This series of blogs is called IN PASSING, and in it I'll be interviewing bands/artists I love and trying to shed further light (in the small ways I can) on their music and give anyone who may come across this a reason to listen to them. I want to focus on smaller music that deserves more attention than it gets. All blogs in this series will include an unabridged (yet slightly edited) interview with the artists and a small write-up from me. As always, send music, shows, suggestions for artist interviews, and anything ever that you want to talk about or see covered to [ fosterhildingmusic@gmail.com ] or DM me on Instagram.
In February of 2024, Cheyenne and I got to interview Flagstaff's multi-genre alternative boys, Happy Medium for our radio show, The Local Shampoo.
We've made a playlist of the songs we played for this show. If you'd like to listen to it as you read you can do so here.
Kendall (Guitar and Vocals) = KE. Kyler (Guitar and Vocals) = KY. Ben (Drums) = B. Noah (Bass) = N.
Since Cheyenne and I both asked questions and made a few comments here and there--my lines will be left-justified and hers will be right-justified.
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| photos courtesy of Happy Medium |
KE: Yeah we were all getting really into it on the disc golf course, Kyler and I especially. We started playing a pretty intense game of catch, back and forth. You know, we're using the putter, it's a little rounded...
KY: I would say sharp.
KE: No, we're using the putter. It's very rounded, very nice, but then I kind of up the ante with the driver disc, and if you know anything about disc golf, like Kyler said, it's a little more sharp. It's been a long day of disc golfing. He's a little exhausted. He turned around. You know, he didn't catch it. Hit him square in the head--sniped.
KY: Anyways, I have a little bit of head trauma. There was some bleeding.
KE: Just don't disc golf at Thorpe Park.
N: Just don't play catch with each other.
Why the name Happy Medium?
KE: Because it was a happy medium that we could all mostly agree on.
What were some of the other names you had in the works?
KY: I really liked Crumb Snatch. Ben and Noah did not.
B: From Wounds. That was my idea but I'm going to use that for my solo project.
KY: Courtesy of ChatGPT.
B: It was funnier than that. I was on Reddit and I found a band name generator. I just kept going through and there were some really crazy ones, and then finally From Wounds appeared and I was like, "I'm keeping this."
N: I was with him on that one. Happy Medium's cooler, though.
KE: We stole it.
KY: Yeah. A cool Phoenix skate crew put out some videos under that name. I think we all have a special appreciation for skateboarding in some way or another.
KE: Just don't disc golf at Thorpe Park.
N: Just don't play catch with each other.
Why the name Happy Medium?
KE: Because it was a happy medium that we could all mostly agree on.
What were some of the other names you had in the works?
KY: I really liked Crumb Snatch. Ben and Noah did not.
B: From Wounds. That was my idea but I'm going to use that for my solo project.
KY: Courtesy of ChatGPT.
B: It was funnier than that. I was on Reddit and I found a band name generator. I just kept going through and there were some really crazy ones, and then finally From Wounds appeared and I was like, "I'm keeping this."
N: I was with him on that one. Happy Medium's cooler, though.
KE: We stole it.
KY: Yeah. A cool Phoenix skate crew put out some videos under that name. I think we all have a special appreciation for skateboarding in some way or another.
N: Especially the Phoenix scene.
KE: Yeah totally, or just the whole Arizona scene in general. Kind of an ode to that. But also, we're not super heavy but we're not super soft either. I like to think of it as a nice in-between. So yeah, Happy Medium.
B: I was living with the drummer in Bummer Girl for two years and I would play his kit a lot. I was really into midwest emo at the time and that's kind of what got me into playing drums, even though a lot of the beats can be complicated. I don't know what else, lots of other bands.
What are your individual inspirations, musically?
B: I was living with the drummer in Bummer Girl for two years and I would play his kit a lot. I was really into midwest emo at the time and that's kind of what got me into playing drums, even though a lot of the beats can be complicated. I don't know what else, lots of other bands.
KY: I grew up in Tucson and we had a really awesome music scene down there for a little while. Being a little bit younger than all of my friends, I found myself looking up to a lot of them. We tried playing music a little bit, but they were doing other things. I don't know, I wouldn't say I was left kind of watching, but I definitely did experienced it all secondhand. I was really jealous. I wanted to be a part of something really bad. I guess I came to Flagstaff and it came to fruition. But, inspiration-wise, I like noisy music. My favorites are Butthole Surfers, Ween, and Viagra Boys. Personally. I don't know how much of that goes into Happy Medium's sound. Those are at least some of my favorites right now that I see coming into my guitar playing.
N: For me, my siblings, brother and sister--they were a lot older than me--they were part of the whole scene kid era, so I grew up going to Warp Tour for family vacations. My brother played a little guitar and drums. I kind of always saw that. I played clarinet in middle school, percussion here and there. That was kind of me playing music, but also not really. Then I came up here and met Kyler. I always wanted to play music. Actually, the first time I picked up a bass was with him and his previous roommate. We just jammed out, and since then I don't want to put it down.
KE: For me, I just started playing in seventh grade. I just thought it was cool. I kind of discovered all the music I listen to now through playing an instrument. Inspiration-wise, I like a lot of, like Kyler said, noisy stuff, but on a different kind of spectrum--Death Grips, Machine Girl, and The Garden. For Happy Medium, I've been listening to a lot of more Sonic Youth and stuff like that--more guitar-based music.
Are there any inspirations outside of music that play into Happy Medium when you write?
KY: Skateboarding. At least for me, it was my entire life fo probably the past 15 years. I'm not really sure what that means to me, but I know that it shows itself in a lot of parts of my life. I think music definitely pertains to that as well. Again, I'm not really sure what I mean by that.
N: I feel like I'm kind of with Kyler on that. I don't skate anymore, but definitely in middle school, high school, that consumed a lot of my time. With that comes like video parts and music for sure. I'm kind of with Kyler on that one.
B: Ditto. I started skating when I was eight. That's kind of what got me into different types of music--just skate videos and stuff. That inspired me to pick up the guitar originally and then eventually move to drums and synthesizers and whatnot.
