Backwards Dancer
Short Interview
Backwards Dancer are an alternative/indie band originating from Worcester, Massachusetts. They currently include Zack Shaw on vocals/guitar, Ryan Kelleher on guitar, Ian van Opijnen on bass, and Andrew Underwood on drums.
Like Brand New, Backwards Dancer features a bittersweet blend of rough-and-clean vocals and sleek-yet-angular guitar like a piano falling down stairs — but hitting all the right keys. Also like Brand New, their diaristic lyrics incorporate themes of mental health and coming-of-age. Take their song “Lack.” Shaw describes falling-from-grace like childhood dreams coming up short of reality, singing,
When the accidental death
of a miracle you dreamt up
when you were a kid
Is the only holy ghost
With a halo over
Your last outstanding breath
The song then — like the lapsarian fall — crashes down with bleeding guitars and Shaw’s raw vocals wailing,
Choking on the air
Like a lack of medication
Can take you anywhere
Shaw also contributed vocals on the latest Say Anything record I Don’t Think It Is. Check out, for instance, the song “Princess” where you can hear the amusing juxtaposition of Shaw’s intense vocal delivery and Bemis’ lyrics that ask,
Would you spit in Little Lucy’s face
Because she watches the movie Frozen
And she wants to be a princess
Even though Disney employs nearly genocidal business practices?
Profundity of Bemis’ questioning aside, Backwards Dancer demonstrate an uncanny ability to be inspired by their musical-mentors yet make something new.
For fans of bands like Brand New, Say Anything, or Saves the Day, or current fans of Backwards Dancer who want to learn more about them, it is exciting to say that Ryan Kelleher was generous enough to answer nine short-interview questions via Email:
1) When did you form BD? Why did you name the band Backwards Dancer? Where were you expecting it to go when you formed it?
We started jamming together in the summer of 2014; so about two years ago. I remember debating on a band name for a while; one day Zack kinda just said “Backwards Dancer” and we rolled with it. It was the only one that felt right at the time. We all had/have big dreams of changing the world and all that fun stuff, but, at the end of the day, I feel that we all got into it for the sake of making cool art together.
2) What do you consider your influences? What are some of your favorite bands and/or albums? Books? Movies?
We all have different tastes, but I do think the bands that have influenced us the most collectively are Brand New and Nirvana. There is a certain confidence and conviction in the way that they present themselves that I think we often gravitate towards. On our new record, we reference them both pretty directly.
Zack and I both are pretty into novels; I remember Zack gave me a copy of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road when I left for my first tour and that book means a lot to me now. We all freak out about Star Wars.
3) What is your favorite thing about touring? What is your least favorite thing about touring? What is one of the best experiences you’ve had playing a show? Explain.
I think touring is cool because it forces me out of my comfort zone. I love meeting people, traveling, playing shows, etc. but when I’m home it’s easy to get into a routine of not doing those things. Tour makes you experience life whether you’re in the mood for it or not, and that’s a good thing. I really don’t have a lot of experience with it, but that’s what I like.
We played a show for our EP release that was really cool. It was the first time that we were able to sort of celebrate the work that we had been putting into the songs, and it felt rewarding in a unique way that I’ve never really felt before.
4) What was the primary inspiration behind the album New Life In Old Shoes?
When we were writing those songs, we were going through some pretty weird times individually. I think that EP, both sonically and lyrically, strives to reflect those situations in whatever way we were able. Zack writes all of the lyrics, so naturally they are grounded in his feelings and experiences. But I think that in a lot of the songs, he integrated ours into them — which is cool.
5) Are you optimistic for the future of music, especially with the influx of technology, the Internet, and file-sharing?
I’m really optimistic. Music now is so, so good and there is so, SO much of it. It is certainly a different culture than bands in the 70s’ and 80s’ had, but I think music has universally proven itself as a lens into whatever culture it is applied to. I don’t have any doubt that there will always be brilliant music everywhere; I just find myself lucky to be able to both experience this culture and hear/see the way that it is being represented.
6) What are you working on now?
We just finished tracking a full-length that we plan to release later this year.
7) What is the album you’ve made that you’re most proud of? What seems to be fans’ favorite of your albums?
We only have the EP out at the moment, but really love how the upcoming full-length came out. Ian’s production is very open and “larger than life” at times, and it vibed really well with how the compositions came together.
8) Are there any contemporary artists that you really like? For instance, bands that sound similar to you? Label-mates?
Max from Say Anything and Chris from Saves The Day have been both recent mentors and long-time role models for us. They are so supportive of our endeavors and genuinely care about what we’re doing, which is still really wild, because I have loved both of their bands since I was old enough to feel something. They are a huge source of inspiration for us right now.
9) If you could give one piece of advice to a young artist today, what would it be?
Just be honest. Everything else will figure itself out.
If you liked the article then hit the ❤ button below, and, if you want to support and learn more about Backwards Dancer, then check out the links below:
For new music and event news go like them on Facebook here.
Listen and purchase their music from Bandcamp here.
Follow them on Twitter here.
Follow them on Tumblr here.
Subscribe to their channel on YouTube here.
Check out the photography of Tim Duval of Duvisual here.
