Getting to Know… One Exit Down | Interview 🎤

In the 408^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from One Exit Down, led by singer/guitarist, Jacob Assell.

“We are a band that is constantly bending genres and finding the new frontier,” Jacob Assell (singer/guitarist) asserts of his band, One Exit Down, adding, “As for our live shows, I go above and beyond to grab the audience by the balls and show them who’s boss.” Rock TF on 🤘! Rich Chunko (bass) expounds regarding One Exit Down, “As we continue to write more music, it is clear that there’s a lot more to expect from us in terms of sound.” Right on, right on.  Jacob, Rich, and Kevin Teller (lead guitar) provide the inside scoop on the band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current, and future musical endeavors.  So, without further ado, let’s jump right into Getting to Know… One Exit Down: Interview No. 408!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes One Exit Down distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

JACOB: We are a band that is constantly bending genres and finding the new frontier. As for our live shows, I go above and beyond to grab the audience by the balls and show them who’s boss. It usually goes well as I barely remember a time where the audience doesn’t follow my commands.

KEVIN: Yeah, I love how much we can turn things on a dime. We keep you guessing what we’ll do next. Sometimes we don’t even know what’s going to happen, and that’s what I love about our live shows too.

RICH: I really think this band offers a little something for everyone. The first album is generally a pop/rock album, and it drew me in as a metalhead! As we continue to write more music, it is clear that there’s a lot more to expect from us in terms of sound. I think it keeps fans on their toes and I really like that.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How was One Exit Down formed, and what were some goals or visions you had early on?

JACOB: I first conceptualized the One Exit Down project in 2019. During 2020 I focused on writing songs and finding a sound I liked. In 2021 I started trying to find bandmates but hadn’t found anyone permanent. In 2022 I met Richie and Kevin and we’ve been jamming together ever since. Some goals,  early on, were to write with differing genres and tour around the country.

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?

JACOB: Definitely. At first, I wanted One Exit Down to be a heavier emo project, but then I started listening to indie rock and 80s new wave and felt inspired to make happier songs. Now, almost 2 years after our first album was released, we’re writing heavier heartfelt shoegaze anthems. Now I want us to make music that can encompass everything in the rock umbrella but still sound like the same band.

KEVIN: I agree, I’m really liking the new direction we’ve taken with our newest tunes. Expect a lot of aggressive reverb from us going forward.

RICH: It seems now we are taking a heavier approach, which I absolutely love. The variety it gives to our sound is something that I know will make people more engaged with our music!

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

JACOB: At this moment I’d say my biggest influences are Green Day, Jimmy Eat World, The 1975, Deftones, and Narrow Head. Green Day was my favorite band growing up, so naturally I think I’ve taken a lot of their style into my own musical ventures, and Jimmy Eat World was my moodier inspiration from growing up. The 1975 influenced a ton of the first album with wanting a very pop feel and conversational lyrics. Deftones and Narrow Head are newer influxes for me as I’ve gotten more and more into shoegaze music; I’ve been using them as a sort of roadmap for songs we work on.

KEVIN: I’m incredibly inspired by Manchester Orchestra. I think Andy and Robert are really great songwriters, and their production is fantastic on the last handful of albums. I’m also really digging Teenage Wrist right now. Those chorus reverb-soaked leads are really inspiring my guitar playing at the moment. 

RICH: I have always been a huge fan of bands like GlassJaw, Deftones, Lower Definition, etc. I am drawn to drums and rhythm. I also draw a lot of inspiration from metal; bands like Meshuggah, Pantera, Every Time I Die. I love the use of syncopated beats and simplicity to make some of the most chilling/memorable parts.

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.

JACOB: Once, we opened for Marcy Playground, The Verve Pipe, Wheatus, and Eve 6. During the end of the show we saw a trailer parked in front of my car where there were 4 guys talking outside of it. I pulled up Google and was super certain they were in Wheatus, so naturally, I introduced myself and called them all “Mr. Wheatus”. One of them was the singer of Marcy Playground, and the other 3 guys were from Eve 6. The funniest part is that Wheatus was on stage at the time, but I genuinely believed they were Wheatus somehow.

RICH: I have to agree with Jacob on this!

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?

JACOB: We recently performed a new song we have coming out later this year called “Passenger Seat”. It’s my personal favorite because of how genuinely dynamic it is, how danceable it is, and how heavy the bridge gets. Plus, the lyrics playfully describe being a home wrecker.

KEVIN: My favorite is a song called “Mile High Baby.” We haven’t tracked more than a demo for it yet, but we’ve begun playing it, and I love the organized chaos that we came up with for that song.

RICH: My personal favorite at this point has to be a song called “The Fix”. It is not out yet, but we have been practicing and playing it live. It’s a heavy song. I am excited to hone it in some more and really nail it for people at a live show.

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

JACOB: I can flip my tongue 360 degrees. If this were a live interview I could show you. 

KEVIN: I think that the only weird talent I have is that I can play the accordion. I’m mostly self-taught, so I’m not great at it, but I can figure out some songs on it. 

RICH: I am a trained tuba player…

What is One Exit Down currently working on, or promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

JACOB: We just released a four-song EP with different mixes of “Drugs” titled “DRUGS (The Honey Mixes)”. Upcoming we are releasing a track in April titled “She’s Gonna Be A Rockstar” and it’s all about how she’s gonna be a rockstar. Obviously.

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward.

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Getting to Know…One Exit Down: Interview No. 408 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; One Exit Down; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]