KE: I feel like I differ. I did skate, but I wasn't too big into it. I'm just more inspired by... I want to create something and have something of my own and have something I can hold or listen to. I don't know. It just feels really fulfilling to make stuff. If I'm not making something, I feel like I could be doing something. I feel like I always have to be doing something and making something.
What are your favorite local Arizona artists?
KE: Feed.
B: That's a collective answer. But, as someone who is wearing his second Police State shirt of the day, that's probably one of my favorites. I really like Deathdotgov. The Washed (Demos) have been on repeat since they came out. There's a lot of really good local music, especially in Flagstaff right now.
KY: It's really, really cool to get to be here for it all. I think there are new bands coming out all the time. Even the bands that have been around for a while are always dropping cool new music. It's so, so cool. It makes my heart so happy to be able to experience all of this.
B: That's a collective answer. But, as someone who is wearing his second Police State shirt of the day, that's probably one of my favorites. I really like Deathdotgov. The Washed (Demos) have been on repeat since they came out. There's a lot of really good local music, especially in Flagstaff right now.
KY: It's really, really cool to get to be here for it all. I think there are new bands coming out all the time. Even the bands that have been around for a while are always dropping cool new music. It's so, so cool. It makes my heart so happy to be able to experience all of this.
N: It's exciting because COVID was my first year up here. Easy words: it sucked. And now, three or four years later, it's so exciting that so much is coming.
B: I'm going to add one more: Keegan Halvorsen and the Woke Mob.
KE: That's another great band up here. I feel like they're not as appreciated as other bands. They take themselves not as seriously, but they're some of the most talented people up here. And they shred. They don't even practice. They'll be like, yeah, we practiced for like half an hour before the show. We don't have a practice space. Then they kill it and put everyone else to shame. And they cover Death Grips.
N: My favorite part about them is that the drummer's always there on time, before the rest of the guys. Right after, he just disappears. Then they're constantly dialed and I'm like, "All right, he's there to play music."
KY: I also want to shout out some of my friends from Tucson, ishouldgo. They don't have any music out yet and I think they've only played a small gig with some friends of ours. But, the simple demos that they have put out are really, really cool. I'm excited to see where they go.
N: Freud, also. Excited to see what happens with Mellow Toad.
KE: They are turning into Mellow Toad.
B: We're playing a show with them on April 6th at The Hive.
B: Dreamboat is great, and Midstory. We're also playing with them on April 6th. They're super sick.
KE: I think Dreamboat's my favorite local band. I like heavier music, of course, but I like the fun of Dreamboat. It's catchy. I think it is very refreshing to hear more lowkey indie stuff in a very heavy scene.
If you were to make the perfect Arizona bill, what would it be?
B: I had this one that was supposed to happen, but things just didn't work out. It was Keegan Halverson, Washed, us, and Feed.
N: Toothache. Add Toothache to that.
KE: I don't know. It would be really cool to do some shows with Feed. Definitely a show with Washed. Some other cool bands like Girl Etc., Gone Before Us. It would be just really cool to play some shows with everyone in the scene.
Are there any albums, songs, or times you've listened to an artist that changed the way you thought about music?
N: Sonic Youth Discography from beginning to end.
When did you first listen to Sonic Youth?
N: Early high school, probably. That's probably the first time I recognized it. Prior to that, maybe in middle school with my brother playing it. I'd say it was late high school when I really got into them and was like, "Beginning to end, got to check this out."
KY: I would have to say, just off the top of my head, Glow On by Turnstile. It kind of redefined hardcore music in my eyes. I can be kind of an elitist at times when it comes to music, and I will happily admit that. But, it's one of those albums that really blends heavy music with pop and melody and fun. There are a lot of heavy bands out there that are cool to listen to, but I wouldn't say necessarily fun. I'll still throw them on, but it's very serious music. Not to say that Turnstile isn't serious, but there's a level of fun to it.
KE: I mean, the first time I heard Nirvana in middle school, that kind of opened my eyes to good music, I'd say. Aside from that, later on down the road, I'd say most of my taste and one of the craziest moments was listening to The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails for the first time. That was eye-opening. I liked the idea of electronic music, but I always thought it was so lame--the same beat over and over. Then I found Nine Inch Nails, and I'm like, "Okay, this is not what I exactly imagined, but you can do this in a cool way." Since then, it's just been more modern bands that kind of go the same route as Trent Reznor--just kind of crazy obscurity and making noise any way possible.
KE: I mean, the first time I heard Nirvana in middle school, that kind of opened my eyes to good music, I'd say. Aside from that, later on down the road, I'd say most of my taste and one of the craziest moments was listening to The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails for the first time. That was eye-opening. I liked the idea of electronic music, but I always thought it was so lame--the same beat over and over. Then I found Nine Inch Nails, and I'm like, "Okay, this is not what I exactly imagined, but you can do this in a cool way." Since then, it's just been more modern bands that kind of go the same route as Trent Reznor--just kind of crazy obscurity and making noise any way possible.
B: I think my first inspiration was The Smashing Pumpkins, specifically Siamese Dream. My dad showed me that when I was, I think, in sixth grade, and that pioneered my love for music. Later on, some of the most inspiring albums to me are probably Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road, Deathconsciousness by Have a Nice Life, and Soundtracks for the Blind by Swans.
KY: I have one more answer for that. I think one of the first bands that I really fell in love with, thanks to my dad, was Beastie Boys. Even though it was something that was way before my time, I was able to grow with it. Licensed to Ill was one of my favorite albums for so long when I was younger, but as the years went on, Paul's Boutique and Check Your Head, that's what I gravitated towards more. They grew so much over time, and it was cool to be able to listen to all of those albums as I was growing up and kind of shift from Paul Revere and songs like Girls... they really matured and changed their sound a lot but still kept the fun mentality that they had from the beginning.
I think they did a lot for rock rap stuff way before Nu Metal.
KY: They started as a hardcore band and broke into the scene in that sense. As they were getting big, they pulled just the biggest 180 you could possibly pull and got into the rap world, which I think is so awesome in such a funny way. They just did not take themselves seriously any step of the way. I really admire that, and that's something that, you know, maybe not I'm going for in sound, but I'm going for in mentality.
