Night Leather has four members named Jeff, Ryan, Matt and Vic.
1- Where did you grow up? Matt: Down the street from Jeff and a few miles from Ryan in a New Jersey suburb that has since become the subject of a satirical podcast made by Tim Heidecker’s production company. 2- What is one of the first songs you remember liking as a kid? Jeff: I have to name two songs here: “Sloop John B” by the Beach Boys. I was exposed to a lot of Beach Boys at the earliest ages I can remember in first “listening” to music. I was enamored with their warm and inviting harmonies. Secondly was Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”. One of the greatest guitar solos ever. The journey that song took me on as a little kid was always totally amazing. 3- What influenced you to get into music? Ryan: Like other things in life, it was the good influence of friends who were more thoughtful, creative, or driven. Funny... being inspired to the point of self-confidence (e.g. "I admire what that person is doing. I can probably do that too") came much easier as a kid. 4- At what age did you start playing/singing? Ryan: 12 years? Started with singing, and soon after learned guitar. 5- If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to yourself after finishing school? Matt: Learn to appreciate songwriting both for its therapeutic power and as a tool to connect with other people. Sometimes what’s therapeutic to you resonates with others, but don’t conflate the two or assume they need to be aligned at all times. 6- What are some of your favorite songs at the moment? Matt: “Blind” by Hercules & Love Affair, “Body” by Glüme, and whatever is currently spinning on Nightride FM. 7- Do you listen to your own music? Ryan: Were we supposed to be making this stuff for someone else? But seriously, one of the best aspects of this project - for me, anyway - is that we're a lot of songwriters, so some of these songs are ~0% "mine", and I get to just be a fan - a Leatherman and a Leatherhead at once, if you will. 8- Which musician would you like to collaborate with next? Jeff: I would love to collaborate with Burial. Probably one of my all-time favorite artists. He has such a gorgeous palette of sounds that are right up my alley. Very haunting / spooky layers of found sound and melodies that he creates. I’ve always been fascinated by the structure of his work, in that a lot of his music is more like a passing / lucid dream versus a “song”. 9- What is one of your favorite memories so far in your music career? Matt: Hearing our music broadcast on the radio for the first time. 10- What advice would you give to someone that is just starting to get into music? Jeff: Continue to do whatever it is that you want and follow the direction you decide to go. For me, the desire and bubbling urge to create sound waxes and wanes, and to be honest, as I get older, it becomes more challenging to seize those opportunities to create when ideas are flowing. Always grab onto it, period. Whatever you think your “catalogue” is, it’s literally just a sketchbook. Nothing is ever “finished”, or “perfect”. Push and force it out into the world however you can, and don’t doubt yourself. In doing so, that urge to keep creating will get stronger, and keep you on track. The day that stops, it’s over. So don’t ever let it stop.
Night Leather's debut album released in May 2021 on Bandcamp. Check out their profile page featuring pictures, songs, videos and more.
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