From Orlando, Florida, comes the emo punk rock group Dearly Beloved. The group is motivated to fill a gap in music with their unique style and attitude while also expressing all the frustrations brought on by 2020. They are unpolished, a little inebriated, and emotionally stunted. Their musical style is influenced by groups like Neck Deep, My Chemical Romance, Green Day, and Rise Against.
They recently released their first EP titled โNova roads.โ Earlier this year, they agreed to work with American record label Havoc Underground to help with the projectโs release. The band has been playing shows in FL since the release of their debut single, โStuck (Again),โ in September.
They have a contagious energy and a distinctive fusion of styles, and they are eager to share what they have been working on with the world. Check out their EP โNova Roadsโ and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
DEARLY BELOVED: Weโre an emo punk rock band hailing from Orlando, FL. It all began when Gabo (vocalist and guitarist) took to writing during the halfway point of the pandemic alongside Chris (bassist) with the goal of creating something that was personal to us, yet had the potential of being relatable and real to outsiders. Jacob (guitarist) and Trey (drummer) joined earlier this year as we started recording on our first EP: Nova Roads.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
DEARLY BELOVED: Three of our members had some form of training; throughout our school years or through private lessons. The exception to this is our self-taught bassist, Chris, who learned everything on his own by observing the musicians around him and mimicking what he witnessed in his own time. But to those of us who had assistance we give credit to our instructors. One we wish to bring to light is Michael Robinson, Gaboโs signing coach who taught him a lot about music composition and theory, and much of the performing arts right before he began his work on Nova Roads.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name โDEARLY BELOVEDโ?
DEARLY BELOVED: There were two albums that really laid down the foundation to our style and sound, and those two albums were American Idiot and The Black Parade. Two very theatrical albums that are larger than life and it was that same energy when listening to these albums that Gabo was after. Testament to this is the bandโs name, which came from the fourth section of Jesus Of Suburbia.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
DEARLY BELOVED: Although we have a lot of pop punk influence there is a lot of attitude in our sound. We never cared for labels but the most fitting one we agreed on was emo punk rock because it has the anguish and passion youโd expect from emo but that same punch in the gut youโd expect from punk rock.
5. Whatโs your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles โ and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
DEARLY BELOVED:
First and foremost, our reasons for writing are aligned with expressing our sentiments, whether it inherently applies to a religious or political view, it isnโt the main attraction. We have and will likely continue to write about political and religious perspectives, however, we also write to share personal experiences about heartbreak and life struggles.
To be plain, we write for fun and as a method to give an external voice to our thoughts. Regardless, our goal is never to change the way people think or feel about these topics, we simply have something to say and thereโs a possibility that people can relate to it because that something is real.
6. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
DEARLY BELOVED:
We werenโt really sure what to expect when we wrote Nova Roads,but once we heard our songs after recording, we knew we were on to something special. Weโve had such aย great response since its release on Friday, November 4th and know without a doubt of the potential it has moving forward and the roar of motion weโve created with it. The fact that people are listening to these songs and singing them back to us at shows is an amazing feeling , so we have to admit that for the time being we do feel fulfilled. Still, we are ambitious and want to go as far as we can with this EP and our desire to continue growing as a band and build a supportive fan base has solidified.
7. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
DEARLY BELOVED:
So far, our creative process has been different for every song. For Stuck (Again) it began with a catchy vocal melody for the chorus and it wasnโt till much later that we wrote everything else surrounding it. Meanwhile, with The Ballad Of Marcus & Maria we started off with a lead guitar section in the pre-chorus; vocals were done after all the instruments were implemented. The only thing thatโs ever been consistent for us is when we shared a hummed tune or a short-written phrase, Gabo (vocalist and guitarist) would take it. No matter what it lacked, he would sculpt a composition as if the song was playing in his head. As of late, Gabo has been utilizing Guitar Pro before demoing songs; a method used to get a better perspective on the composition and how everything flows together, and it has helped write all the new material efficiently.
8. What has been the most difficult thing youโve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
DEARLY BELOVED:
The hardest thing has always been not knowing where to start. We have been very fortunate to have such supportive people in our life to push us forward and help us get on our feet. Which is why weโd like to extend gratitude to our producer, Matt Goings of Killian Studio, who did such amazing work on these songs, and Jake LeDrew of Havoc Underground for giving us the chance to get out there and be heard.
9. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
DEARLY BELOVED: Playing live is a high that weโre constantly chasing. We love the energy and the vibe of a small rambunctious venue with people so close to you that you can pull them onto the stage. Unfortunately, it is a high that only lasts for however long our set is and the withdrawals are almost immediate. Though we love spending hours working on songs and recording while we drink a few beers and share a few laughs, playing live is at a different level for us.
10. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
DEARLY BELOVED: Weโve had people often ask us about whatโs the meaning behind our songs. Still, it is our belief that everyone should be free to interpret it in their own way. If inquired on why we believe this, it is due to the fact that we have no doubt that if our songs resonate with you it is because you have your own story behind the lyrics. With that being said, we donโt mind talking about the real meaning of the songs if posed with the questions but it should be known that the meaning is in itself our own personal views.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY
