of things set it apart, and definitely will continue to.

I really hate the ones who are only in it for fame and fortune...and they're usually the ones who don't connect with their customers. Where does the inspiration usually come from when designing shirts?
oh yes, it drives me up a wall as well. if you're not going to connect with your customers and establish relationships with them (for non-money reasons as well) then they're something wrong haha. inspiration for my tees actually come from nature/starry skies almost 99% of the time.

For sure I can't tell you how many of those companies who contact us to buy from them but won't hold a decent conversation unless I plan on giving them money.Which brings us to the design of beauty at its best. Can you tell us a little about how it was designed?

Yeah that's pretty lame and unfortunate.The 'Beauty' tee had been an idea for quite awhile! i absolutely love stary night skies as i said, and i really wanted to capture it somehow in a shirt. So i just focused a lot on very neutral colors that were not bold at all, and just tried to make it look as pretty and relaxing as possible.

Well i can tell you it's absolutely breath taking and I can't wait to get mine! Beauty at its best was recently on pre-sale for $17 and freebies were also offered as an incentive. When promoting your brand what do you feel works best?
Aw, thanks a ton! I'm definitely glad to hear that this was a good design in your eyes, and not just mine. Yeah, freebies and making the customer feel like they have options (ie. hoodies, girly sizes, etc.) are great incentives for getting more sales. Also just being enthused about what you're doing really goes a long way to a customer or anyone for that matter. That a great way to promote, because then they'll look into what is making you excited. There are all sorts of promotional things that i do, but those are a few that i really focus on.

The enthusiasm definately got me I must say. There's nothing better than someone who has created something and is excited about it. How have all the resources offered today such trade shows and myspace helped your brand?
I have actually never been to a trade show, or set up at a music show. My first concert where I'll be selling at is actually in January. So we'll see how that goes. But as far as myspace goes. It has actually helped a lot. Of course you have a lot of people that will give you the "yeah d00d imma buy that fasho" and they never do. But I've established a lot of awesome relationships with customers through myspace. It's brought a lot of sales. Emptees.com has also served as a HUGE resource for me to advertise through! i love those dudes over there, and their support has helped me grow so much!

What are some of your favorite brands out right now (besides Awake of course)?
Hm, i would have to save I'm really digging Linty Fresh, Electric Zombie, and a line called Timber.

Linty Fresh, I've heard, is a very successful brand because of how they really make an effort to connect with their customers, as far as your clothing brand, what would you say has lead to the overall success of Awaken Clothing?
Yeah Eric of Linty Fresh really puts loads of work into his company, and into helping out the industry which we're all in. So he hads loads of success/respect! I think just sticking with it even when things weren't easy and putting all of my heart/mind into the ideas for designs/new products. And one of the main things that has brought the 'success' is working non-stop like i always do.

Well you know what they say: Hard work and determination will take a man very far. Where do you see the company's direction going in the next to 5-10 years?
I have some long term goals for Awaken that i would like to see happen for sure. But it's kind of hard to wrap my head around what it will really be like in that many years. Because within the next year i am going to be married, so my main focus is going to be providing for my wife and future family. But i will share a couple of goals....i would like to work for more big bands, release at least 1-2 products a month, and print all of my own material. So we'll see how this works with the new lifestyle I'm going to be adapting to.

What are some of your short term goals for the next 5 years?
Within 1-2 years i would like to start printing some of my simpler tees. I would also like to have releases happen way more often. And have an actual office to run things out of.

What is the most important thing you have learned in this business?
To only dive in if you have a true passion for it! And that it requires a LOT of time/patience to actually succeed.

What advice can you give others on building a strong clothing line like Awaken?
First off just really care about what you're doing, and DONT do it because its the cool thing to have a myspace tee shirt company. And really develop a strong set of designs for your first few releases. It's better to start out strong and build your image on that, then starting out as another mediocre company and trying to redeem yourself from that status. And if you're not able to put out strong designs at first but you aspire to one day, just hire a designer to do them for you, there is no shame in that at all! Also be prepared to spend ALOT of money starting up. a strong line is not developed by being a cheapo and skimping on paying a designer/printer what they're worth!

Well Anthony that's 20 questions. Is there anything you'd like to say to conclude this interview?
Well i definitely enjoyed answering everything, and i hope that it helped you and the readers to develop a stronger understanding of the industry as well as my company. There are so many things i know that i missed in this, so if anyone wants to know anything else i am always here to talk to. My email address is: anthonyroe@awakendesigncompany.com. I'm constantly checking it. Also, i just want to thank you and all of the people out there who support Awaken.The support is definitely amazing,and i wouldn't be where i am today without it!

