Karma is real, and we think we’ve racked up enough karma points for life! Why? Because we’re about to put you on to one of the coolest bands around. Fresh off the release of their EP, All For Nothing, now is the perfect time to start listening. We talked to Cabin Fever about their influences, their songwriting, and more, so check it out… you’ve got nothing to lose!
Hello, thank you for joining us here at the Honey POP! For our readers who aren’t familiar with Cabin Fever yet (which they should be,) can you introduce yourselves and tell us how you came up with the name Cabin Fever?
We are comprised of four members: Matthew Quirk (Vocals and Guitar), Alex Lo Pinto (Lead Guitar), Luke Uppenbrink (Bass), and John Miele-Herndon (Drums). We started the band during 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. We started the band cause we literally had nothing else to do as the world had stopped. We went through a few different names, but this is the one that stuck. It fit perfectly for how we felt when the band started.
You’ve cited some of your influences as Green Day and Arctic Monkeys, how do you feel their music has helped you to shape your sound today?
We’ve never been ones to have crazy musical “chops,” and we don’t come from elite private music schools. Their music was very accessible, within a few hours of practicing, we could learn these artists’ songs and play it between us. It showed us how even though their music may be simplistic at times, it still can come out sounding unstoppable and incredibly catchy.
To new listeners, how would you describe your music as a whole? What messages or emotions do you look to convey with your work?
Energetic Indie Rock is how we’d describe it. We put a lot of focus into our live shows, and we try to write songs that have choruses that are uplifting and almost anthemic at times, which make our live shows erupt. As far as emotions, I try to write about things that happen to me and see if other people can relate to the same things that I go through. We try to connect with our audience and let them know we’re right there with them as long as they’re there with us.
We snooped a little on your Spotify and saw you’ve written over 100 songs! Can you walk us through your songwriting process? How do you know when you have a song you’re ready to release?
I’ll usually come in with a basic structure of a song, and the rest of the band will come in and add their ideas or parts to it, which almost always immediately elevates the song to something none of us could’ve gotten on our own. It’s almost like I have the blueprints, but they’re the ones that build the house. We know it’s ready when the crowd responds well to it and when we can’t cut it out of the setlist ’cause it’s just too fun.
‘Karma’
It was written at a low point after a break-up, but soon realizing you know what, I’m better without you, and karma will come back to get you.
Cabin Fever about writing ‘Karma’
Do you really believe in karma?
Yes, we strongly believe in karma!
You formed the group in 2020. How do you feel you’ve grown and developed as a band and individually over those years? What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
When the band first started, we were all still in high school, trying to figure out what we wanted to do in life. After performing a couple of times, we knew there was nothing that was ever going to top being in this band together. We really bucked down and started taking the band more seriously. We got better at our instruments and started learning how to navigate the business side of the industry. Our biggest accomplishment so far has been either releasing our debut EP, “All For Nothing,” or headlining Mercury Lounge after being an opener there numerous times.
With your song ‘Suburbs’ in mind, we gotta ask which do you prefer: city or suburbs?
Definitely city…
‘Suburbs’
The suburbs aren’t as bad as they’re made out to be.
Cabin Fever
If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why?
Noah Kahan, not only is he a super talented singer/songwriter, but we’re massive fans of his and he has a really cool beard.
Since starting as a group, you’ve played some incredible venues like the Stone Pony and Mercury Lounge? Do you have any other places on your bucket list you’d like to perform?
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Madison Square Garden, and The Sphere. In Europe, we’d love to play Glastonbury or Reading and Leeds music festival. Some other venues we’d love to play would be Whisky A-Go-Go, Bowery Ballroom, or The Anthem.
You’ve already got an impressive track record with no signs of slowing down. What can our readers expect from you coming up this year? Any new releases or gigs planned?
We have a new single, ‘Startover,’ that will be released in the middle of the spring, with an EP to follow! We are constantly playing gigs; we have a few upcoming that we’re excited to announce but can’t talk about quite yet.
You can stream ‘Karma,’ ‘Suburbs,’ and the rest of their EP All For Nothing on Spotify and Apple Music!
What do you think, bees? Did we make you Cabin Fever fans? Let us know in the comments, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @thehoneypop!
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