KE: I did hear in an interview with them that in the entire process of making all their music, their only goal was to make the other two laugh. For all of them. They're just having so much fun, and it translates so well through the music.
KY: I'm still trying to figure out a groove. I really don't know. We tried a lot of things. In the two songs that I wrote, one was the through the eyes of my dog, Enzo. The other was just kind of a phrase that came to mind that I built off of from there. I don't know if it necessarily told a story at the time, but I think I can look back and put more of a meaning on it now than when I was writing those lyrics.
KE: We only have four right now--two that Kyler wrote and two that I wrote lyrics for. Singing about yourself is like writing stuff about yourself is scary. For me, it was just two situations of friends that I wrote, not from their perspective, but my outlook on it. That's pretty much it. They came together fairly easily. I don't really have a groove or anything, either. We're both just kind of winging it. In the past, stuff that I've written is just complete gibberish. Like Kyler said, I feel like now when I listen to stuff that I've written before, even though it was complete gibberish at the time, I feel like there is a little, not message, but theme at least to it and kind of relate it to stuff.
Is it just Kendall and Kyler that write the lyrics?
N: So far. We tried getting some magazines. Yeah, it didn't work out too well. We got some weird magazines. We got one called Family Therapy and we want to name a song after that one.
KY: Our original plan was, we were just going to cut out a bunch of words and throw them in a hat and start taking words out. It's hard for me to start writing lyrics. Once I start, I can get into a groove, but that's hard. It's hard being vulnerable. So far, it's only been me and Kendall, but that being said, I think we have such a good groove together and we all trust each other as, not only people, but musicians, that we can all bring something to the table. I know for a fact that whatever I bring, Noah's going to make an awesome bass line, Ben's going to throw down on the drums, and Kendall's going to match it on the...
KE: I did hear in an interview with them that in the entire process of making all their music, their only goal was to make the other two laugh. For all of them. They're just having so much fun, and it translates so well through the music.
What's your experience with writing lyrics?
KY: I'm still trying to figure out a groove. I really don't know. We tried a lot of things. In the two songs that I wrote, one was the through the eyes of my dog, Enzo. The other was just kind of a phrase that came to mind that I built off of from there. I don't know if it necessarily told a story at the time, but I think I can look back and put more of a meaning on it now than when I was writing those lyrics.
KE: We only have four right now--two that Kyler wrote and two that I wrote lyrics for. Singing about yourself is like writing stuff about yourself is scary. For me, it was just two situations of friends that I wrote, not from their perspective, but my outlook on it. That's pretty much it. They came together fairly easily. I don't really have a groove or anything, either. We're both just kind of winging it. In the past, stuff that I've written is just complete gibberish. Like Kyler said, I feel like now when I listen to stuff that I've written before, even though it was complete gibberish at the time, I feel like there is a little, not message, but theme at least to it and kind of relate it to stuff.
Is it just Kendall and Kyler that write the lyrics?
N: So far. We tried getting some magazines. Yeah, it didn't work out too well. We got some weird magazines. We got one called Family Therapy and we want to name a song after that one.
KY: Our original plan was, we were just going to cut out a bunch of words and throw them in a hat and start taking words out. It's hard for me to start writing lyrics. Once I start, I can get into a groove, but that's hard. It's hard being vulnerable. So far, it's only been me and Kendall, but that being said, I think we have such a good groove together and we all trust each other as, not only people, but musicians, that we can all bring something to the table. I know for a fact that whatever I bring, Noah's going to make an awesome bass line, Ben's going to throw down on the drums, and Kendall's going to match it on the...
KE: Do something.
KY: Yeah, he's going to do something. I think vice versa. Anything anyone of us brings to the table, it's just kind of open to interpretation from the others, which I really appreciate because I have no idea what I'm doing on the bass. I have no idea what I'm doing on the drums. It's nice to have people that I trust.
N: It helps that we're all like best friends.
KE: I feel like it's just nice writing songs together. That's how everything has kind of been made instrumentally--just sitting together, jamming, and then we'll go home and throw lyrics over it. It's very nice because I feel like sometimes there is disagreement, as will definitely always happen, but if I have something that I like and no one else likes, we'll just go with what everyone else likes. It's three on one. It is what it is.
KE: I feel like it's just nice writing songs together. That's how everything has kind of been made instrumentally--just sitting together, jamming, and then we'll go home and throw lyrics over it. It's very nice because I feel like sometimes there is disagreement, as will definitely always happen, but if I have something that I like and no one else likes, we'll just go with what everyone else likes. It's three on one. It is what it is.
KY: We actually fight each other at the end of band practice.
KE: Yeah, we actually throw discs at each other. Kyler lost last time.
KY: I still have blood all over my hands and face right now. The show must go on.
KE: I feel like it's just a very nice setting. Singing is definitely really tough. Definitely a scary thing to do, but it's nice having support, knowing the people I'm around me aren't going to be judging or anything like that, which is very nice. I feel like it let's creativity flow a little bit more easily. Except when Ben opens his mouth.
How's the reception been for Happy Medium so far?
KY: Honestly, I can't believe it. We had like 200 people in our house for the first time.
N: No less than 150.
KE: Yeah, we actually throw discs at each other. Kyler lost last time.
KY: I still have blood all over my hands and face right now. The show must go on.
KE: I feel like it's just a very nice setting. Singing is definitely really tough. Definitely a scary thing to do, but it's nice having support, knowing the people I'm around me aren't going to be judging or anything like that, which is very nice. I feel like it let's creativity flow a little bit more easily. Except when Ben opens his mouth.
How's the reception been for Happy Medium so far?
KY: Honestly, I can't believe it. We had like 200 people in our house for the first time.
N: No less than 150.
KE: If my fourth grade class was 100, that could have been like 150 or 200.
KY: That made my heart happy. Not everyone was coming out just for us. We played with Keegan Halvorsen, who we talked about earlier. It's really awesome. Just people and musicians.
KE: German Import. Awesome musicians. Great people. Shout out to Annika.