20 Questions with Blameshift

Did you know Blameshift is an synonym for fucking awesome? Well we did :) We were so very lucky to be able to chat with Jenny Mann, who is absolutely the coolest person alive, the lead singer of one of Saint's favorite bands.

Epic: So, we're sure you've been asked this question a million times, but it's a must in all of our interviews-Who came up with the name Blameshift?
Um...James our drummer came up with the name after we were trying to find a name for about a month. Now...it means a lot to us. It totally represents our band...haha We shift the blame on each other all the time.
Saint: Sounds like us.

Epic:how long have you guys been playing together?
about 5 years

Saint: How would you say your music has evolved since you first started playing together?
Oh its evolved sooooo much. We started out not knowing exactly where we were gonna go with our music- I was a theater singer, James was in a hardcore band, and Tim was in punk bands. We really came into our sound in the last 3 years.
Epic: a theater singer? wow, that sounds chill.
Haha yeah i did theater forever. I know...its totally random.

Saint: Who would you say are your major influences?
Thats the funny thing about me...my influences were different than most rock singers.
Epic: how so?
I was really influenced by show tunes. That's what i did up until the band. So...I never really had a female rock singer that i idolized.
Epic: what show tunes in particular?
I did every show from A chorus Line to Annie to The Sound of Music...but i used to listen to a lot of Les Miserables, Evita, all kinds of stuff. It was an interesting transition into a rock band.
Epic: now that's epic.

Saint: Alright, so when I first started listening to Blameshift you were in the midst of trying to get a new tour bus. How's the new one treating you in comparison to the old one?
Oh its amazing! our last one was pretty dope too but we definitely stepped it up. this new one is actually a converted shuttle but we ripped all the seats out and basically made it an apartment. its got a queen size bed, 2 twins, a huge couch, a microwave, fridge..its pretty crazy oh and it runs off vegetable oil. its like being at home except no bathroom... which is unfortunate for only me. the boys don't care, but of course, us girls have our needs, but u learn to adapt. You can go to purevolume and actually check out a video we did for them called pimp my tour bus. it gives u the grand tour of our bus and how it was made. It's cool.

Epic: Dude that's sick. We'll have to check that out later. Anyway, so you recently ended 18 months of touring with both the Everlasting Sound Tour and Vans Warped Tour 2008, what's your most memorable story from either tour?
um...I'm gonna have to say us and sky tells all playing in the food court of a mall in piqua Ohio. we got 4 hotel rooms that night...and it got a little crazy. we did the funniest video u will ever see in the hot tub of the hotel that night -think...9 boys plus me plus 2 huge bottles of 10 dollar rum. it was insane.
Saint:hahaha
epic: haha, can't wait to see that.
But the mall show was something i will never forget. It was sponsored by FYE music store...and we might as well have been green day. that's how crazy the kids were going. we were in a food court so like the girl working at the subway counter was head banging...it was soooo hilarious.
Saint: you know you're good when you get a subway worker headbanging :P
Epic: hell yeah
hahahaha my thoughts exactly

Epic: How did/does being on the road affect song writing?
We actually haven't started writing our new record yet..but i have a feeling its gonna be our best stuff. we have been on the road straight since our last record came out May 2007. So..its definitely about time to get back to writing and i think touring so much has really made us a family...and writing is gonna come naturally at this point.
Epic: we cant wait to hear your new stuff....well...once it's written and all that good stuff.

Saint: Where does the majority of inspiration come from as far as lyrics in general go?
Inspiration comes from all different places. depends on my mood, Tim's mood and a lot of times the mood of the song. a lot of times I'll have an idea for a song and other times the music will inspire me to take the lyrics in a certain direction.

Saint: What's your favorite song you've written so far?
Probably, "The Sirens Are Set". It's our newest song..but i like the way we wrote it. I love all the parts and i like what the song is about.
Saint: that's one of my top 5 favorite songs right now :]
haha awesome!!!
Epic: i like that song too.
Thanks! our new music is definitely going to be going in that type of direction.

Epic: You guys manage your own myspace. How do you feel the Internet has contributed to your music and fan base as a whole?
Its an incredible tool for bands. when we first started playing our weird bass player at the time tried to get us to go on this site called myspace. we were so not into it... but when it came time to book our first tour...Tim and i did it totally through the Internet-mainly myspace and we have been using it for booking/promoting/etc ever since. it's an amazing way to connect with your fans. i cant imagine being in a band without it at this point.

