Interview with Jeremy and Scott from Hardball and Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (https://petesrocknewsandviews.com)
PD: How would you describe yourself or your band as an artist?
Jeremy: Organized mayhem- we have a way of flipping out while also being very structured and cohesive about it- that’s Ball for ya. We’re trying to capture some chaos and bottle it up in sound-byte form basically, the same thing most spastic rock n rollers do.
PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.
Jeremy: We are a 3 piece that met in Kindergarten in Penticton, BC. For the first many years we were just buddies hanging out, but naturally, a shared interest in music led us to rock out together. We ended up with a catalog of tunes that have kept us going as a rock n roll outfit ever since.
PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?
Jeremy: Music is its own inspiration to me- nothing like hearing an idea come to fruition. Having a crowd of people throw down to some vibes you supplied them with is also a big reward in itself- these are the things that keep me coming back for me. Scott is the principal lyricist/songwriter in Hardball, but if I’m working by myself, I will tend to ruminate on death and other existential topics when I’m writing. Either that or women.
Scott: Hardball lyrics are often just about feeling distressed and anguished and stuff like that. If I ever find myself with writer’s block I look to my Billy Corgan shrine for guidance.
PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?
Jeremy: To be able to stay in a creative state of producing music all the time, which will necessitate a career as a musician, otherwise I’ll be too sidetracked by staying alive to maintain peak productivity. Does anyone want to help?
PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?
Jeremy: It varies depending on what I am excited about at the moment, but right now it’d be the recording of NRA since it’s fresh off the press and I’m still grooving to it. I know that fan favourites tend to diverge from what the artist themselves prefers of their own work, but that’s my current stance
PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new
artists emerging from bedrooms in the day of the home studio. How is that going?
Jeremy: It’s a double-edged sword- on the one hand we’re happy to be able to produce our own records via our own means without needing to be signed to a big company that can bankroll our efforts, on the other hand as you point out, the market is flooded with artists doing just that. I can’t say what the better scenario is, since I’ve only experienced this one- that is what it is in short I suppose.
PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?
Jeremy: Scott does it, I just book time off work and hit the road.
Scott: We just announced a run of shows to support the album. All over BC and Alberta basically. But yeah, booking tours as an independent band can be a nightmare. It was a struggle before covid, but now it’s ten times worse. I’m very grateful for the bands and promoters that helped us get these shows all sorted out.
PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?
Jeremy: Super convenient to have pretty much the entire world’s recorded works at my fingertips, I have to say. There are probably some drawbacks as far as attempting to profit from those recorded works is concerned, but personally, I’m happy to have all that stuff so readily available to me. That said, there used to be a certain kind of experience to connecting with an artist when you couldn’t stream their music any time anywhere that seems to have been lost, which I am nostalgic for. Double-edged sword again I guess.
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
Jeremy: For a long time I used to feel that way about Paranoid Android, then I realized in being hung up on it like it was the be all end all song that I was forgetting about who I am and what my art is, so now I don’t do that anymore, and I just embrace what I have to offer.
Scott: I think Window Shop For Love by the Wipers is a masterpiece and I sometimes wish I came up with it.
PD: Is there anything you don’t like about the music industry, which you would change if you could?
Jeremy: Well it’s a notoriously difficult business to succeed in, and I’m not convinced that it’s very meritocratic either, and yeah, probably every musician in my place thinks that, and maybe it’s all our own fault at the end of the day, but if it were up to me, those are some things I’d look into changing 🙂
PD: So, what are you working on at the moment?
Jeremy: Having recently finished the Hardball record, I am currently working on some recordings of my solo material. I will be putting forth a record of that next.
Scott: We do have another album of Hardball material almost written. That’s something that will take us some time to get recorded and put out there though.
PD: Where can we learn more about you and buy your music/merch online?
Jeremy: All the standard music streaming services once the album drops on July 21st, and see Scott for the rest of the answer.
Scott: We’re Hardballbc on Instagram. That’s probably the best way to keep track of what we’re doing and where we’re going. If you want to support us our album is available to pre-order right now on our Bandcamp.
Hardball links:
Band/Artist location – Vancouver BC
Facebook – You Tube – Bandcamp –
Merch – Instagram – LinkTree –
Check our page for Hardball
