Interview – Telltale | Kryptonite Music Magazine

Telltale is an alternative pop-punk band based in Richmond, Virginia and recent addition to SharpTone Records. The band formed in 2017, released their debut EP Good Intentions and began playing regional shows. They have just released their 2nd EP, Timeless Youth, a diverse collection of tracks about growing up and the mindset of adulthood. Learn more about them from this recent interview and be sure to check out the music video for their favorite track “Rose” below.

Three words to describe the band?

Energetic, Creative, Nostalgic. (Tim Fogg)

How did you guys meet?

All of us were in different local bands over the years so we just met through the DIY scene. As some projects end, others begin. That was the case with Telltale. (Travis Slack)

Who is the pickiest eater?

Bryce is definitely the pickiest eater. (Tim)

What is the story behind the band’s name, Telltale?

It comes from the Edgar Allan Poe story The Tell-Tale Heart. He is from Virginia and all of us enjoy his work so it just fit. (Travis)

Who and what influences your music? Why?

We’re heavily influenced by A Day To Remember, The Story So Far, Fall Out Boy, The 1975, and The Devil Wears Prada. Each of those artists brings a certain element to the table that we’ve incorporated into our songwriting process. (Tim)

Favorite 90’s jam?

I’d have to say ‘Ironic’ by Alanis Morissette. I really love her album ‘Jagged Little Pill’ and that song specifically has some standout lyricism. (Tim)

How would you describe your writing process?

Everyone in the band writes music so it varies by song. It can start from just a riff or a vocal melody and everyone adds their own little puzzle piece. All of us can play guitar a bit as well so that definitely helps the process. (Travis)

How often and how long do you practice together?

We don’t practice too often as a unit, but we all practice frequently as individuals. We’ll normally do 2-3 rehearsals before we have a tour to work out any kinks in the set. Those normally go on for about 3 hours. (Tim)

From start to finish, how long did it take to create Timeless Youth?

We started writing for this record back in Fall of 2017. The first song that materialized was ‘Rose’. We kept writing and demoing through 2017 and into the Spring of 2018. We went into the studio with roughly 15 demos musically. Our producer Zach really helped flush out the rest of the record and we ended up finalizing most of the songs in the studio. We finished the album in July of 2018 and had masters back by August. (Tim)

Can you talk about the inspiration behind your favorite track on Timeless Youth?

Our favorite track on the album is ‘Rose.’ It’s about reflecting inwardly and looking at your own personal flaws that are exposed in a relationship. Musically, it’s also very different than the other tracks; the melodic verses pair well with the punchy choruses, creating a modern rock vibe. (Tim)

Most important thing you have learned since joining SharpTone?

This is a great question! The biggest thing we’ve learned from SharpTone is patience. An immediate blow up doesn’t happen overnight, you need to make sure you’re doing the basic day-to-day activities to help build the band. It’s not a race, everyone moves at different speeds. We’ve appreciated the wisdom that SharpTone has provided because we’re setting ourselves up for longevity. (Tim)

Do you play covers at practices or shows? If so, which ones are your favorites?

We rarely play covers, we try to stick to only original material. Our favorite cover to play live is ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ by Lit. Definitely a crowd favorite and it gets everyone involved. (Tim)

What do you typically do post-gig?

We always get food after every show, normally at Taco Bell or McDonald’s. We rarely get to eat before the show starts so this is normally our dinner time. (Tim)

What has been your biggest challenge as a band?

I think the biggest challenge we face is finding a balance between personal life, work life, and the band. We all have very different schedules so we have to plan things well in advance in order to make sure we’re all on the same page. The older you get, the more variables there are. (Tim)

Are aliens real?

Aliens are definitely real, just ask Tom Delonge. (Tim)

What can we expect from Telltale in the coming months?

We’ve got another West Coast tour planned for July and then we’ll be back out in the Fall. We also just filmed a music video for ‘Dazy’, so that should be hitting the internet in the summer too. (Tim)