KY: That made my heart happy. Not everyone was coming out just for us. We played with Keegan Halvorsen, who we talked about earlier. It's really awesome. Just people and musicians.
KE: German Import. Awesome musicians. Great people. Shout out to Annika.
KY: I think it's been good.
You can't change it. You have to make a decision or you're killed on the spot. Executed.
KY: My first one is going to be Milo Goes to College by The Descendants. I think that was one of the first albums that I really fell in love with and shaped my music taste for the next several years that I lived after that and am still living.
N: My first one, Unknown Pleasures, Joy Division. Yeah. I think that would be one of three that's worthy of my list.
B: I think my three are The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Deathconsciousness by Have a Nice Life, and lastly, Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road. My girlfriend got me Ants From Up There on CD and on vinyl and I have been listening to it pretty much on repeat ever since.
KE: Honestly, I have listened to half of that album and that might be on there too. It's so different and it's got a very nice charm to it. There's a lot of complexity. I feel like you could really listen to it over and over and over. There's a whole orchestra behind them playing. They've got a lot of band members. I'd probably say Unknown Pleasures is up there, as well. I just love that album. Also, like I said earlier, The Downward Spiral. That or Pretty Hate Machine is good, but in The Downward Spiral there's so much going on. Same reason why I might even say Black Country, New Road. I feel like Trent Reznor just has so many layers to his songs. There's a lot going on and I listen to it now after listening to it hundreds of times and I still hear new little details. It kind of makes me wonder what made him add that.
B: Looking at the stems would be ridiculous.
KE: That was one of the first albums that pioneered Pro Tools.
KY: My next answer, going back to kind of the trip hop that Kendall brought up is Heligoland by Massive Attack. I love Mezzanine, but Heligoland was the first Massive Attack album that I found--again through my dad. It just hits so hard every single time. I don't know if I would ever get tired of it.
N: My second one, just to get sad here, probably Either/Or, Elliott Smith. I think just being on a deserted island...
KE: I had a change of heart. Black Country, New Road is out. They're done. Something from Masayoshi Takanaka or CASIOPEA. Mostly if I was on a deserted island, some Masayoshi. That is just some of the best. That dude, you know he's just smiling on the other end of the recording. You know he's just having such a good time. That's just some beach music... And snowboarding music.
KY: This is really hard. I'm just gonna throw another album out there. I really don't think I could ever pick three, I think I would just have no music on a deserted island because I'm so indecisive. But Dirty by Sonic Youth start to finish. One of my favorites. So many bops on there. So many bops.
N: Maybe Goo, Sonic Youth. Dirty's up there. Like you said, it's hard to pick a last one, and Goo is definitely a pretty epic album.
KY: And I also am gonna change my mind again. The Cap'n Jazz album, Analphabetapolothology. It's like one of the best. I will die on this hill: hey are the one and only midwest emo band ever.
What do you guys think are some overrated artists?
KY: Ben dropped his drumstick, so we all we took him out back and shot him.
B: I think the best part about playing drums is that nobody knows unless you play music if you mess up. And it's great, I love it.
KY: One thing I wasn't accounting for is, we've always practiced with the lights on. Right before our set the lights got turned off and I'm looking at my guitar and I'm like, "Oh my god, what am I doing?"
KE: Speaking of childish, that version of Yo Gabba Gabba. I never realized when I was younger how many incredible artists are on Yo Gabba Gabba. They had The Aquabats!, they had MGMT, they had MCR. I think they had The Strokes, they had everyone.
B: I would say I'd want to redo the soundtrack to Videodrome with my friend Max Bennett from Mellow Toad.
KE: No, we're talking about us, Ben.
What are you favorite Deftones albums?
KE: I've never listened to Deftones. I've listened to one song that we covered, so I know the lyrics. I know them like the back of my hand, but that is it. But also, I have been listening to Team Sleep, which is Chino and Zach Hill. Crazy, crazy group.
B: I'm just going to stand firm with White Pony.
KY: I'm going to go with Around the Fur. I like White Pony, but I like... I would prefer to throw on...
N: Yeah, I'm with Kyler on that one.
KE: What's his name? Oh, I totally know. He's a racist, awful, horrible person. Mark Wahlberg.
KY: I'd like to just fight Hollywood. I think all the celebrities, take them all.
KE: Taylor Swift.
KY: I have to crack my beanie off my head like every five to six minutes. But it's red, so you can't tell
KY: More Happy Medium lore: my first ever band name, and this is terrible, was shaken baby syndrome. I look back and I cringe.
KY: Meat Wallet.
Best President. Go.
KE: Definitely the more west you get, it's very individualism, and then you go further East and there's a way bigger sense of community. If you look at a website made in India or somewhere in Asia, there's so much information all over the place and I feel like it's just kind of... You can go to Google and it just says Google right in the front. They see things as a whole rather than focusing on just one thing. And then you got Europe right in the middle, the happy medium.
N: It was nervewracking, but a relief after, I think.
KY: Yeah. It's hard to be vulnerable for people. It feels good. Even if there were like two people that were stoked and everyone else hated us. I'll take it.
KE: Not to discredit any of us or anyone in the scene, but my god is the Flagstaff crowd just... They will dance to anything, which makes it so much easier and nicer and just like so much more fun all around.
KY: People aren't afraid to make a fool of themselves out here in the best possible way.
KE: We're never hitting a red meter on Guitar Hero. That's not happening in Flagstaff.
KY: Yeah. It's hard to be vulnerable for people. It feels good. Even if there were like two people that were stoked and everyone else hated us. I'll take it.
KE: Not to discredit any of us or anyone in the scene, but my god is the Flagstaff crowd just... They will dance to anything, which makes it so much easier and nicer and just like so much more fun all around.
KY: People aren't afraid to make a fool of themselves out here in the best possible way.
KE: We're never hitting a red meter on Guitar Hero. That's not happening in Flagstaff.
What is your vision for your sound?
B: I think we're still working on it. Since we're still so fresh as a band, it's going to take some time to kind of figure out what we're really going for. I think it'll come with more songs and more practice, and eventually we'll figure out what sound fits us best.