Saint: Definately. I don't think we would be interviewing you right now if not for myspace. Alright, so like many great bands, you guys won Taco Bell's feed the beat contest and are now sponsored by them. My question is....how many times would you say you have eaten taco bell? What do you usually order and are you sick of it?
hahaha great question we have eaten about $1500 worth of taco bell up until this point maybe more and considering everything costs about $1 that's a lotttt. i usually get a bean burrito or a regular taco and i take out the meat...I'm weird. Oh and nachos...always nachos and sometimes rice...haha as far as being sick of it, i know their menu way tooo well..but no I'm not sick of it.

Saint: How does it work? do you guys like have a card that allows you to get your food free or are you like HEY WE'RE BLAMESHIFT GIVE US THE GOODS?
hahaha we get like monopoly money in $5 increments.

Epic: Haha sweet! So, i saw you guys in AP magazine, page 137 [yes, i get the magazine ] is the ad what you hoped for?
Well tim designed it so yeah...we knew what it would be.

Saint: Do you think people are more attracted to listen to Blameshift because you have a combination of both male and female vocals?
Yes and no. some people are like uggggh they have a girl singer and others are like hell yeah they have a girl singer, but i think having both really throws everyone a curve ball ya know? because they are bound to like something.
Saint: For sure

Epic: Of course. So what's it like being the only girl in the band?
oh godddd...i always always get this questions....and the answer is: It's really crazy. Like u couldn't ever imagine it unless u lived it. The guys are basically my brothers, along with fighting...literally punching and all that kind of stuff. But I love it. Last tour we were on, I was 1 girl to 9 guys.
Saint: I can totally relate with that. I've got two of my own brothers along with their friends who are always over.
Guys are so much more fun to hang out with. i like hanging with girls too...i can do both but it just doesn't work like that in this industry.

Saint:Yeah... like Charlotte Sometimes said in an interview with Dj Rossstar at Warped Tour..."It's a boys world." What's the music scene currently like in New York, more specifically Syosset?
The scene in NY kinda sucks. toooooo many bands, ya know? The long island music scene is pretty much the same.
Epic: True, also many in new jersey, am i right?
Yeah jersey is just as bad, if not worse.

Saint: So any idea what the new album might be called?
it's gonna be called Purely Gangstaaaa Radio hahah
Saint: Haha
No...no idea

Epic: How many are you currently working on at the moment?
5 or 6

Saint: Then it's coming along quite nicely. What do you think this new album will bring that your last one didn't?
I think because we grew up a lot and learned a lot, it might be more experimental in ways and maybe a little more poppy maybe more electronic..I'm not really sure, but we will see where it takes us.

Epic: What can fans expect from Blameshift in the near future aside from the new album, more touring? Warped 2009 perhaps?
That's about it haha and...we are going to be signing to a label very soon.

Saint: Can't wait! Well Jenny I'm sure you'll be glad to know this..we've hit question 20. Is there anything you'd like to say to conclude "20 Questions with Jenny of Blameshift"?
ummm...u guys are amazing and look out for our album in the spring!!!

20 Questions with SplashAttack!

The incredibly talented SplashAttack! hailing from Oregon is a band you will want to keep your eyes on at all times. This once hardcore band turned positive pop rock is as good as if not better than the current music available today.

Who came up with the name SplashAttack?
Our old Basist Kalani Hutchings It was an inside joke..(Splash attack is a magikarp move.) No we are not nerds. But we broke away from the pokemon theme. It was an inside joke until we got alot of noise from fans and decided to take things seriously. So we broke away from the magikarp idea.

Don't worry guys, I'm quite sure everyone in their lifetime has gone through a Pokemon stage, really. Do you think you will stick with the name 10 years from now?
Well depending on how things go in the future it could go anywhere, but for now we will remain SplashAttack.

How long has SplashAttack been together/how did you meet?
We've been together for about 3 months. We originally started off as a hardcore project resembling the sounds of Devil Wears Prada and Underoath. Which later broke up and three of the guys (David, Kalani, Chance) stayed together and formed the new group. Along with new guitarist Joey Brown. We were tired of screaming and wanted to put out a more positive sound.

Ah, so I recently interviewed PlugInStereo who described Oregon's music scene as bigger than someone would expect, but full of hardcore music. What is your take on it and how would you say it has impacted SplashAttack's sound?
I see a lot of truth to that insight. Hardcore music is definitely prodominant in Oregon. But at the rate Pop Rock is going, I believe that It will eventually supercede the genre's majority, but there is definitely a huge diversity in sounds around here.

