Ocean Park Standoff have been busy following the release of their debut self-titled EP last year. With tour dates with AJR and Plain White T’s under their belts and their latest single, “If You Were Mine” featuring Lil Yachty out now, the past year has certainly been kind to the trio (comprised of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Samantha Ronson, lead singer and guitarist Ethan Thompson, and drummer Pete Nappi) but it didn’t come without hard work and plenty of growth. Citing their live show as their biggest area of growth in the past year, the band has had plenty of time to play their self-titled EP live and are eager for fans to hear their new music.
With “If You Were Mine” out now and plans to release more new music, hit the studio and the road in the near future, Ocean Park Standoff still have a lot to accomplish in 2018. Stay updated with the band and check out the video for “If You Were Mine” below.
Interview by Dom Vigil
The last time we caught up with you guys, you had just recently released your debut EP. What have you been up to since then?
We’ve been up to everything under the sun. We went on a few tours around the US and Canada, have been working on a ton of new music and have just been taking a break for two weeks before we go back to studio and back to the road.
How do you feel you’ve grown in the past year, either as musicians or simply as people?
I feel like our live show has been what developed the most. When we first spoke to you, we were about to go on our first tour. Now we’ve learned a lot about each other as a personality on stage and our show has grown immensely. We spent a lot of time figuring out what OPS would be like live and have very much been finding our stride and are just having a good time now.
Now that it has been out for a while and you’ve had plenty of time to reflect on it and play it on the road, what are some of your favorite things about your self-titled EP?
The different style of songs that are on it and how they connect with people. We wrote these songs just as something we were doing to express ourselves and seeing it hit home with people over this last year has been amazing. “We Do” really stuck it’s neck out as one of the most energetic to perform but all of them have their moments.
Earlier this year, you released your new single, “If You Were Mine” featuring Lil Yachty. Can you tell us a little bit about the song? What inspired it?
The song is about telling somebody you have a crush on how you feel about them. Samantha actually had been working on the song about four years ago now before we heard it. She brought in a verse through chorus and we were pumped immediately to work on it. I (Ethan) actually cut the vocals at my house in the morning in a few takes as a scratch and that’s what we ended up using. The track just clicked for OPS and the style we’ve been developing.
How did the collaboration with Lil Yachty come about?
Hip hop has always been a genre that has had an impact on all of us. We’ve always had hip hop influence in our sound so we wanted to bring hip hop to the track itself. Yachty we loved because of his love for all people regardless of where they come from or whom they love. Once we heard he was game to jump on the track we were floored. He sent over a couple verses and we narrowed it down to what it is now.
What would you like listeners to take away from “If You Were Mine”?
That they should love who they want to love and chase who they want to chase. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
With the new single out now, can fans expect some more new music coming this summer?
Absolutely, we have a new song Good Time coming out early September. It’s a song that is a blast to play live and we can’t wait to finally get it to those who have been asking for it since we started playing it. I just, I just, I just wanna… for those who know what’s next.
You also just wrapped up some tour dates with Plain White T’s last month! What was the most exciting part or the highlight of those shows?
The bands themselves and the people in the crowds were the highlights. Both Plain White T’s and Fairview were some of the friendliest people we’ve met to date. The first day it felt like you were already hanging with family and that’s how the people at the show were too. We have a high energy time on stage and had a blast every night.
Are you eager to get back on the road again? What other plans do you have for the rest of the year?
I (Ethan) think if I could live on the road with a portable studio I would. We love playing, we love connecting, and we love hanging with Thunder, our band pup, on the bus. We haven’t announced yet a tour we have coming up to close out the year but we will soon. Can’t wait to get back out, meet more new friends and hang with good people.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks for taking the time to hang with us and can’t wait to talk again. Up and up!
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