A Chat With Further North
Let’s start from the beginning. How did the band form?
Well, most of us are either related or have known each other for over a decade (or two). The band slowly came to shape in 2017 as we morphed into Further North from another band we were all in. It was a natural progression because we all knew each other in different capacities. Those close relationships have helped us to stay focused and dedicated through the difficulties of the past few years.
Do you guys have a set process on how to write and was it used in “Wishing Well”?
We all bring a little something to the table in the writing process. It usually starts with a little riff or a melody and we put a little song structure together. From there, we get together with our producer, Geoff Rockwell, and get super creative with different parts and build the song into what it becomes. We try to let each song come into being on its own without forcing anything from the beginning.
Coming back to life after being shut down for “the nightmare year” did you find it easy to get back into the swing of things regarding playing and writing music?
We never stopped writing music, so that has not been an issue. In fact, we’ve used it to fuel our creativity and lyrical context. But, our first show after all the lockdowns felt a bit odd. Definitely ‘good’ odd. Musicians miss the stage, but when you’re not able to be face to face with people for so long, getting out there can be unsettling.
Can you walk us through the video shoot? That looked like it ruled.
We wanted to highlight the humor and joy of the band in an honest way that wasn’t forced. So, we literally just got together at an arcade and filmed. The manager of the place, Dan, was so supportive of the concept and gave us free rein to do whatever we wanted. But, we just played arcades and drove go-karts for a few hours and filmed it. We are also super stoked that Nick, from Hit The Lights, was able to be part of the video. He adds so much to the song and we’ve looked up to him for years. He’s a homie, for sure.
Do any favorite show moments stick out? And the opposite, any horrible live show stories you care to share?
Shows are where we feel most comfortable as a band. We enjoy every show, even the little tiny floor shows. We always give each other a hard time during songs, too. We’ll kick each other, or knock someone’s hat off, and push each other. It's all in good fun, but any way to trip each other up. If I can make Chris or Marc miss a note by slapping their hand mid-song, it always cracks me up.
As far as something negative, I’ll share something that cracks me up now but was rough at the time. We played a little venue years ago that had some weird electrical grounding issue, and every time I got close to the microphone, I got shocked. And, not like touching your tongue to a 9-volt battery, but like I briefly lost the ability to see. Somehow I tried to keep it together, but I remember playing that whole set in fear that I would either knock myself out or die, lol.
Being a little older, what do you feel are the pros and cons of social media in the music industry?
My biggest concern with social media, and just the industry in general, is remaining authentic. I don’t want to get eaten up by the machine. Social media is a tool, so there’s nothing wrong with tools, it's just how you use them. So, we’re really focusing on using social media to highlight who Further North truly is and not create a fake persona. I certainly hope other bands will do the same.
Any other fun releases or shows the readers can look forward to?
We have some new music/videos planned, plus we’ll be playing all around this summer. But, we can’t quite share specific details on that. Just keep watching for updates!
Keep up with Further North on their socials listed below!