What are 3 words that describe your sound?
Upbeat. Melodic. Exciting. Three words is definitely a challenge.

Who would you say are your major influences?
Forever The Sickest Kids, Taking Back Sunday, All Time Low.

It's funny you mention FTSK, PGR was just sponsored by by Jonathan's clothing company-Love Everyone. What made you guys want to go into music?
I think its the same for everyone. They find the passion or interest in the artistery. We all just happened to find the same interests and the same determination to follow those interests.

Who writes your songs and where do they usually draw the inspiration for the songs from?
Its split between Joey Brown and I. (David) Lately he has been very solid with the words and writing lyrics. So i have been writing the ideas on the piano and then we take those ideas to the rest of the band. So it ends up to be pretty evenly spread out between us. Inspiration wise...It usually comes from experiences we have been through, whether it dealt with love, or pain, and we would draw the emotion and set it into our music.For example, our song "You Know" deals with the first feelings you get when you experience a real relationship with that significant other.It takes on the role of the more intimate side and wanting to finally be alone with that person and share yourself.

Is "Bubblebeam" based on a real event?
Yes. Bubblebeam is about our guitarist Joey's ex and the events that took place.

What's your typical music making process from creating lyrics to putting down music and recording?
Well it usually varies between who writes first. haha. Joey may come up with some lyrics and basic melody idea and i will then create the basic piano parts for it. Then we take it to the rest of the band and fill in the empty space. Or I may come to Joey with the same thing. When we finish a song and we are very confident with it we take it to our studio and lay it down.

Do you guys have plans to go into the studio anytime soon?
Yes, very soon actually. We have three more songs done and ready to be layed down. We will be putting out our first EP very soon.

Have you come up with a title yet?
It is definitely still pending.

What would you say is the ultimate direction for your band?
The world or bust. We wanna do everything in our power to make this happen. We hope to tour this next summer. As long as things keep going the way they are, It should be set that way.

What has been your biggest challenge as a band so far and how have you been able to overcome it?
Gettin everybody together for practice. Its a bitch. That and finding a decent drummer. Which we have now accomplished, but practice is an ongoing struggle.

Can you explain the "epic" titles given to each member listed on your myspace?
Ha. It was an inside joke again provided by our old basist Kalani. We have always had our stereotypes about eachother and this just highlights those stereotypes given. For example I am "Epic Loss" for the fact that i only have one ear. My right ear is gone due to birth defects.

Wow that's rather unfortunate..it doesn't make you less of a great musician though. Who or what is Marshmallow Fun Parade? Is this yet another inside joke?
To be honest i have no idea where that came from. There are still inside jokes yet to be understood. Even from the people who made them up. Joey Brown is "irrational". You can catch a clip of him saying in on our first recording video. *singing*

Haha I caught that. If there is one law or principle you would say the band lives by, what would it be?
...good question..hold on (a moment later) Just appreciating the chance to get together and enjoy playing the music we love to play. We make sure to keep that principle in mind.

If you had to give control of the band's destiny to one member, who would you give it to?
Chance Reeder. He is an incredible musician and has great common sense.

What do you hope the future holds for SplashAttack?
Lots of shows, fans, and new experiences. and Joey says "Just women."

Haha Well that's 20 questions. Do you have anything you'd like to say to conclude this interview? Maybe a message to your fans? A random thought?
Thanks alot for everyone who supports our music and enjoys us as much as we enjoy them. We have a show at the Hawthorne Theater in Portland Oregon. November 30TH at 6:00PM And we need all the support we can get. Hit me up on myspace for tix.

20 Questions with Forgotten Fall

Forgotten Fall was the first band that PGR ever agreed to sponsor. Bassist Justin, who originally contacted us regarding promotion, is one of the sweetest guy we have come across in a long time and we are proud to be able to say that we fully support him and the other guys.

Who came up with the name Forgotten Fall and why did you choose it?
Picking a name was the hardest part, we didn't want a name that sounded cool that 100 bands had. We went deep in our heads and tried to do something so random. We started in November which is the end of the season Fall, Fall was done. We kinda just made up Forgotten Fall somehow. I remember sitting in our practice spot thinking of that name for over an hour.

What inspired you guys to start making music together?
It is just what we did, I met Nick at a concert. And Jordan at a different concert, it is how we became friends and everything seemed to fall into place. Down to the instruments we played, to the music we liked, to our friendship. It would have made no sense not to be a band.