KY: I don't really have anything in mind right now. I think our biggest thing is just playing music together and having fun. A lot of our songs right now are so different from one another and I really appreciate that. I like listening to a variety of music and I like playing a variety of music. It's cool that we're all open to making a lot of different stuff that doesn't necessarily have to sound similar. I think though, like what Ben said, over time we'll be able to dial in something that's a little more ours. But what that is yet, I don't really know. Noah and I have been playing music together, I think for the longest--and by the longest, I mean a few months longer than all of us together. We both really like Sonic Youth and bands like that. That's where it started, but I'm not sure where it will go.
KE: I feel like the sound is kind of developed a lot when recording. Unknown Pleasures is one of my favorite albums. Looking into that album, they wanted to sound like Sex Pistols, and then they got Unknown Pleasures and they were kind of pissed off. You listen to their live stuff and they have a completely different sound. It's way more punk, way more high energy, but the vibe of Unknown Pleasures completely inspired a whole decade of music. I feel like the recording of music is where a lot of a band's sound can come from. Other than that, I like just making stuff, whatever comes, not really caring.
N: Like, someone plays something, if we're stoked on it, we just ride with it. It could be something super hard or something super soft or the happy medium between...
KE: I do want to make some more, not fully electronic stuff, but incorporating some synthesizer... The kazoo. Shout out to Andy, two years ago he got me an electric kazoo for my birthday, and that will be being used soon. Kyler has mentioned he really likes Mezzanine by Massive Attack. Just trip-hop, I'm really inspired by that and I'd love to kind of incorporate some of that stuff. I think that would be really cool.
Do you guys have any plans for the future right now?
B: I mean, we do everything DIY thanks to Kendall.
KE: If you're not recording your own music, printing your own shirts, I don't know what you're doing, because you're missing out. That's like half the fun.
B: I think we're going to record a little bit over spring break. We're not trying to rush anything. We want to pretty much just perfect what we have now and go from there. Maybe a three hour Happy Medium drone album. One note per hour.
KY: We do have some fun shows coming up, though. We're really excited to play with all of our friends from Phoenix. Ring Finger No Pinky. Really excited for those and then playing with some other Flagstaff friends late March. I'm just really excited for that and letting stuff flow naturally.
KE: Be water. Be like water.
B: I think we're still working on it. Since we're still so fresh as a band, it's going to take some time to kind of figure out what we're really going for. I think it'll come with more songs and more practice, and eventually we'll figure out what sound fits us best.
KY: I don't really have anything in mind right now. I think our biggest thing is just playing music together and having fun. A lot of our songs right now are so different from one another and I really appreciate that. I like listening to a variety of music and I like playing a variety of music. It's cool that we're all open to making a lot of different stuff that doesn't necessarily have to sound similar. I think though, like what Ben said, over time we'll be able to dial in something that's a little more ours. But what that is yet, I don't really know. Noah and I have been playing music together, I think for the longest--and by the longest, I mean a few months longer than all of us together. We both really like Sonic Youth and bands like that. That's where it started, but I'm not sure where it will go.
KE: I feel like the sound is kind of developed a lot when recording. Unknown Pleasures is one of my favorite albums. Looking into that album, they wanted to sound like Sex Pistols, and then they got Unknown Pleasures and they were kind of pissed off. You listen to their live stuff and they have a completely different sound. It's way more punk, way more high energy, but the vibe of Unknown Pleasures completely inspired a whole decade of music. I feel like the recording of music is where a lot of a band's sound can come from. Other than that, I like just making stuff, whatever comes, not really caring.
N: Like, someone plays something, if we're stoked on it, we just ride with it. It could be something super hard or something super soft or the happy medium between...
KE: I do want to make some more, not fully electronic stuff, but incorporating some synthesizer... The kazoo. Shout out to Andy, two years ago he got me an electric kazoo for my birthday, and that will be being used soon. Kyler has mentioned he really likes Mezzanine by Massive Attack. Just trip-hop, I'm really inspired by that and I'd love to kind of incorporate some of that stuff. I think that would be really cool.
Do you guys have any plans for the future right now?
B: I mean, we do everything DIY thanks to Kendall.
KE: If you're not recording your own music, printing your own shirts, I don't know what you're doing, because you're missing out. That's like half the fun.
B: I think we're going to record a little bit over spring break. We're not trying to rush anything. We want to pretty much just perfect what we have now and go from there. Maybe a three hour Happy Medium drone album. One note per hour.
KY: We do have some fun shows coming up, though. We're really excited to play with all of our friends from Phoenix. Ring Finger No Pinky. Really excited for those and then playing with some other Flagstaff friends late March. I'm just really excited for that and letting stuff flow naturally.
KE: Be water. Be like water.
Three albums you would take to a desert island, you can never listen to anything else again. And this is your only answer.
You can't change it. You have to make a decision or you're killed on the spot. Executed.
KY: My first one is going to be Milo Goes to College by The Descendants. I think that was one of the first albums that I really fell in love with and shaped my music taste for the next several years that I lived after that and am still living.
N: My first one, Unknown Pleasures, Joy Division. Yeah. I think that would be one of three that's worthy of my list.
B: I think my three are The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Deathconsciousness by Have a Nice Life, and lastly, Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road. My girlfriend got me Ants From Up There on CD and on vinyl and I have been listening to it pretty much on repeat ever since.
KE: Honestly, I have listened to half of that album and that might be on there too. It's so different and it's got a very nice charm to it. There's a lot of complexity. I feel like you could really listen to it over and over and over. There's a whole orchestra behind them playing. They've got a lot of band members. I'd probably say Unknown Pleasures is up there, as well. I just love that album. Also, like I said earlier, The Downward Spiral. That or Pretty Hate Machine is good, but in The Downward Spiral there's so much going on. Same reason why I might even say Black Country, New Road. I feel like Trent Reznor just has so many layers to his songs. There's a lot going on and I listen to it now after listening to it hundreds of times and I still hear new little details. It kind of makes me wonder what made him add that.
B: Looking at the stems would be ridiculous.
