Getting to Know… Alterpodes | Interview 🎤

On the 191^st interview in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop on up and coming collective, Alterpodes. 

“A bit like the life of a mosquito without the part where you are a disease spreading mini vampire detested by every other living being.” Um, context please, 🎙 Alterpodes! “We put on a show and lock in so tight to the beat that the audience can’t help but join in.  Gigs are so short lived compared to all the BS around them (carrying amps) so it’s essential to have as much fun as humanly possible for that brief window!” Okay, we get it… maybe…  Regardless, as the excerpts from the first response to our initial burning question suggests, we’ve got a totally intriguing interview subject for our 191st Q&A – onward to 200!  Sure, we could delve in deep to what we learned from 🎙 Harry, 🎙 Reyson, and 🎙 Robinson, members of Alterpodes, but you can totally read it for yourself! So, without further ado, here’s 🎤 Getting to Know… Alterpodes: Interview No. 191!

Starting things off right, for those who may not be familiar with Alterpodes, what would you say makes your band distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

🎤 We put on a show and lock in so tight to the beat that the audience can’t help but join in.  Gigs are so short lived compared to all the BS around them (carrying amps) so it’s essential to have as much fun as humanly possible for that brief window! A bit like the life of a mosquito without the part where you are a disease spreading mini vampire detested by every other living being. I like to jump off multiple amplifiers during a gig and spin around as much as possible.  I am also practicing swinging the mic like Roger Daltrey, with bigger and bigger arcs.  We need a more spacious rehearsal room… just kidding!  Being from such different parts of the world (Brazil, Puerto-Rico, UK) and liking the music we like, it’d be hard to replicate our sound because of where it comes from!

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your Alterpodes form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had early on?

🎤 Formed by Londoner 🎙 Harry and Puerto Rican 🎙 Reyson, Alterpodes began life as an online collaboration during the early days of lockdown in 2020, with a mission to join the musical dots between David Bowie, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Beatles and The Pixies.  Soon after the pair met drummer 🎙 Robinson, who also started contributing to songwriting which gave the sound another dimension.  At the moment, we just wanna write memorable songs and have some fun playing great shows.  If that takes us further, then great!

Let’s talk more about goals. Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

🎤 Now we have some really strong material it’s time more people heard it and we’d like to find an indie label who believes in us too.  We’d like to play as many shows as we can!

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

🎤 Wolf Alice, Placebo, Bowie.  Sensitivity and power combined.  Multifaceted artists.  The Beatles – harmonies, songwriting, perfectionism.  Having a strong vibe and being true to it but not being afraid to reinvent either, and having the imagination to do so.

Ah, the fun stuff. What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance? Feel free to be creative.

🎤 Being high on Peyote and walking past the entrance to a zoo and seeing a man dressed in a pig outfit popping balloons one by one in a very miserable and slightly sadistic way (not recommended)

Unexpectedly staying the night in a Berlin bakery (recommended).

Definitely most crazy things must remain undocumented.

In terms of during a show the wackiness was usually off stage.  I mean “wack” should be kept to a bare minimum and “crazy” is ok at the right times – at least that’s how I see it.  But there’s a grey area in between which some people are better at navigating than others 😜

This band has yet to go on tour, but we will no doubt accrue some craziness of our own when the opportunity arises.

Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

🎤 🎵 “Wild Thing” – my first public performance age 6 in the local church.  It’s a fun song for a 6-year-old and I still remember it!

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

🎤 I’m a genius table football player and could probably skim stones at least county level – I’m still waiting for my call up.

Closing things out, what is Alterpodes currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.

🎤 Our new single, 🎵 “Retro Psycho”:

We’re always writing new stuff – I just bought a green screen so am concerned I may be making an unintended moon landing or something similar soon – quite plausible if Reyson has anything to do with the editing!

🎤 Getting to Know… Alterpodes: Interview No. 191 [📷: Alterpodes, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype]