CH.89: If you were to categorize or describe the style of your music, what would it be and why?
TB: I think rock and roll works. It’s a little unspecific, but if we were to break it down further, it just gets too long and then becomes generic again… saying “a bluesy punkish surfy garage rocknroll kinda band” is too long. It basically all boils down to Chuck Berry.
CH.89: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
TB: Older bands from the heyday of r&b and rock n roll.
CH.89: What made you all want to start a band and how did you come up with the band name?
TB: We wanted to play what we wanted to hear. It was a fun escape. Bingers is like a one-hitter. Like, excuse me, I gotta take a time-out with this one-hitter.
CH.89: Can you talk a little bit about what your creative thought process is like when starting a new album?
TB: We have a couple beers in our basement and jam around and sometimes we get something that sounds fun. We’ve never actually had a concept first… aside from a collection of cover songs we recorded. One song turns to two, and when we have the vibe of those two songs then that further influences the next songs we write.
CH.89: What would you want people/the listener to take from your music?
TB: If it were to come on while they were driving in their car, and they didn’t hate it, I’d say it’s a success.
CH.89: Can you talk a little bit about your lifestyle as an artist and what that is like?
TB: Ever since we started wearing berets, things got a lot more real. We like to consider ourselves artístés.
CH.89: When starting out an artistic task, do you think it is better to have a particular direction/set plan guiding your way? Or, is it better to act on impulse and go from there?
TB: Really comes down to whatever gets you going. If you’re just trying to create something, having a rigid plan to adhere to can seem restrictive. But if your goal is to make something specific, it helps to know what you’re going after.
CH.89: What is one major lesson you’ve learned as an artist?
TB: If you keep your intentions pure and create for the sake of creating, really anything else that comes out of it is like an extra bonus rather than some expected payout or let down.
CH.89: Do you regard personal style & taste to be of highest importance?
TB: I think if you’re into any kind of culture or subculture, you’re gonna pick up and gravitate to its style and characteristics. You can put on a studded jacket if you want, but if you don’t have any knowledge on where that vibe comes from, its place in history, etc. it’s not gonna really do anything more for you… aside from making you look badass of course.
CH.89: What do you consider to be the hardest thing about being an artist?
TB: The nagging feeling to make something. Sometimes it’s nice to just get home, eat some food and pass out watching TV. But then in the back of your mind it’s like, “oh that’s just time wasted… I could’ve been doing something productive.”
CH.89: What is one thing you love about being an artist?
TB: Creating something that didn’t exist before you set out to make it happen.
CH.89: Is there anyone in particular, any artists that inspire you in any way?
TB: People that lead real day to day lives and still have enough energy and passion to put something else out there.
CH.89: What do you think of technology in terms of being a useful tool for artists today?
TB: It’s great. It democratized the whole thing. In a sense it brought on this kind of saturated environment where it’s maybe harder to stand out — but that just leads you to get more creative if standing out is important to you. It’s cool that you don’t have to have a ton of gear or live in a big city to be able to create or promote what you do.
CH.89: Do you think being an artist allows you to view the world differently from those who don’t follow creative paths?
TB: Yes.
CH.89: Do you enjoy traveling? If so, do you have a favorite city?
TB: I love driving through new cities. Not a big fan of airplanes. No favorite city. They all have their own charm, but at the same time, a city is a city. There’s gonna be people, buildings, historical/art/culture stuff, food stuff, and entertainment stuff. The Internet kind of compressed the complexities/experience of cities in a way that can’t really be done in nature. You don’t consume in nature the same way you do in cities. I like the Smoky mountains and the upper peninsula as well as unique geographical regions in the US
CH.89: Do you have a favorite author or book?
TB: Maybe Ovid’s Metamorphosis? It’s a solid choice if you have to pick just one. It’s like a collection of stories/fables that basically set the template for every single story in Western culture.
CH.89: Any future goals or plans for your music?
TB: Probably make some more songs. Maybe go on a few small tours.
CH.89: What does being an artist mean to you?
TB: Always balancing the time constraints of a double life/being into something for the love of the game.
CH.89: Any last words on the aesthetic of your music?
TB: Anyone can do the twist.
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