MuzicNotez: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.
Introduce yourselves, what are your names and rolls in the band?
Cheating Daylight:
Jesse Crosson, vocals, guitar, keyboard
Kyle Crosson, lead vocals, mandolin, tambourine, keyboard
Jaden Crosson, drums
Jacob Gill, vocals, lead guitar, banjo
Connor Gill, vocals, bass, harmonica
MuzicNotez: What motivated you to start creating music? How did you all meet?
Cheating Daylight: We (the Crosson brothers) met when our manager, Greg Bennett introduced us to the Gill brothers in August of 2011. All it took was one day of jamming out and we knew it was going to work. We clicked immediately and the chemistry has only gotten stronger in the years since.
We were raised around music our whole lives growing up, and with a little encouragement from our families it just came naturally! We love music and the connections we make with our fans and that’s why we do what we do.
MuzicNotez: Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that have helped mold you into the musician you are today? Or helped mold the music that you create?
Cheating Daylight: Jesse: I’ve always been inspired by bands like Paramore, the Maine, a ton of old school 70’s/80’s bands of so many different genres, and jazz music in general. I like everything in music, which I think helps me stay fresh in creativity. The same applies for all the guys in the band. We are exposed to a lot of music, so we create a lot of different kinds of music. Kyle: My musical influences are a rocket to the moon and periphery simply because they have abnormal and unique qualities to their music Jaden: My biggest musical influences are Paramore and All Time Low! Paramore really because I love pop alternative music and the way they put their music together amazes me! Jacob: The most influential musicians in my life have been AC/DC, no question. It was watching Angus Young run around the stage in a schoolboy uniform that inspired me to want to play guitar, to want to be a guitarist playing in front of crowds of people. My dad used to drive me around when I was really young listening to the “Stiff Upper Lip” album, and it left a huge impression. These days, I mainly love the blues and metal music – Albert King and Jimi Hendrix to August Burns Red and Avenged Sevenfold. I listen to everything, and it all plays a role in molding the music I create. Connor: When I was young my Dad always played ACDC for us and we both decided we wanted to do music at that point. Although I still love ACDC the band that has probably shaped me into the musician I am today would be Nirvana, or the White Stripes.
MuzicNotez: What’s the ultimate goal you want your music to achieve, or for you to achieve in your career as a musician? Any particular message you wish to send?
Cheating Daylight: Jacob: Music is an extremely gratifying personal experience, but I think the best part about what we do is getting to see people really loving our music. Some of my best experiences have been singing along in the crowd at concerts to bands that I love, so I would hope to give that to other people who enjoy our music. As far as messages go, we just try to sing about real life experiences – whether it’s falling in love, reflecting on life, or just having a blast.
MuzicNotez: What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to or performed?
Cheating Daylight: Jesse: For me, the greatest concert I ever went to was Paramore at The Warfield in SF. They’ve always been my favorite band and I think that show alone inspired me to write like 5 new songs! 🙂
Kyle: The greatest concert I have ever played at was on the rooftop of the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. We were on the same bill as Carlos Santana and Stevie Nicks! It was absoulutely freezing but satisfying because we killed it at one of the coolest venues around, overlooking Las Vegas with a video feed & jumbo screen, for all to see, down on the Strip! Jaden: Greatest concert I’ve ever been to was probably Twenty-One Pilots and New Politics concert! Incredible show! Jacob: The greatest concert I’ve ever been to was a Foo Fighters show. Cage the Elephant was the opener, and those two bands were a killer combo. I went to the concert neutral about the Foo Fighters but I left a fan. Connor: The greatest concert I ever attended was Title Fight at 924 Gilman.
MuzicNotez: You’re a young band that has received a lot of great rewards already. How does it feel?
Cheating Daylight: Jesse: It feels fantastic to receive recognition for our accomplishments, but it’s also very telling of how supportive our fans are with voting, coming to shows, etc. It feels especially awesome to know that we have great people out there lifting us up every step of the way. We hope we are making them proud!
Kyle: It feels great to know that with such short time we are able to win awards with the songs we write. This shows that the sky is the limit for this band and we wont stop till we get there. Jaden: I can’t describe the feeling you get when you realize you’re barely 15 years old and have won numerous awards! I don’t know many, actually any 15 year old who can say that. Best feeling in the world! Jacob: It feels great to receive recognition for something that you’ve spent so much time and effort on. Making an album or a song is such an interesting process – you build it up from nothing to something that you are going to display for everyone to either hate it or love it. It feels awesome to get positive feedback! However, we always keep striving to best ourselves, no matter how many awards we win. Connor: It’s pretty cool! I’m just happy to be playing the music.
MuzicNotez: You have toured across the US in countless shows, what has that experience been like for you? Any particularly fun stories from on the road?
Cheating Daylight: Jesse: I have a lot of favorite memories but the one that comes to mind first is when we were on a tour bus as part of the epic proportions tour, every day was just incredibly entertaining. The other bands were so much fun to hang out with while we drove for hours up and down California. The best moment was during our last show on the tour- the other groups surprised us by joining us on stage and we pretty much partied throughout the whole song. Let’s just say that the madness had no boundaries! I’m pretty sure there’s a video on YouTube somewhere.
Kyle: The experience traveling around the US has been amazing and seeing new places is always way cool. Atlanta Georgia was definately the most exciting trip outside California and hearing many different perspectives of life from places across the county, is awesome. Jaden: Best moment/moments I have from our past tours would probably be when we were on the Epic Proportions tour. We traveled for some dates on a bus and just played games and made music and just would play a show and get back on the bus to our next stop! Jacob: One of the best moments on the road for me happened at 924 Gilman in Berkeley, CA. I went to play the solo for “All I Know” off of our first album, and a bunch of kids in the crowd decided to crowd my side of the stage. One guy even used my whammy bar! I love interacting with the crowd, it’s electrifying. Playing on the road is the best. It’s hard work, but is it really considered work when you’re having this much fun? Connor: Doing the Epic Proportions Tour up and down California was one of the coolest and most fun experiences of my life.
MuzicNotez: Your sophomore record ‘ROAD to SOMEWHERE’ has recently been released. How does this album differ from your debut? What’s it about to you?
Cheating Daylight: Jesse: Our second album is a lot more mature in the song styles, instrumentation, and especially in the way we have learned to combine our voices and blend. Every album we put out shows our growth as musicians and brothers- which is pretty exciting.
MuzicNotez: You worked with the veteran producer Isha Erskine on ‘ROAD to SOMEWHERE’. What have you learned from him, how has Isha enhanced your record?
Cheating Daylight: Jacob: Isha is great. I’ve worked with a lot of different people in the studio, and the thing I appreciate most is the ability to bounce ideas back and forth with someone until something completely new and interesting emerges, audio wise. Some of the best moments in the studio with Isha were when I was just laying down some crazy, ambient, tweaked guitar sound that I never would have thought of on my own.
MuzicNotez: Working on anything new? What can we expect from you in the future?
Cheating Daylight: Jesse: We are currently in the studio working on our new album, with a fall release date scheduled. The first single from the record will be out April 1st, entitled “Anywhere But Home”. And… we will be on the road, touring most of the year!
MuzicNotez: Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your music? Any message for your fans?
Cheating Daylight: Jesse: To all of our fans out there- thank you so much for how supportive you are. We are only scratching the surface of this musical journey, and we couldn’t do it without you! Also, I want everyone to get ready for some new exciting things from us in 2014- the shows will be better, the music will be new, it’s going to be wild!
Kyle: Thanks to all of our fans because without them we would not be here. Jaden: One thing Id like to say to our fans is just be ready for 2014! We have some things in store for you guys and can’t wait to show you! We love you guys you rock! Jacob: Keep following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! We’re working on a lot of really exciting things. I can’t thank our fans enough for what they’ve allowed us to accomplish. We love our fans! Connor: Thank you for supporting the band! We love our fans and we love it when they love us!
