Interview: Space Cadets (NJ)
I caught up with Matt and Jarrett of Emotive Math Rock two-piece Space Cadets after a show at our friend’s house. If you haven’t listened to Space Cadets yet, definitely check out their tunes after learning a bit about them in this interview.
Luke: When Was Space Cadets Formed?
Jarrett: July 2014. We had just left an indie band that Matt (guitarist), myself, and our old drummer were in together.
Luke: Has Space Cadets always been a two-piece?
Jarrett: No. At the beginning we had a third guy, Dylan, who is the old drummer I mentioned before. We switched around a lot, but he mainly played bass. During the formative of what we really are now, that was pretty much after he had left. So in our hearts I feel like it’s always been a two-piece.
Luke: When did you start writing all of the Space Cadets songs that you currently perform?
Jarrett: July 2014. When I was in the back half of that other band I started teaching myself guitar by writing songs. Then we started writing songs together and I wrote our first single “Effort”.
Luke: What is the writing like? Is it a combination or does one person write it all?
Jarrett: I write the lyrics. All of the tunes in FAC tuning are my tunes and then most of the standard ones are Matt.
Matt: Some songs are a lot of things that I brought to the table that Jarrett built around and then sometimes he has complete ideas that he brings to me and teaches to me.
Luke: What comes first? Guitar? Lyrics? Drums?
Jarrett: Guitar usually comes first. I usually don’t start putting words down until theres a full song behind it.
Luke: When you started writing these songs, did you ever picture yourself singing them from behind the drum kit?
Jarrett: The idea has always been there
Matt: He used to sing some backups in the indie band we were in.
Jarrett: I had done it. I was playing more guitar and singing in the early days of it, but when we became a two-piece there was no question about it.
Luke: Tell me about how you felt your debut EP “That Part of Me Is Gone” was received by listeners?
Jarrett: Better than I could have ever imagined, honestly. It’s been a long time coming so I feel like people were already familiar with the music by the time it came out. It was immediately received fairly positively and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Luke: You’re already working on new music, correct?
Jarrett: Yeah. We have the two songs almost fully recorded. Which should be out before the end of the year. And we actually wrote the next EP already. I’m trying to get into the studio for that as soon as possible.
Luke: And your next release is going to be a split with Burned Out Still Glowing, correct?
Jarrett: Yeah, he’s already announced that.
Luke: How have the out of state shows been?
Jarrett: It was great. We went out with pretty much no expectations and there were people at pretty much every show. A lot of people bought some merch. All it made me want to do was go out and do more.
Luke: What was your favorite tour experience?
Jarrett: Probably in Dover, Delaware.
Matt: Dover was going to be a train wreck. We were in the backyard and there was just no one there. And then it turned out great, it really turned around.
Jarrett: We were just sitting in this backyard and we were like “oh no, oh no”. It was very terrifying for about 3 hours and then as soon as the music started it just completely turned around. A lot of interesting people and funny memories. Virginia was also really cool. We played in some guys living room. That was another show where as soon as the show started, 25 people showed up.
Luke: Closing question: what would you like to have accomplished by next year this time?
Jarrett: Definitely have the split out, definitely another EP, and next summer I want to do a tour of some real length. I want to do like a month.
You can find Space Cadets’ music wherever music is streamed and you can stay updated with them at the links below!
dededos
areudirty
jbbartram-illu
turnnoffyourmind
tangentwithtanner
izzy806
ellievsbear