That's a really weird coincidence. So you guys are going to be recording your new EP "Astronauts Like City Lights" soon, are you already done writing for it?
The EP is all written, recently we've hit some band troubles but no worries. All the music is recorded all we need to do is go back for vocals.

What is your favorite song on it?
My favorite song will depend on my mood. Right it's now Best Seat in the House because, we are getting this new version all ready to go. The CD version will be different than the demo on our myspace, so right now I'm most excited about that so that'd be my favorite song at this second.

What can fans expect from this EP as far as sound?
Pop punk. There is no other way to classify our CD. We just write songs we think that are good and have a message. No gimics, no secrets. Just a good riff, a good drum beat and good lyrics. You like it or you don't, ya know?

For sure. So when is the expected release date?
Right now we still aren't sure. Hoping sometime in spring.

What sort of difficulties do you face being musicians still in high school?
I'm the only one with a license which is tough and certain shows and just the lack of freedom a high school student has and show wise. We're unable to play 21+ shows and other difficulties you'd expect.

Speaking of licenses, You guys recently bought a van (that is now doning a PGR sticker might I add). What are your plans as far as touring goes?
We are planning a tour for sometime in the beginning of a summer. We also have hopes for a smaller tour towards the end of summer. We'll see how things go, either way we plan on getting on the road at least once.

What would be your ideal tour be like? Who would you like to tour with? Local bands?
If I could pick any local band to tour with I'd want to tour with Exit4. Those guys are fun to hang with, and they put on a good show. If I could tour with a famouse band, that is around right now, I'd pick Paramore because everytime they play a show there is more people there than Springsteen.

Going back to the idea of local- what's the music scene like in New Jersey?
The music scene here is cool. You got plenty of genres and I've met a lot of cool people along the way. But then there is a bad side, a lot of bands not respecting one another and some bands not being in it for the right reasons. You have your up's and down's in anything and the NJ music scene is no exception.

Do you guys have a lot of good venues where you live?
They're all a drive away. But we get there and we've played some cool places in our time.

Which is your favorite to play at?
My favorite venue we've played has been Jc Dobbs. The stage was small but environment is amazing. It is on South Street, the best part of Philadelphia.

How do you get ready for your shows? Do you guys have any pre-band rituals?
For a regular show we don't we go on and actually make the setlist on the spot, haha. But whenever we are in a competion like a Battle of the Bands we pray as a band and I'll usually give a speech and we get fired up to win.

What song do you enjoy playing live the most?
I like playing fast songs like Mortal Coils and Another Chance the ones I get to hop to and swing around. Then I do like the slower ones like Best Seat and Should've Taken Guitar Lessons where I get to show a sensative side. It is all about emotion.

You guys have done quite a few accoustic shows. Personally, do you prefer accoustic or electric?
I prefer electric shows, but acoustic shows are great. We actually didn't do our first acoustic show till just this summer in August. Almost 2 years after forming, but acoustic shows give us more opprutunities for shows and a backup plan if something goes wrong. It is okay to unplug once in a while.

If you had to cover any song what song would you want to cover?
That is tough, off the top of my head. I would probably say like re-do a pop punk new age version of a slow song like "Goodbye My Lover" By James Blunt. Make it our own though. Make it fast and fun. People would get a kick out of that.

If you could collaborate with any artist who would it be and why?
Mark Hoppus, I've idolized not just the music he's made but his attitude. He jokes around on stage and in songs but still has written deep songs proving music can be deep, fun, and sometimes a joke.

You guys know what fun and being able to joke around is all about with your video of reading a birthday card and your recent band update video. How in the world did you guys come up the concepts for the update video?
Boredom. We live in Mt. Laurel and Cherry Hill there is a bowling alley, a movie theatre, a mall, and that's about it. Once you've done those 3, you're stuck. Me and Nick just thought...let's make a video and just did random stupid stuff. People think it is funny, and making a fan laugh is putting a smile on thier face so..we couldn't be happier.

Do you plan on making more videos like it in the future?
We have a music video idea for Astronauts and an idea for this new song we have called "Four Years".

As for the future in general, where do you see Forgotten Fall going in 5 years? 10 years?
I couldn't tell you where I see us. We just plan on taking this as far as possible, I would love to sit here and say we're making it to the top which is what we'd all like to do but that's easier said than done. Forgotten Fall will be as far as possible in 5 and 10 years is all I can really say.