KE: That was one of the first albums that pioneered Pro Tools.
KY: My next answer, going back to kind of the trip hop that Kendall brought up is Heligoland by Massive Attack. I love Mezzanine, but Heligoland was the first Massive Attack album that I found--again through my dad. It just hits so hard every single time. I don't know if I would ever get tired of it.
N: My second one, just to get sad here, probably Either/Or, Elliott Smith. I think just being on a deserted island...
KE: I had a change of heart. Black Country, New Road is out. They're done. Something from Masayoshi Takanaka or CASIOPEA. Mostly if I was on a deserted island, some Masayoshi. That is just some of the best. That dude, you know he's just smiling on the other end of the recording. You know he's just having such a good time. That's just some beach music... And snowboarding music.
KY: This is really hard. I'm just gonna throw another album out there. I really don't think I could ever pick three, I think I would just have no music on a deserted island because I'm so indecisive. But Dirty by Sonic Youth start to finish. One of my favorites. So many bops on there. So many bops.
N: Maybe Goo, Sonic Youth. Dirty's up there. Like you said, it's hard to pick a last one, and Goo is definitely a pretty epic album.
KY: And I also am gonna change my mind again. The Cap'n Jazz album, Analphabetapolothology. It's like one of the best. I will die on this hill: hey are the one and only midwest emo band ever.
What do you guys think are some overrated artists?
KY: The Beatles.
KE: Phish, Grateful Dead, every jam band ever.
N: Greta Van Fleet.
B: This is a crazy take but, Sonic Youth.
KE: Eagles. Eagles Greatest Hits, absolute garbage. Someone name me one song off that album other than Hotel California.
N: Might be a hot take but, The White Stripes are overrated.
KY: I did a fourth grade talent show and I sang Seven Nation Army and forgot the lyrics. My friend Zander played guitar. He was just playing that main riff for about a minute and a half before I picked up on the next verse. So it was like a five minute rendition.
KE: See, mine was in like seventh grade. I was in band because you had either band or choir, and the band teacher found out I played guitar. She was like, "You should play guitar for this song" and and she didn't set me up with the PA or anything, so all I had was my little First Act battery-powered amp and you couldn't hear it at all. At the end I was just embarrassed because everyone came up to me and was like "Were you even playing?" I played the whole song perfectly. That was my first performance.
KY: That's where me and Kendall differ. He played it all perfect. They couldn't hear him. I messed up. Everyone could hear me.
KE: We get beat. We grab disc golf discs.
N: Greta Van Fleet.
B: This is a crazy take but, Sonic Youth.
KE: Eagles. Eagles Greatest Hits, absolute garbage. Someone name me one song off that album other than Hotel California.
N: Might be a hot take but, The White Stripes are overrated.
KY: I did a fourth grade talent show and I sang Seven Nation Army and forgot the lyrics. My friend Zander played guitar. He was just playing that main riff for about a minute and a half before I picked up on the next verse. So it was like a five minute rendition.
KE: See, mine was in like seventh grade. I was in band because you had either band or choir, and the band teacher found out I played guitar. She was like, "You should play guitar for this song" and and she didn't set me up with the PA or anything, so all I had was my little First Act battery-powered amp and you couldn't hear it at all. At the end I was just embarrassed because everyone came up to me and was like "Were you even playing?" I played the whole song perfectly. That was my first performance.
KY: That's where me and Kendall differ. He played it all perfect. They couldn't hear him. I messed up. Everyone could hear me.
How do you guys deal with mess ups?
KE: We get beat. We grab disc golf discs.
KY: Ben dropped his drumstick, so we all we took him out back and shot him.
B: I think the best part about playing drums is that nobody knows unless you play music if you mess up. And it's great, I love it.
KY: One thing I wasn't accounting for is, we've always practiced with the lights on. Right before our set the lights got turned off and I'm looking at my guitar and I'm like, "Oh my god, what am I doing?"
KE: The dots make sense now.
KY: The dots make sense now.
KE: I feel like I have that same problem every single show I've played, yet I never compensate for it. We need little reading lights on our guitars--we're just blasting everyone in the crowd. We're like Ford drivers or Ram drivers. Did you know that Ram drivers have more DUIs than any other kind of car drivers?
KY: Shout out my stepdad. Not for DUI, for the Ram.
If Happy Medium could play with one band, what would the band be?
KY: Fugazi. I think that's my answer.
N: I was going to say Title Fight or Deftones. Title Fight would be so epic to open for.
KY: Both Fugazi and Title Fight are only on a hiatus, so who knows.
KE: What is glitter being used for? Can we talk about this? Glitter's biggest buyer is unknown. They will not tell us who the biggest buyer of glitter is.
What's the top glitter producer?
KY: The dots make sense now.
KE: I feel like I have that same problem every single show I've played, yet I never compensate for it. We need little reading lights on our guitars--we're just blasting everyone in the crowd. We're like Ford drivers or Ram drivers. Did you know that Ram drivers have more DUIs than any other kind of car drivers?
KY: Shout out my stepdad. Not for DUI, for the Ram.
If Happy Medium could play with one band, what would the band be?
KY: Fugazi. I think that's my answer.
N: I was going to say Title Fight or Deftones. Title Fight would be so epic to open for.
KY: Both Fugazi and Title Fight are only on a hiatus, so who knows.
KE: What is glitter being used for? Can we talk about this? Glitter's biggest buyer is unknown. They will not tell us who the biggest buyer of glitter is.
What's the top glitter producer?
KE: I don't know, but they're very secretive about who their top buyer of glitter is. One thing that I've heard is that the military used it to coat an entire area of land in really fine glitter so that it doesn't show up on radar, just glittering all over.
What's a conspiracy theory that you think might be true?
KY: I'm really into QAnon. Pizzagate. The lizard people and Adrenochrome. I don't know. I buy it.
