Interview by Grace Kinter

The Strike, an LA-based Alt-Pop band create music that takes you back in time. The trio spoke with NYOTA about their song “Famous,” their songwriting process, and their advice for aspiring artists.

“Famous” delves into a shift in what one truly wants and subtly calls in a redefined purpose. Aside from the lyrics, how did you shape the structure and instruments to help amplify the lyrical theme?

“Famous” kind of works on two levels: first, as a fun upbeat song, and second, as a song with a bit more lyrical depth. It’s a song about prioritizing what is most important. I think a lot of songs that discuss sacrifice take on a more somber mood, but “Famous” puts a lighter spin on this theme. The verses are minor and dark, which sets a somber tone, but the chorus is major and joyful, which indicates that sacrificing a dream for your loved ones is ultimately a positive and happy choice.  

What’s your songwriting process like now, almost ten years since your debut album, and has it changed since your band first started making music together?

Our songwriting process typically goes one of two ways: either Jay or David will produce a demo track to send to me (Chris) for lyrics and melody, or I will create a voice memo at my piano with lyrics/melody and send it to Jay/David to produce further. Occasionally, the three of us will meet up and come up with an idea together, though that is a bit less common. The process has changed a bit since the band first began. Jay and David were not yet members at that point, so the personnel were different. At that time, I was working mostly with a previous band member, Chase Baker, to generate and refine ideas.  

You have mentioned your band’s natural gravitation towards music from the 80s. Who are some of your inspirations from that time, and are there any other current-day artists that you think do a good job of channeling the nostalgia with a modern edge?

I think all three of us just have a lot of that music in us. We don’t necessarily sit down with the intention of writing an “80s song.” We write what sounds good to us, and it just so happens that our melodic and sonic sensibilities tend to push it in that direction. That being said, we do have a ton of influences from the 80s. Namely: Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, John Waite, and a lot more. Current-day artists who do an excellent job at channeling this era are The Midnight, St. Lucia, FM-84, and Ollie Wride. It has made its way into the mainstream with artists like Charlie Puth (Whatever’s Clever) and John Mayer (Sob Rock). We love both of those records as well.  

A lot of interviews and critics mention the “big screen” quality of your music and that your songs are reminiscent of something you’d hear in a movie. What movie or scene do you think would pair perfectly with “Famous,” whether it exists or is just an idea in your mind?

That’s a really good question. I am always drawn to songs that evoke strong imagery and have a movie soundtrack quality to them, and I aspire to have our songs fit that mold. I think “Famous,” as with many other songs in our catalog, would do well in a coming-of-age film. Something about the way we write seems to pair well with those tropes. I think this song specifically would work well for the first act as we are getting to know the characters. The moodiness of the opening riff and verses sets a bit of a mysterious tone, and then the chorus lets the viewer know that they are in for a good time.

For other musicians juggling their dreams and artistic passions amid change, growing older, and added responsibilities, what advice would you give them for navigating these feelings and changes? 

I would tell them that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. It is true that the music/entertainment industry is changing all the time, but there have never been more opportunities to find success within it. I think some people have a mistaken notion that if they aren’t selling out arenas, their entertainment career is a failure. All three of us all have other projects that we are balancing in addition to the band. This helps alleviate a lot of the pressure of trying to do music exclusively, and you can sit back and enjoy it, which is really the point of pursuing it in the first place. I never want to get into a position where I feel like I have to make music in a certain way or chase a trend to get by. Make sure that you always enjoy the process of making music, and that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.