Well that's 20 questions. Is there anything you'd like to say to conclude the interview?
I like hamburgers.

20 Questions with PlugInStereo

PlugInStereo's interview takes the cake for latest PGR interview conducted (1am-2am). Even though Trevor was sick with strep throat, he took the time out to sit down and answer 20 questions with Dj Saint.

What's the story behind the name Plug In Stereo?
Well, when i started making the music for PlugInStereo, i didn't have a band name, it was just called "Trevor Dahl", so i posted bulletins asking for suggestions and a girl gave the name.

What were some of the other suggestions (if you remember them) and what made you choose that one?
The only other one i remember was BrakeLight. I chose PlugInStereo because it sounded catchy and it fit the style of music I'd be doing.

Your Myspace bio currently reads, "im a VEGETARIAN. :D" Why did you choose to put just this simple statement opposed to say...a "regular" artist bio including basic information about when you started and what you've accomplished?
It just seems like a lot of bands try to make up long stories that try to make em seem all intense and cool or w.e. and i didn't feel like doing that and i wanted to put somthing down that people could relate to or appreciate.

I thought it was refreshing compared to all the bands PGR meets who have novels as bios. So how long have you been doing plug in stereo?
Thanks! I've been doing it for like 5 months? Maybe more I'm not quite sure.

Wow that's almost half a year. How did you get your music reviewed by bands like Forever The Sickest Kids and The Maine?
I Myspace'd the dudes from the bands and i got responses. I mean, I didn't really expect 'em to return the messages but they did.

That's pretty awesome. I've been a skeptic about messaging big bands for the sole reason that they wouldn't respond. Vanessa and I actually ran into Jonathan and Kyle from Forever the Sickest Kids last month at the Cobra Starship concert. One of the reviews, I believe from Tom from the Hush Hush Commotion mentioned that he was surprised someone who was only 15 could make such great music. Are you really 15??
That's way tite. and yup. I am 15. I'll be 16 in April.

Wow, I'm rather impressed I must say. Is it hard being so young, being a singer and having to do things like homework?
(Laughs) Thank you. YESSS I fall behind in school because I'm always playing music.

Who would you say is your biggest influence?
Eeek. That's a hard one. I listen to a lot music but my biggest acoustic influence is probably a tie between a rocket to the moon/NeverShoutNever/Chase Coy

Where does the inspiration for your songs usually come from?
Just everyday things. Ikinda make up story lines in my head sometimes though.

What is your favorite song you have written and recorded so far and why?
Hard to sleep. It was the first PlugInStereo song i recorded. So it's pretty important to me and i like playing it the best.

If you could remix that song and collaborate with any artist who would you choose and why?
NeverShoutNever-making a more electro-acoustic style song with his voice would be rad. And I think he is a rad musician.

What's the music scene is like in Oregon?
It's waaay bigger then people think it is. People that move here from different states tell me they didn't know it was so big, but the music here is mostly hardcore though.

It seems like there's a lot of hardcore over here in Cali too. Do you have any plans for touring?
Not at the moment. I was planning on going on tour with The Ready Set in December, but it got all messed up and it's not gonna work. But in summer i want to tour.

What would you say would be your dream tour?
how many bands could i have? (laughs.)
Let's say 3 others.
(Laughs.) alright. I'd have to say Forever the Sickest Kids, A Rocket to the Moon. NeverShoutNever And we'd go EVERYWHERE! The US, Europe, Then Australia.

You keep mentioning NeverShoutNever who is rather popular on Myspace. How do you feel the Internet has contributed to your music and fan base as a whole?
If there wasn't Internet, or even Myspace alone, I would be NOWHERE. It's where i do all my promotion and stuff.

What's something people would be surprised to learn about you that they don't already know?
Thats a toughy... hmmmm I'm actually also in a hardcore band. I guess that could be kind of a shocker.

Wow, seriously? I'm pretty shocked about that one. What's the most embarrassing song on your ipod?
Well, currently i don't have an ipod :/ it broke. BUT! when i had it, id probably say.. JoJo

What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't making music?
Sitting around my house. PlugInStereo is my life.

If you had to describe your sound to someone who's never heard you before what would you say?
Orgasmic. (laughs) just kidding I have no idea.
Eargasmic?
I was going to say it's acoustic electro (laughs) but what you said was better. I'm going to have to go with Eargasmic.

(Laughs.) What do you hope the future's like for PlugInStereo?
Hopefully a booking agent will hear me sooner or later and I will start playing with some larger acts to get my name out there.


