A Dirty Dozen with BEN KOEHLER from ARCHERS – July 2026

According to a recent press release: “Wisconsin-based rock band ARCHERS — Nathanael Pulley [vocals], Ben Koehler [guitar] and Grayson Mesarosh [drums] — want to “Get Paid!” Today, the band shares the video for new single “Get Paid.” The video, directed by Blackwolf Imaging, captures the essence of turning lemons into lemonade. On the track, drum and bass loops wrap around razor sharp and sometimes noodly riffs, soulful vocals, and intense percussion that could replace your own heartbeat. It’s a mid-tempo, kiss off anthem that looks at the deteriorating trust in a relationship. “Get Paid” doesn’t skimp on melodies or grooves, or pre-choruses that are hookier than a tackle box. ARCHERS have emerged out of forgotten corners of the country, resonating with fans worldwide through sheer determination and unapologetic honesty. The Wisconsin-bred trio has quietly carved a path of its own, fueled by a hybrid of high-octane, pit-splitting metalcore and melodies spiked with pop precision.” We get guitarist Ben 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?

Our latest song “Get Paid” is about getting cheated on and feeling upset and betrayed and bitter and all those emotions that are natural to feel in that situation but also trying to find a sense of fun and playfulness within that unfortunate situation. I think the biggest hidden nugget within the song is we started it with the idea of making a follow up to our songs “Bitter” and “Say This Sober” and I think the song really stays true to those themes and vibes while still having its own identity within our catalog.

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

As a kid hearing The Backstreet Boys for the first time really sparked the idea of creating and performing in a group but then discovering Blink 182 a few years later really sold me on the idea of wanting to be in a band. I fell in love with the idea of making a living through creating art and having fun with my friends.

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

I discovered a wave of emo and screamo music all at once that brought me into this realm of music. I stumbled into bands like Silverstein, Atreyu, Finch, and Funeral For A Friend all around the same time and really fell in love with the range that this type of music has to offer while connecting to how I was feeling growing up.

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

If I could work with any collaborator of any genre I would love to work with Halsey. The song she did with MGK really showcased how well she would thrive in the alternative world and if I could ever be a part of exploring that further I would be forever grateful.

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 love traveling and being outside. Any excuse I can have to see more of the world I’m at least considering it. I love being in the heart of cities as much as I love being in the absolute middle of nowhere. I also love going to theme parks but I’ve been to so many now that I think I enjoy using going to one as an excuse to travel more than the actual theme park itself unless it’s to experience something totally new.

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 think the best way to describe our music is heavy music for people who don’t usually like heavy music. I’ve seen a lot of comments online calling us a metalcore Fall Out Boy which I’m honored by. I’ve also heard vocal comparisons to Panic! At The Disco which is also an insane compliment.

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?

Myself, Nathanael, and Drew, are all cooking, me and Drew are making drinks, and if anyone’s busting out the acoustic guitar it would be Nathanael – he plays a mean “Wonderwall.”

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

I absolutely love This Or The Apocalypse and our bass player Drew’s other band is Hawk which is the band that formed out of TOTA. I briefly got to meet Ricky last year and that was the last time I had to like play it cool and not cheese out.

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?

Growing up going to concerts was my relief and escape from ever day life and I love getting to be a piece of that for other people now. I also love getting to travel and when we luck into a couple weeks at home I love getting to just be present at home. If I couldn’t be a musician I’d want any job that kept things fresh and kept me traveling.

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 is my favorite roller coaster manufacturer and why? I love going to theme parks and learning about the inner workings of rides of operations. But my favorite roller coaster manufacturer is Intamin. I feel like they’ve always pushed boundaries and more often than not lead the pack when it comes to what a roller coaster can do. They also have such a diverse portfolio and have made so many of my favorite rides around the world. I’m tired of answering how the band met. We were a couple of dudes that all wanted to play music for our career, have the determination to to do it, and happened to stumble into each other’s lives one way or another and now we’re in a band.

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?

We showed up to write and track our EP Temporary High totally unprepared. It ended in a reality check that forced us to grow both as individuals and as a band so I’m grateful for what came out of that experience but living in it was rough. I do wish we could go back in time and show up more prepared.

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?

Funeral For A Friend – Hours. That record was such a defining moment for them and for post hard as a whole when it came out. I feel like when most bands have this defining record they also evolve their sound in a way that feels substantially different from their previous works but Hours is that giant huge record while still staying true to the band. I wish I could get a glimpse into that creative process.

ARCHERS LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

X

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews