For underdog duo, Super American, music is an extension of themselves. By using their latest album, Tequila Sunrise as a means of expression and communication, they manage to create incredibly relatable release, despite how personal and specific the lyrics may be. As their debut full-length, Tequila Sunrise is not only a hard hitter lyrically, but sonically gives listeners a look into what makes Super American tick. With a wide array of sounds, the album is a perfect first-listen for those who are just discovering the duo and a long-awaited full-length for those who are familiar with them.
With Tequila Sunrise out now, we caught up with Super American to talk about coming up in the Buffalo music scene, the process behind creating the new album and more. Read the full interview and listen to Tequila Sunrise below!
Interview by Dom Vigil
Can you tell us a little bit about Super American for anyone who might be listening to you for the first time?
Yeah, sure. My name is Matt Cox and I’m half of Super American with my counterpart Pat Feeley. We make our own music & destiny.
We live in Buffalo, NY and that might come across as unpopular but it’s a great place to do life. We are an underdog duo who make guitar songs but that’s always subject to change.
How do you feel the music scene in Buffalo has affected the music that you’re writing today? What was it like coming up in that scene?
The scene for as long as I can remember has been fairly inclusive, and that’s been sustained since I’ve been familiar and that probably has to do with our instincts in some fashion. But guitars seem to be fundamental and here we are. There’s a rooted appreciation for “punk” and that trend seems to be validated, depending how how you choose to define it…
You guys just recently celebrated the release of your new album, Tequila Sunrise last month. Now that it has been out for a couple of weeks and you’ve had some time to reflect on it, what are some of your favorite things about the album?
It’s probably most rewarding for the album to simply exist and we find ourselves saying that a lot. Making an album, or any piece of art for that matter, [which] you invest yourself, it takes nurturing and emotional endurance. Art has needs. It takes a willingness to compartmentalize your perspective in order to preserve your message. You have to first be compelled to create while being unafraid of the consequence and most importantly, unattached to the outcome. This process was exhausting and particularly unhealthy in my development as a young adult but I couldn’t be more excited about it’s existence what it may mean to other people.
Lyrically, Tequila Sunrise is a rather personal album and a collection of experiences, as you’ve previously mentioned. Were there any stories that you wanted to share on this release?
I think what needed to be said was said. Like you mentioned, it is rather personal and hyper-aware, so it’s difficult to elaborate further. There is a specificity to whom it’s communicated to/with. Realistically just a handful of people. So it’s interesting to now think of it being consumed on a larger scale. But the real one’s will know and I don’t think we really looked much past those particular individuals and/or circumstances while making it (over three years).
Did you have any major goals in mind when you first started working on the album?
I think we developed a need to be as honest as possible. Closer to the truth and straighter to the vein. Even if it hurt or was embarrasing. We find that to be universally welcoming and hopefully appealing. It’s okay to be vulnerable and we’re optimistic it translates.
What was the most rewarding part about working on the album?
Honeslty, probably just having something to work on. It sounds redundant but you don’t really know what you have until it’s gone. I don’t think I’d categorize us as artists who “make for fun” or write songs as a primary “hobby”. It more so seemed we we’re working on the principle of necessity. There we’re things that needed to be communicated and we chose to do it that way. Everything was created under the umbrella of intent. Having two songwriters, there’s naturally going to be independent thought processes, but it’s especially rewarding in finding that uniform. And that process is non-linear and up for it’s own perception. How fun. We we’re lucky to have a handful of people we would/could bounce ideas off of and refereed to for moments of guidance.
That’s something we’ll always enjoy and I’m sure continue to incorporate moving forward.
What would you like for fans to take away from Tequila Sunrise?
emotion > “rom com” tone
With the album out now, do you have any plans to hit the road soon? Any upcoming shows?
Yeah we’re going to throw a Tequila Sunrise celebratory show here at home in December and then head back out on tour following the new year with some bands that we enjoy.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add
It’s been fun.
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