Hailing from Charleston and blending folk and 70s rock to create an alluring indie rock soundscape are Garret Williams (Frontman), Cameron Spell (Guitars), Grady Rogers (Bass), and Jake Wastler (Drums). With their latest release Dance Hall out now and others on the way, the band performs live, records, and does everything indie! In an exclusive interview with The Skadoosh, Garret Williams, on behalf of the band, shared their journey with us.
How did the band come together?
I started writing for the project a few years ago and played with a revolving lineup for a little while. Charleston has a great network of musicians! The current crew has been playing together for about a year. I met Jake through a mutual musician friend and invited him to play a show without ever hearing him drum. I met Cam around the same time through a Facebook Marketplace guitar purchase. We stayed in touch for a bit, and I hit him up to fill in the last minute for a weekend run. He brought Grady into the group, and it all kinda fell into place!
Hotel Hugo is a unique name. What’s the story behind the name?
I have a dog named Hugo. When we adopted him, we started calling our house Hotel Hugo because he was running our life. It was one on a list of names I'd come up with when I tracked the first EP, and the studio band voted on that one!
Which artists inspire and influence your music?
Mt. Joy, Tom Petty, Briston Maroney, and The Brook and the Bluff are a few!
What do you enjoy the most about performing live? Are there any pre-show rituals or routines?
We love the spontaneity of the live show! We try to keep our set fluid enough to have fun and play off of each other. I personally enjoy the challenge of getting a crowd engaged.
Pre-show, I usually make some throat coat tea haha. If we're on the road and have the time, we try to find a park or outdoor spot to relax for a bit.
What kind of a vibe is it to see you performing live? Is there any specific emotion that you feel connects with the audience?
Hmm... Hopefully, people watching us can see that we're having fun and not taking ourselves too seriously. I'd say comfort is an emotion we want people to feel at our shows.
What is the band’s process of composing music? What kind of themes interest the band and the music?
I usually write lyrics and a rough arrangement, then bring it to the group. Some songs evolve naturally through the live show and others we will workshop as a group before going into the studio. Thematically, I tend to write about things that are happening in my life, but that I think people can relate to. Finding contentment, friendship, growing up.
What does the band’s time in the studio look like?
We've been in the studio with our buddy Wolfgang Zimmerman sporadically throughout the past year. We typically start by live tracking and then add layers or punches as needed. We want our songs to have a live feel and not be overly tuned or produced.
Which song/s does the band enjoy performing together?
I would say, across the board, we enjoy playing our song Wild Animals which we are releasing soon!
What is the best part of being in a band?
My favourite part is playing live together. The camaraderie is important to me, so just spending time creating in low-pressure situations is great.
What advice would you give to upcoming musicians?
Start a band! Write songs! Play them for anyone who will listen, and be willing to take feedback. Don't be afraid to release a song that isn't perfect.
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