A Dirty Dozen with JOE COCCIMIGLIO from AUTUMN KINGS – June 2024

According to a recent press release: “Pop-rock band AUTUMN KINGS have dropped the video for their latest single “HELLBOUND,” as heard on SiriusXM’s Octane. Last fall, the band dropped their video for “Go For Gold.” It’s a super catchy jam that will live rent-free in your brain. The accompanying visual strings together performance footage and tells the band’s story. It’s like a digital bio set to music. The band has had its music played on Football Night In America; at Detroit Red Wings games; in Major League Baseball stadiums; and on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. They spent the summer of 2023 touring Pacific and Japanese military bases and have opened for Bush, Dorothy, Tea Party, X Ambassadors, and Mutemath.” We get singer Joe 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?

This latest release has been on our minds since the moment we wrote the verses about a year ago. We wrote while we were in Nashville and all I remember was that I randomly remembered being in my high school English class and hearing a line from Hamlet of all places. That line being “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet. To put an antic disposition on.” The word “disposition” really stuck out to me and that paved the way for how the song was written. We started to view it more like someone stating their inner thoughts to an audience rather than your standard rock song.

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

The simple answer is The Beatles. Once I found them it was game over. There was something about the constant creativity and lifestyle that they lived that was really inspiring and intriguing to me. The fact that they would work towards creating something new and unheard of every time they went to write an album was something I always dreamed of doing. So once I learned a few Beatles songs and sang them out loud, I instantly fell in love with the feeling, and it’s been a constant love affair with music in general ever since.

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

The Beatles One best-of album comes to mind immediately. It was my introduction to The Beatles and even though it’s a Best-of album, it’s one I constantly go back to. But if I were to pick a specific song it would have to be “Across The Universe.” The magic of the lyrics, chords and Lennon’s performance in that song are something I look for every time I start to write.

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

If I could call anyone to collaborate with to do a song with I would have to go with Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots. I’d love to see him work and see how he comes to his ideas. Super inspiring.

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

Outside of music I’m about the biggest nerd you can find. I love watching movies, heading to comic shops, conventions and if there’s a screening of Lord of The Rings or Star Wars nearby, you’ll probably find me there.

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?

Our music is one of hopeful energy and optimism. There’s definitely been a large amount of darker themes in the rock community lately and that’s just not us. Jake and I constantly try to find ways to make our music fun, interesting and as unique as we possibly can. One comparison we get often would be that we sound like Linkin Park and I’m not saying that it’s made of cringe or that we hate the comparison, but more so that I think they are untouchable in terms of songwriting, vocals and as a band in general. I appreciate the comparison for sure! But they’re too giant for me to agree if that makes any sense.

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?

Me and Jake. I love playing host and when everyone is taken care of around that’s when I’m at my happiest. I’m not one to break out the guitar and honestly Jake isn’t either but if someone had to do it, I’d rather hand him the guitar while I sing and pour the drinks.

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

Truthfully haven’t been starstruck but we recently collaborated with someone on one of our newest songs and when I heard him sing on it for the first time, I was definitely in awe! Can’t wait to share this one with the world.

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?

My favorite part of being a musician is the writing, recording, and listening back to what we created. I love the creativity that comes with music. I’ve always been a writer at heart and the fact that I get to not only write but evoke emotion using lyrics and music is something that I’ll always be thankful for. If I wasn’t a musician, I think I would’ve found my way into writing. I always dreamed about being in a writer’s room like on SNL or for a sitcom. Thinking of writing my own comic book at some point in the future!

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?

What fantasy world would you like to live in? And the answer would of course be Lord of The Rings. I essentially want to live my life like a Hobbit. One question I’m tired of answering? “How did you come up with the name Autumn Kings?” I think we’ve answered that one about 100 times now, but I really don’t mind that much!

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?

Hmmm, honestly if there was one “misstep” that I personally took in my career it would be that in the beginning of this band I didn’t see myself as a leader or as someone of importance. I played my part and worked hard of course, but over the past few years I’ve been pushed to make decisions and do things that I honestly didn’t think I could do. So I guess believing in myself more at the beginning would be something I wish I would’ve realized earlier.

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?

If I could go back in time and be a part of the recording for “A Day In The Life” I think I could die a very happy man. To me that was the pinnacle of creativity and genius of The Beatles and to be able to watch that unfold would have given me enough inspiration to last me 3 lifetimes.

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Category: Interviews