KE: This isn't really a conspiracy, but in the next couple of years, when quantum computers get better, they'll be able to decrypt most of our modern encryption methods. A lot of data will go in online. All that data can be seen by pretty much anyone. If you're in the right place at the right time, you can catch it. It's encrypted, so you can't do anything with it, but since quantum computers have this capability of possibly being able to decrypt a lot of our encryption methods that would normally take millions of years in like a couple days or so, a lot of countries and people are just collecting a ton of encrypted data on each other that they can't read yet, but they will be able to read within probably the next decade, maybe. I think there's going to be some crazy stuff going down. Edward Snowden stuff. That's what we know of. There's got to be some crazy stuff our government is doing.
KY: We live in a very interesting time and it's only going to get crazier.
KE: Yeah, that's the moral of what I'm saying.
KE: This isn't really a conspiracy, but in the next couple of years, when quantum computers get better, they'll be able to decrypt most of our modern encryption methods. A lot of data will go in online. All that data can be seen by pretty much anyone. If you're in the right place at the right time, you can catch it. It's encrypted, so you can't do anything with it, but since quantum computers have this capability of possibly being able to decrypt a lot of our encryption methods that would normally take millions of years in like a couple days or so, a lot of countries and people are just collecting a ton of encrypted data on each other that they can't read yet, but they will be able to read within probably the next decade, maybe. I think there's going to be some crazy stuff going down. Edward Snowden stuff. That's what we know of. There's got to be some crazy stuff our government is doing.
KY: We live in a very interesting time and it's only going to get crazier.
KE: Yeah, that's the moral of what I'm saying.
KY: I'm kind of excited to watch.
KE: You guys watch Fight Club? Big things happening. Actually, Happy Medium, we have been collecting a lot of data.
KY: Flagstaff, watch out.
KE: You guys watch Fight Club? Big things happening. Actually, Happy Medium, we have been collecting a lot of data.
KY: Flagstaff, watch out.
KE: We sit in the Flagstaff Starbucks. If you're in there, be careful. We're just checking all that data. If you're logging into Facebook at Starbucks, be careful in 10 years, we might have that password. Talking about conspiracy theories, the people that do play into conspiracy theories and QANON, they're all on Instagram. They're all like, "Oh, 10 minute cities. You're gonna be in prison, full 24-hour surveillance." I'm like, "You're texting this on your phone. You're already being monitored." And, you hit accept, like you hit, yep, that's okay.
KY: But so did we.
KE: Actually, because of Apple putting that stuff out there, Facebook jumped ship from Facebook to Meta, because Apple made it apparent that Facebook was taking all your data and made it so that you can turn it off. Facebook started losing money because how can they make money if they can't sell people's data? The world we live in where Facebook can't sell our data... So yeah, that's why they changed to Meta. They're like, "Oh, maybe we should change industries from selling data to the Metaverse." Grocery shopping in the Metaverse.
If Happy Medium could be the soundtrack for one movie or director, what movie or director would it be?
KY: But so did we.
Anytime the little notification comes up, ask app not to track, it's just like, please don't track me.
KE: Actually, because of Apple putting that stuff out there, Facebook jumped ship from Facebook to Meta, because Apple made it apparent that Facebook was taking all your data and made it so that you can turn it off. Facebook started losing money because how can they make money if they can't sell people's data? The world we live in where Facebook can't sell our data... So yeah, that's why they changed to Meta. They're like, "Oh, maybe we should change industries from selling data to the Metaverse." Grocery shopping in the Metaverse.
If Happy Medium could be the soundtrack for one movie or director, what movie or director would it be?
KE: Who's the guy who did Baby Driver?
Edgar Wright.
N: The fun fact about that film actually is, in the score, he lined up every single beat with what was happening. For example, car goes vroom, so does the tempo.
KY: Probably the guy who made The Holy Mountain. Probably not. It would be crazy to work with him. I don't know if he's alive still.
N: A Christopher Nolan movie would be really cool too.
KE: I think just a fun... who did Scott Pilgrim?
N: The fun fact about that film actually is, in the score, he lined up every single beat with what was happening. For example, car goes vroom, so does the tempo.
KY: Probably the guy who made The Holy Mountain. Probably not. It would be crazy to work with him. I don't know if he's alive still.
N: A Christopher Nolan movie would be really cool too.
KE: I think just a fun... who did Scott Pilgrim?
That was also Edgar Wright.
KE: Okay, yeah, that guy's awesome. That's who we want to be with. That would be so fun. He's so sick.
KY: I would also like to, I don't know if it would necessarily pertain to Happy Medium, but some more folky project with Wes Anderson. That would be great. I would love to do something childish and fun and light.
KY: I would also like to, I don't know if it would necessarily pertain to Happy Medium, but some more folky project with Wes Anderson. That would be great. I would love to do something childish and fun and light.
KE: Speaking of childish, that version of Yo Gabba Gabba. I never realized when I was younger how many incredible artists are on Yo Gabba Gabba. They had The Aquabats!, they had MGMT, they had MCR. I think they had The Strokes, they had everyone.
Taking Back Sunday in Jimmy Eat World. But no, The Aquabats are the creators of the show.
B: I would say I'd want to redo the soundtrack to Videodrome with my friend Max Bennett from Mellow Toad.
KE: No, we're talking about us, Ben.
What are you favorite Deftones albums?
KE: I've never listened to Deftones. I've listened to one song that we covered, so I know the lyrics. I know them like the back of my hand, but that is it. But also, I have been listening to Team Sleep, which is Chino and Zach Hill. Crazy, crazy group.
B: I'm just going to stand firm with White Pony.
KY: I'm going to go with Around the Fur. I like White Pony, but I like... I would prefer to throw on...
N: Yeah, I'm with Kyler on that one.
B: Teenager was the first Deftones song I heard and then I fell in love. They've probably been one of my favorite bands recently. Yeah, I need to learn how to scream. That's all.
The way Chino screams is so weird, too. It's a whole different thing.
The way Chino screams is so weird, too. It's a whole different thing.
He's got to be one of the craziest vocalists of all time, just with the range melodically, but also scream-wise.
Have you seen his live performances of them on MTV Unplugged? Chino's a terrible singer. It works so well. And he's so him, and no one else could do it like him. But, talking objectively, he's a terrible singer.
