A Dirty Dozen with STEVEN TODD BARNETT from PUMP 5 – AUGUST 2024

According to a recent press release: “PUMP5 is a touring rock band hailing from southern California that has kept its wheels turning for the last 10 years. PUMP5 is comprised of respected talent such as Alex Kane (Shark Island, Enuff Z’nuff, Starz, etc….) on guitar, Andre Bonter on drums, Andrew Cates on the bass and Steven Todd Barnett on guitar and vocals. PUMP5, has been touring the lower 48 and Canada, and has no plans of slowing down. PUMP5 reconvened to record its next full-length release in Fall 2022 with Dennis Hill on production duties and Mike Troolines (Los Lobos, Ignite, Righteous Brothers) on mixing and mastering duties, the end-result of this collaboration is Paradise Place. It was independently released in 2023 and boasted stand out tracks “Hello,” “Make Me,” and “Circus.” We get Steven 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?

Yes! We have layered guitar work; subliminal, if you will. Best heard on the vinyl mixes.

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

I was born in a studio. We had no food, but we had a recording studio in my house, lol. I know the other fellas in the band, Andre, Drew and Alex, have similar stories.

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

I was 100% guided by the musicians in my family. As a writer, Cheap Trick has alway been one of my biggest influences.

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

Robin Zander, because he’s G.O.D.

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

Huge Kansas City Chiefs fan — diehard. I love to golf when I can.

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?

Original melodic rock. Pop, if you will. We once got compared to Englebert Humperdinck. Which I didn’t think was that far off, lol.

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?

No one cooks, everyone gets the drinks, and it’s always me on the acoustic.

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

Many years ago — Tony Iommi (guitar, Black Sabbath).

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?

Creating music. My dream job doesn’t exist. “Music is me, and I am music.” — Steven Todd Barnett

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?

Can’t really think of one. Most of the time, interviews are bullshit. Part 2: “What would you do if you weren’t a musician?”

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?

I never look back, I only look forward. Looking back is a waste of time, and I’m running low on Saturdays.

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?

Cheap Trick, Live at Budokan. It means everything to me. It’s epic.

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Category: Interviews