The After Party have hit the ground running. Formed in 2010, they have recorded 3 EPs and built themselves a loyal fanbase. Their latest release, Kansas, will camp out in your head and throw a party. Singer/guitarist Brandon spoke to us about the new songs, covering Katy Perry, and stick ponies.How did you come up with the name?
Before, we were in a band with a much longer name, and this time we needed something shorter and catchier. One day we were chilling out and made a list. We chose The After Party.
I've had Kansas for a week and it won't get out of my head. What has the reception been like?
Thank you. It's been great. This seems to be the album that people have caught onto the most. They really connected to it. I think it was number 32 on iTunes when it came out.
I saw on your website that you guys do house parties. What's the craziest thing that has ever happened at one of them?
Once I woke up in the middle of the night and a girl was taking pictures of me. There were a few things... Some stories shouldn't be told.
The video for "Secret Lover" proves you guys have a great sense of humor. Whose idea were the stick ponies?
I'm not sure. A friend of ours agreed to do it because a bigger producer wouldn't. [The other producer] said it was silly and we said, "Yeah, that's what we want." We basically put it together the night before. Except the night before we couldn't find the stick ponies, so we were driving out there [to the shoot] and we stopped at a dollar store and they had stick ponies! It was meant to be.
You busted out a little rap in the spring tour update video. Will we see any more of that in the future?
Definitely. The band we're on tour with now, Hollywood Ending, we freestyle with them all the time. I don't know when you'll be seeing it, but yeah, in the future.
Your version of "Wide Awake" actually made me like a Katy Perry song. What inspired you to cover it?
Thanks. That song meant a lot to us with everything we were going through at the time, losing our manager, figuring out our career. All that stuff in the video with the pages falling and turning, it was like a new chapter.
Shows like Glee and The Voice have made singing cool again. Do you think that has helped you get people's attention?
You mean, get people to listen to our songs?
Yeah. I was thinking that for several years there was a lot of music like emo and hip hop that didn't really require singing. And now it seems like you really have to know what to do with your voice.
Well, I think you need talent for all styles of music. But yeah, I think it has helped.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Right now, Ed Sheeran.
In your video for Valentine's Day you guys suggest some sweet nothings that people can say to a girl. Has that "Crest or Colgate" line ever worked?
I've never used it. I'm pretty shy, not really the type to use lines on girls. Maybe if we had been in a relationship for a while I'd try it out.
You're the opening act of a music festival. You can pick any five artists, dead or alive, to appear on the bill. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
I choose Brad Paisley, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, *NSYNC and Shania Twain. We would do the national anthem.
What's the first record, tape, or CD that you bought?
The Backstreet Boys' debut album on tape. I didn't start buying CDs until they were really cheap.
That was mine too! Thanks so much for talking to me.
Thanks, have a good night!
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