KY: I'm going to be real, I'm kind of in the same boat as Kendall. I know and love a few Deftones songs, and they're all really on Around the Fur. But other than that, I haven't given them a huge chance. But, maybe after this...
I wish there was something like MTV now. You know what I mean?
KE: KJACK Radio. Speaking of: KJACK Sessions, Noah and I... watch them on YouTube. Sorry, we're just trying to reinvent MTV. Can't even listen to the haters.
KY: I'm going to be real, I'm kind of in the same boat as Kendall. I know and love a few Deftones songs, and they're all really on Around the Fur. But other than that, I haven't given them a huge chance. But, maybe after this...
I wish there was something like MTV now. You know what I mean?
KE: KJACK Radio. Speaking of: KJACK Sessions, Noah and I... watch them on YouTube. Sorry, we're just trying to reinvent MTV. Can't even listen to the haters.
If you could fist-fight one celebrity, who would it be?
KE: What's his name? Oh, I totally know. He's a racist, awful, horrible person. Mark Wahlberg.
KY: I'd like to just fight Hollywood. I think all the celebrities, take them all.
KE: Taylor Swift.
KY: I have to crack my beanie off my head like every five to six minutes. But it's red, so you can't tell
It's like when the baby is... Their scalp doesn't form when they're kids, so they have a soft spot.
KY: More Happy Medium lore: my first ever band name, and this is terrible, was shaken baby syndrome. I look back and I cringe.
KY: Meat Wallet.
Best President. Go.
N: President power rankings.
KE: He was good in Night at the Museum. Can we talk about the 10 minute city crisis going down?
KE: If you guys don't know what a 10 minute city is, Cheyenne and I are very passionate about this. When she used to live with Annika, we would get into this every day, every night. But, a 10 minute city is a city where you can get anywhere you'll ever need to go, hospital, food, anything you'd ever need in your life, within a 10 minute walk. There's the conspiracy that this is trying to take away freedoms such as being in the daily commute to work in traffic. We got any I-17 lovers? Bring this up to old people and they're like, "Oh you're against driving." I heard you're complaining about traffic just a minute ago. I know you're against driving, too. 10 minute cities are so cool, cities kind of based off what they do in Europe. Kind of like a European world.
KY: I feel like that's why so many people look back to their college years and miss it. We live in such a community, a community where you can get anywhere in under 10 minutes. You can see your friends in a short walk. You graduate, you move on. Now you're in the suburbs and everything's 45 minutes away. It's just isolating. I think us, as human beings, we're meant to rely on one another. I think, this idea of individualism, there are parts that are great, as with anything, right?
I feel like the natural answer should be like FDR, but part of me just feels like school did too good of a job being like, "This is a great guy, a great President. He did a great job." I'm very suspicious. There has to be some skeletons in that closet.
KE: He was good in Night at the Museum. Can we talk about the 10 minute city crisis going down?
I really can't tell you how much my family genuinely believes in that.
KE: If you guys don't know what a 10 minute city is, Cheyenne and I are very passionate about this. When she used to live with Annika, we would get into this every day, every night. But, a 10 minute city is a city where you can get anywhere you'll ever need to go, hospital, food, anything you'd ever need in your life, within a 10 minute walk. There's the conspiracy that this is trying to take away freedoms such as being in the daily commute to work in traffic. We got any I-17 lovers? Bring this up to old people and they're like, "Oh you're against driving." I heard you're complaining about traffic just a minute ago. I know you're against driving, too. 10 minute cities are so cool, cities kind of based off what they do in Europe. Kind of like a European world.
KY: I feel like that's why so many people look back to their college years and miss it. We live in such a community, a community where you can get anywhere in under 10 minutes. You can see your friends in a short walk. You graduate, you move on. Now you're in the suburbs and everything's 45 minutes away. It's just isolating. I think us, as human beings, we're meant to rely on one another. I think, this idea of individualism, there are parts that are great, as with anything, right?
KE: Like self-expression, but you're expressing to who? You go out and you're in your car. You don't see anyone. You're just mad at other people driving. You're on Milton and you hit every red light. Someone's going 20 in front of you.
KY: Have a conversation with the person next to you.
KE: If I die prematurely, odds are it's going to be in a car crash going down the I-17.
N: Have you guys heard about the cities that they're building? I think it's in the Middle East somewhere. The Wall City Super Tech. The Line. That's insane to me. Even more crazy than the 10 minutes cities.
KE: I don't even know what they're even trying to do. I know about it, but I know a lot of people have been like, "This could never work," but also a lot of people say 10 minutes cities are a joke.
I always see people being like, "I don't want to use public transit. I want to be able to be in the comfort of my own car and listening to my music." And I'm like, "Okay, that's just your individualized culture that has made you feel that way." In reality, it's so nice to just sit on a train and listen to music and not have to do any of the moving. You don't have to pay for your gas.
KY: Have a conversation with the person next to you.
KE: If I die prematurely, odds are it's going to be in a car crash going down the I-17.
N: Have you guys heard about the cities that they're building? I think it's in the Middle East somewhere. The Wall City Super Tech. The Line. That's insane to me. Even more crazy than the 10 minutes cities.
KE: I don't even know what they're even trying to do. I know about it, but I know a lot of people have been like, "This could never work," but also a lot of people say 10 minutes cities are a joke.
Well, the Middle East and moving into Asia are some of the most densely populated areas in the whole world. New Delhi is crazy stacked on top of each other. I've been watching street interviews recently, just straight brain rot. It's not great. I just watched this dude going to all these cities around the world and talking about all the problems they have. I don't know. I could see that way more on that side of the world versus here because anywhere outside of the Western world is more community focused. I think they're less scared of things that makes them care about their fellow man.
KE: Definitely the more west you get, it's very individualism, and then you go further East and there's a way bigger sense of community. If you look at a website made in India or somewhere in Asia, there's so much information all over the place and I feel like it's just kind of... You can go to Google and it just says Google right in the front. They see things as a whole rather than focusing on just one thing. And then you got Europe right in the middle, the happy medium.
Thanks for reading, everyone. Keep going to shows and doing the thing.
-Foster
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