Meet Short Notice

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Short Notice. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Short Notice, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

Gabe: Listening to a wide selection of genres outside of just rock really helps drive our creativity by finding multiple ways to blend them all together to try and create something that sounds familiar but new.

Will: While it isn’t something I really do consciously, exposing myself to all sorts of art and media tends to be what gives me inspiration and drives my creativity. I’ve dipped my toes in several areas in this regard, starting as a writer and filmmaker, later getting into things like photography and editing, all of which have had an influence on my songwriting and overall creative process in creating music. One of our more recent songs that has yet to be released was actually inspired, and essentially adapted from a screenplay I wrote as a teenager! I go back to old ideas a lot for inspiration actually. Over the years I have written down almost every idea that has at some point inspired me to create something, whether it be in music, film, or writing, and I go back to these ideas when I have writer’s block. Even if I don’t find the idea I’m looking for, it takes me back to the source of my creativity and almost always inspires something new!

Joseph: I try to keep my imagination. I see so many people lose their spark as they get older. I keep the young mind, speak informally, and try not to speak too dull. I want people to be able to remember who I am later in their days and perhaps chuckle or grin. I play games and read books with deep stories and tantalizing characters who keep me enthralled in the plot. I always look for a different angle.

Jewels: I think a lot of it can be attributed to trying new things, pushing ourselves beyond our limits, and always listening to new music. Each one of us has 3 other people to bounce ideas off of, and we all have unique perspectives and ideas that we’re all receptive to. I also really love being able to surround myself with musicians at school- seeing different interpretations, different ways of thinking, it’s all so inspiring.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Gabe: We really strive to bring back more complexities to music while still keeping it engaging for a wide variety of people. Trying to keep high energy while not just playing a four chord/ “two four” groove. We like to try and paint a beautiful picture with not only our words but our instruments in your head.

Will: Above anything else, my focus in the band has been on songwriting. That is what excites me most about being in a band, it’s an outlet for expressing myself through my lyrics and the music we make as a band. It’s honestly beautiful to see everyone put a piece of themselves and their own influence into a song to create something wholly new. I get really excited to bring songs to the band, sometimes getting ahead of myself and writing new songs before we’ve even finished the last one! It’s something I haven’t felt since I was a kid writing my first stories and making them into lego stop motions. I think there is something so pure to creating art with such naivety like that. Speaking for myself, I have very little musical background and I don’t consider myself to be a particularly great musician on a technical level, especially compared to my peers. However, I think I am beginning to find my voice as a songwriter, and to be honest I think a lot of it comes from inexperience and not really knowing what I’m doing. Midwest Emo is already a genre that disregards a lot of musical conventions, so it has been a great entry point for writing songs.

Joseph: I don’t believe I’m anything special. This group is the most exciting thing I’ve ever done with my life and they do everything. My band consists of 3 amazing musicians and the guy who asked to sing for them. I want to focus all of my non-work time here, with them if it were possible. And sometimes I don’t know why exactly, you know? Is it because I miss being around friends, wanting the best for the group, or am I just in need of some way to prove my worth in wake of their heart and skill? I like to write. I love writing songs and hearing it change and undulate over time until it becomes a song worth keeping. And performing!? It’s electric, fun, carefree, I can’t get enough of it. I get to play with amazing bands, get to know people I’ve only dreamt of meeting, and meeting people from all walks of life, is simply exhilarating.

Jewels: What I personally think is the most exciting about what we do is being able to collaborate with so many other amazing musicians, especially in a genre where they are writing the same thing that you are. Midwest emo is a developing genre, and it is exciting to be a part of something newer in the world. It’s also so exciting to release all of my energy on stage. I feel like a completely different person- in a great way. I sing along with people, I dance, and I bring out that same energy in others during our performances, and that makes me feel so happy and fulfilled.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Gabe: I would say it’s extremely important to “divide and conquer” with all of the tasks in the band. Don’t have one person write the foundation of the music, record your demos, look for gigs, do all of your networking, find interviews, ect. Spread out your work load so everyone’s having fun with it so it doesn’t make your music feel like just working. Art should be enjoyed not dreaded.

Will: I’m not sure if I’m the most qualified to be giving advice with how early on in our musical career we are, but I am always going to encourage new bands to write music they want to hear. I think you should always be your own biggest fan and love the music you make instead of trying to attract a specific or broad audience. I think that’s the most authentic art, expressing who you are as an artist and creator, and naturally, people will be attracted to that self expression and you will find your audience.

Jewels: I think the 3 important things that are impactful are exposing ourselves to new scenes and people, listening to new music, and having the courage to just reach out in any way if you’re interested. It never hurts to just send a message and attempt a collaboration- it has gotten us to super fun places and we’ve met such extraordinary people. For people early in their journey, I think it would be best to just keep getting up and trying. Even if it’s scary, even if you think it won’t work, whatever. Keep doing it anyway.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Gabe: I’m sure all of our answers will look mostly the same but artists like TRSH, Harrison Gordon, Hot mulligan, silver material (again :D), Ben quad, and Saturdays at your place. (Realistically I want to name almost every Midwest emo/ post punk band but I don’t have enough room for it :D)

Will: I’m always down to collaborate with other artists! Whether it be for shows or some kind of bigger project with bands bigger or smaller than us, I’m open to anything. Music is a very communal experience and we’ve already made so many great connections and have met so many cool people in our local Illinois scene. This is definitely something I’d love to do more in the future!

Jewels: ORIGAMI ANGEL AND HOT MULLIGAN, PLEASE LET US OPEN FOR YOU GUYS

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Image Credits

Ronald Kyle

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