A Dirty Dozen with MATT KUPKA of SOUTHTOWNE LANES – April 2024

According to a recent press release: “Southtowne Lanes has today shared another new single from forthcoming album Take Care, out May 10th via Dog Knights Productions. “Witness” is a punchy track about trying to find the light in life’s darkest moments. Southtowne Lanes is an emotive hardcore band from Eugene, OR. They have garnered a dedicated following over a decade of playing together, due to the high energy nature of their live performances. Sonically, Southtowne is diverse & dense. Big hooks & melodies draw listeners in with ease- but make no mistake. Southtowne is heavy, emotional & raw, and their sporadic live shows only cement this. Fans of scene favorites like Pianos Become The Teeth or Tiny Moving Parts will find Southtowne familiar but not formulaic, and it is clear from the first listen that Southtowne has something to say- and they’re not going to let you avoid it.” We get singer / guitarist Matt to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

The album, song by song, dissects the stages of grief: how they relate, how they changed me, how I dealt with them, and how they led me down to the depths of my own mortality. In my experience, the stages of grief don’t just happen in perfect order and then go away. They come and go, swirling around the central source of grief. The record, in discussing these stages, does the same thing. There are a bunch of references in the record not only to itself, but also to past material we’ve released. I’d rather not say exactly what they are, as I think part of the fun of getting to know an album is finding these little easter eggs.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I grew up in the classical music world playing the violin. I’ve been surrounded by music for as long as I can remember, and refusal to play an instrument just wasn’t an option growing up. When I was 13, I saw My Chemical Romance’s video for “I’m Not Okay” on MTV and it all changed! I knew from that moment on that I wanted to play in a rock band.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Hahaha yeah. It was My Chemical Romance for the first like 5 years (if you couldn’t tell.)

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra. His versatility in songwriting is unmatched. Whether it’s one of his own 3 bands, a Touche Amore song, a Weatherbox song, a Phoebe Bridgers joint, or an entirely acapella movie score, he writes the most incredible songs. He doesn’t even need an instrument. It’s insane.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I used to drink a lot. That’s the only way I knew how to unwind or have fun. I’ve been trying to stay away from the booze recently though. For the most part these days, it’s mostly quiet nights with my partner watching shows or reading. I also have conversations with myself while cleaning to blow off steam.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I’d describe it as “Emotional, dramatic, thematic, and what you used to listen to in high school.” There have been comparisons that have been painful for me to hear, but I don’t want to throw any shade so I’m gonna leave those out!

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Given that we live in two different cities, we don’t really hang out fully as a group outside of music that much. Everyone has jobs, partners, lives etc. Get back to me when we tour again in a couple months and I’ll have a better answer.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Probably when I was doing merch for a hardcore band and I got to stand next to and talk to James from Harm’s Way every night. That was a trip.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part of being a musician is getting to hear your emotions through sound, and seeing how other people interact with those emotions. It’s a constantly satisfying and curious practice. If I couldn’t be a musician I would be a Wedding Planner.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I don’t do a lot of interviews. We aren’t a band that has garnered a lot of interviews haha.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Leaving Southtowne Lanes was probably essential for the overall band’s survival, but I still regret it. I wish I had let go of my ego more and stuck it out.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I think it would be insane to be in the room when Geoff Rickley from Thursday helped produce My Chem’s first record. I would love to hear what the beginning of that band really sounded like. That record goes so hard, and in so many directions. I literally wouldn’t write music the way that I do without that my chem record.

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Category: Interviews