Well that's 20 questions Is there anything you would like to say to your fans to conclude this interview?
I love you all and..PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

20 Questions with Dj Rossstar

We usually don't interview people without scheduling a week in advanced, but this interview was too good to pass up. Purely Gangster Radio would have never been been born without the help of this guy. Catch Dj Rossstar's Punk Rock Show every Wednesday and Thursday on Stickam at 7pm PST.

Choose: ipod or radio?
Radio

Hosting or interviewing?
Tough one. I'd say both.

Recorded or live?
Live baby!

How did you get the name Rossstar?
My ex-girlfriend typed Ross Star in my phone years ago because it sounded like Rock Star. I combined the two and it stuck.

Can you give us a one line bio?
DJ Rossstar is an online personality who created his own live show in 2002 and has since interviewed over 500 bands in his LA apartment.

As a child, did you dream of doing what you do now?
Absolutely. Although I dreamed of doing it on television, which is what I am still aiming for.

How did you get your start?
I started with my own college radio show and I would go to shows with my tape recorder and ask bands for quick interviews.

Who did you look up to as a role model then? Now?
Green Day have always been my role models because their music taught me how to be an individual and believe in myself.

I saw that video on your page with you on stage at a Green Day concert that must've been a big thing for you. Do you get starstruck?
I never get starstruck during an interview and with Green Day, I'm just happy that I've been able to talk with them a few times and that they know how much their music means to me.

How do you prepare for your shows?
I clean my bedroom, set up my equipment, post bulletins, get hyped!

Why do you think people return each week to watch/listen to your show? What do you feel brings them back each week?
I feel that the interaction is what brings them back. Whether they are familiar with the guest or not, this is the only show that allows them to talk with them directly.

What do you like best about having your show include audience participation?
The idea that anyone around the World can have their personal questions answered, and this may be the only chance they get.

How much do you think broadcasting from the comfort of your home and opening up audience interaction in your show contributes to your growing audience number?
I think the realness of it all is what draws viewers. Bands love coming to my house because he pressure is off and they can be themselves.

How do you find and contact the guests you feature?
I find them all myself and book the myself, although some times managers will contact me if they have bands coming to LA.

Who has been your favorite guest so far and why?
My favorite guests have been the ones that made me laugh, the ones who entertained. Some that come to mind are All Time Low, Sugarcult, Less Than Jake, Cute is What We Aim For and Saosin.

Who are 3 bands you would like to feature on your show who you haven't already?
Green Day, Rancid and Sum 41

What's currently playing on your ipod?
I don't own an ipod.

Awesome, neither do I. What was the last physical cd you bought?
Um, bayside - shudder (second best record of 2008)

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
In five years on television hosting shows. In ten years on both television, radio, web and whatever else they invent.

What advice do you have for people (like PGR-Vanessa and I) aspiring to do what you do?
Try your hardest, but also realize that you need money to survive and should always have a 'real' job on the side so you can pay your bills and continue your passion. Too many people put all their time into one project and if it doesn't work out they end up back home with the parents.

Well Rossstar, we've hit 20 questions. Is there anything you'd like to say to conclude this interview?
Thanks for challenging my brain this fine afternoon!

20 Questions with Jim of Format Clothing

We're getting a little better with our interview scheduling. (This interview was only 6 minutes later than planned!) Anyway, unfortunately, Epic Vanessa was recently grounded and left me to interview Jim for Format Clothing on my own. When we agreed start up the series we were hoping to not only talk to great bands, but all kinds of artists, including clothing companies.

So, Jim, tell me: Out of all the names in the world, why Format?
Honestly, i was just messing around on the computer and something randomly said Format when i was on Microsoft word and then bam! i had a catchy name that no other clothing label had already taken (laughs)

Sounds sort of like the way PGR got its name. (laughs) How did you get started making shirts?
my mom use to handle all the clothing for my old high school and she made all the designs and handled the merch at games and what not. So i decided one day after reading AP magazine that i didn't want to work at a desk job for some corporation and hate my life. and the articles about indie clothing labels like Kill brand and original gave me the idea. because I'm my own boss, i have my own hours and i love to create crazy designs and all that good stuff

How long has Format been in the works?
We started back in January 08' it was basically me, my sketch book and my friend Dan Diagangi who handled making the first batch of designs with illustrator and photo shop

What were some of the biggest challenges when you first started out?
The biggest problems were #1 its VERY expensive to print shirts (laughs) #2 was just getting the name out, because in today's day and age if its not big brand name then people really don't care too much. and just establishing somewhat of a fan base and trial and error with designs and people liking them or not.

