STRATEJACKET – A GOOD INTERVIEW WITH THE GROUP
By Ralph Beauchamp
Jackson Romers (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Fabian Angel (Bass/Vocals) and Nate Mangold (Drums) compose the exciting StrateJacket. Based in Northern California, the young trio make music that is uniquely their own and write songs that reflect the times. StrateJacket delivers edgy yet energetic tracks that immediately capture the attention of their listeners.
The band have just released a second single titled “Be My Drug” which followed their previous offering, “Bad Start”. Both songs are an example StrateJacket'dynamic songwriting and impressive musicianship. Addressing the similarities between being in love and being a drug, the band explain, “I don't think a song represents who we are better than 'Be My Drug.' We really wanted a song that captivated [addictive, high and low] feelings of these two things together. It's a topic we look forward to exploring more in the future.”
Furthermore, StrateJacket recently signed to EDGEOUT records with a self-titled EP dropping soon. The band has also played SXSW and a number of West Coast tours. StrateJacket they are definitely a band with a huge future.
AMP: How did the band come together?
JACKSON: The band started in 2019. Fabian and I were playing music at my house. We had a different drummer at the time that we didn't think was cutting it. When the pandemic hit, we decided to rebuild the band. We approached Nate who was playing in another band and luckily he decided we were a better fit. We trained for a whole year during Covid. In 2021, we had our first show at the old Blue Lagoon in Santa Cruz. From there we never looked back.
SUSPENSION: 2020 when Nate joined was the first time I really heard the music. The first time we jammed is when I realized his full potential StrateJacket.
JACKSON: It's kind of crazy that you said that because when Nate joined the band, that was the first time I heard the songs properly. They actually sounded like we imagined them to.
AMP: You guys are going to give Nate a big head.
JACKSON/FABIAN: (Agreement) – We're trying!
AMP: What is your creative process like?
NATE: A lot of that comes from us having different musical influences. We create our own interpretations of how the new songs should sound and when we bring them into the studio we're all working on something. Also, when we collect, cool things always come out that we can explain.
JACKSON: We actually come up with things by accident when we riff. It is also a great way to find our identity. Everything works naturally.
SUSPENSION: Exactly! I'll play a bass, Nate a drum progression or Jackson an awesome riff and we'll jump on it and try to blow it up. We are always pushing each other to create this incredible piece!
AMP: How would you describe your sound?
NATE: Someone told us we were hearing that Green Day and Blink-182 have a love child raised by the Killers. I think it's pretty accurate.
JACKSON: I also think we have personal influences that come into play. Those influences definitely work in our sound. Our musical tastes are all different, but that's what makes our music stronger. Someone commented that Nate is kind of a metal drummer with his double kick and Fabian's bass is kind of old school rock, while I have a punky side. This mix determines how we play.
SUSPENSION: This musical stew hones our style and we hope people enjoy our hood.
AMP: What are some of the themes you incorporate into your songs?
JACKSON: It's usually about things we've experienced, like self-doubt and disappointment. These two themes always seem to be present in our songs. Loss and struggle also have a huge place in our music since we feel it in our personal lives.
SUSPENSION: Our band and music serves as a good outlet for the things we experience on a daily basis.
AMP: How did your relationship with EDGEOUT Records come about?
SUSPENSION: This actually came from an Instagram post. We went to see a band called The Jacks who are in EDGEOUT. They are very nice guys. A day or two later, we decided to cover one of their songs. When we were done, we sent the video to the company saying “Sign Us” as a dud. Soon we get a message that they will send us an email. We were like “WHAT!” We went back and forth a bit to hammer things out. It just continued to evolve positively from there.
JACKSON: This was all happening during the pandemic, so it was actually a slow process. Because of Covid, we didn't know how this would end. Everything was possible, but the pandemic has put us in a strange place. When we finally signed the deal, we spent 9 months writing the album. I wanted to write all new material and we did. Only one old song made the final cut. It was a great test for us to see if we could handle the pressure and I feel we did a great job.
AMP: Do you have a release date for the album?
JACKSON: We're debuting a self-titled EP early next month (May 12th). it will have five songs. What we did was to split the album into 2 EPs, which will drop as a complete at one point. We are really excited about it.
AMP: If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
NATE: Clash because of their diversity. They combine reggae, punk and rock with ease. That's how I want to be. I'm tired of sticking to just one thing. Change keeps it interesting.
SUSPENSION: I love “color” in music. To me, the more complex the layout, the more interesting it is. I would love to work with Damon Albarn from Gorillaz. Watching them work in the studio or write songs would raise my “color” spectrum. Their music is like magic.
JACKSON: Daft Punk would be really sick. Maybe Halsey. Collaborating with a spoken word rapper would be cool. Pharrell or Travis Barker are other options.
AMPERAGE: Do you feel like punk is making another big move in today's music scene?
NATE: I don't think of us as a punk band, but I think punk is making a big comeback. Everyone is trying to incorporate that punk sound into their own genres of music and it's understandable. It has a huge amount of energy. This punk aesthetic will never go away. The music is too loud. Plus, I see the die-hard making a huge comeback.
JACKSON: Now that you mention it, we've played with a bunch of hardcore bands. Compared to us, these guys are really punks. I feel these bands embody the true punk spirit.
AMP: What is your favorite song to play live?
JACKSON: “Be My Drug” but we also do a mix of Johnny Cash's “Folsom Prison Blues” with Zeppelin's “Rock and Roll” which is really fun.
SUSPENSION: It's an older one, “New York”, because it really shows how we are and it's the first song we wrote together. Plus, it's a fun song and I can hear Nate actually banging his vanity.
NATE: “I Don't Know” but even though I shouldn't mention it, here's a new one, “Out Of Time” I'm getting really tired of playing it but it's fun!
AMP: We recently interviewed another Bay Area band called Tess & The Details. Are there any other bands from the area we should check out?
JACKSON: Not sure if I know this band, but we'll definitely check it out. There's this doom-stoner band from San Jose called Sombra. Their shows are real dope. Rat Bastard Radio is also a killer band. Plus they let us sleep on their floor when we're in town.
SUSPENSION: These two for sure. We know so many bands it's overwhelming.
NATE: I like Fistfight with Traffic. They are a sad emo band with math rock. I really like their music.
JACKSON: Another is Moms with Bangs. They are kind of genreless and their stuff is great. They are currently working with Jello Biafra.
AMP: What's next for StrateJacket?
JACKSON: The EP drops next month. We have Welcome To Rockville. Opening for The Offspring in Nebraska. Then, Aftershock at the end of the year. 2024 will be an exciting year for us.
SUSPENSION: Jackson put it very well. We like to stay busy and play as many shows as possible. It's important to stay on top of things. We practice 3 times a week to make sure we are as tight as possible.
AMP: Any last words for your fans?
NATE: ROCK IT!!!! (everyone laughs).
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