How/Why did you choose the company you use for printing?
Well we started out with soundtrack printing because the guys from Forfeit clothing recommended it to us. and he did a good job with our first batch but for the new more complex designs we turned to Aces High printing. they can handle some complex stuff with relatively low prices. and the work they did with previous companies looked amazing so we currently use them. they also do the printing for forfeit and many local bands.


How have the resources offered today such as myspace/facebook helped your company?
I LOVE myspace and facebook! without it, i honestly don't think we would have lasted more than a month. because not only does it let us reach an insanely large amount of people, but it also brought a lot of great bands to our knowledge. and because of myspace and facebook we've expanded our fan base and sales from coast to coast

While expanding, what are some of the biggest mistakes you guys have made?
Probably the biggest mistake would be signing and sponsoring some local bands because a lot of bands just want to say "we're sponsored!" and we handed out some freebies and what not to some bands that just tanked. so now we actually have a process in order for the band to get sponsored. so we're a lot more careful in which bands we invest our time and money into

If you were to start out all over again what would you do differently?
I would have taken it a lot slower, because when we first started out i wanted to be an overnight success and get the shirts out ASAP. i forgot the fact that you cant just get out there on the first day and sell 100 shirts (laughs). i would have started to gain a bigger fan base and done some more and better made and thought out designs. because our first batch was for the most part sub par (laiughs)

Can you tell us a bit about your t-shirt making process? How long does it take to make a shirt from designing it to shipping it?
Usually we draw up about 10 or so possible designs on a sketch pad. then we narrow it down to about 5 or so. after we've agreed on the designs we like it goes to the photo shop stage. Then we tweak the designs and add in some style depending on the designer making the design. After that we contact Aces high and and give them the finished product and all the specifications like shirt colors and sizes. then we pay them however much the shipment is going to cost and it usually takes 3 weeks to ship. so all in all from sketch pad to shelf it takes around 3-4 months to get a new design out there

Roughly, how many tees have you put out since the beginning? Which is your favorite?
We've put out 14 designs since we've started. my favorite is probably the Robot T we just put out for the fall line. Eddie Harris who helped make it just did a fantastic job. its got bold colors and the design is just insane overall.

Has it been hard to keep up with the demand for your products?
Yes actually, usually we order around 120 per batch and we get alot of online sales and even more at local shows. so its a good thing that they keep the designs on tap at Aces High and its a 1 time only screen fee (laughs)

Where do you usually get your inspiration for your designs?
Most of the original stuff i drew out in class instead of paying attention (laughs) But for most of the newer designs ill put on the itunes and listen to Circa Survive and just start drawing what ever comes to mind.

Who do you feel is your main competition and why?
Our main competition is ourselves. because if we slack one day or we don't take an opportunity to go out and sell or get the name out then we'll never make it to where we want to be. just the main problem is getting out there and getting kids to like our stuff.

How far in advance do you have new lines of tees planned out?
Usually 1 to 2 seasons we're finishing up the winter line now and already pretty deep into the spring stuff

What are your favorite brands out right now )besides Format of course) and which one of them is your biggest influence?
I'm really really into Enjoi. i love everything they do because its so clever and hilarious. Also Kr3w is a big influence on us as well as many bands merchandise like Chiodos and Coheed and Cambria for example

You mentioned sponsoring some local bands earlier in the interview, if you could sponsor one band you don't already do, who would it be?
Oh wow there's so many I'd love to sponsor (laughs) hmm i really would love to sponsor 3OH!3, because their music just goes perfectly with our style.

Are there any design trends you're tired of?
Shutter Shades, and pre-frayed brims (laughs)

If you had to, what would you say has lead to the success of Format?
Our determination and sacrifice. because we drive to bufu towns just to sell and we take every opportunity available. and just our networking with people and other bands.

If you could give one piece of advice to other up and coming clothing companies what would it be?
NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK! because the more people you know, the more opportunity you'll have. and you never know one day someone might make it big and take you along for the ride, so be nice to everyone!

What are your goals for your company in the next 5 years?
We want to make it into retail stores like zumiez, pacsun and threadless. we want to make it into AP magazine, Be able to either get on warped tour or be able to sell at the Chicago show. We want to sponsor at least 1 national "big" band

Well, Jim we've hit 20 questions. Do you have any last words for the readers?
Check us out if you haven't already! because we're amazing for the most part (laughs) Thanks for the interview! Alright I'm off to save the world now (laughs) peace!