KBPS Interview: Symmetry

One of the best tracks that has landed in the KBPS inbox recently is California-based Symmetry’s ‘Gotta Wake You Up’. We spoke to the band across the pond and across time differences to ask them about the record.

“It’s the perfect song for right now with everything going on in the world, and we feel like the whole world has to wake up. We feel like it’s the perfect song to the times.”

The song was one of the first tracks the band had co-written. “We met the guy we wrote the song with when we did a tour in the UK with McBusted, which was an honour. Michael Raphael has written with James Bourne and we got into a studio with him, and we wrote this song together that day. We passed around an acoustic guitar and talked about lyrics and melody ideas, and by the time we left the house that day the song was done. It was a really exciting and creative time.”

The band’s venture into co-writing was a good experience for them. “We’re all writers individually but we’re not opposed to bringing someone in. Every artist is creative in their own way, and everything has different ideas. Nobody here has a huge ego and says ‘No, it’s my way or the highway!’ It was a really great experience for us.

Reaction to their new single has been really positive. “I think it’s been the best reaction we’ve ever had. It went pretty viral for the first week it went up with over 30,000 views on the video. It’s probably the strongest thing we’ve ever released.”

The track is packed with energy and that fun on the recording came from their enjoyment in the studio. “It was really fun to record,” they told us.

Alongside the song there is also a video out which you can see on this page. “It’s the first time I’ve been in a video that required some acting, and had a love scene. It was a new experience for us all,” revealed Symmetry’s lead singer Mike.

Though based in California the band have a range of origins with only bassist Will coming from the state. Jared moved from Orlando in Florida five years ago and told us how much he enjoyed living there and meeting the band. Mike is originally from Seattle, Washington and moved, like Jared, to come to music school. “Max, our drummer, is the only Los Angeles native in the band.”

“I don’t think geographically speaking we’re influenced as a band but there’s something to be said about LA and us meeting here.”

Symmetry have performed several times in the UK and we were keen to find out what they thought about appearing this side. “It’s the reason that we’re doing [this interview], we’re trying to get back!

“Being in the UK has been fuel to our engine. Being over in the UK [there’s such] loyalty of the fans. Will is a huge Beatles fan and he showed me clips of Beatle-mania and you still feel that [in the UK], just that presence of people loving live music, and it’s really exciting for us. It feels like a different world.”

Looking ahead Symmetry are working on their newest album which they hope to release by the end of the year. “We’re trying to come back to the UK and looking at the right opportunities for touring.”

We ended the interview, inspired by the song, by asking them what they liked to do firstly when they woke up. “We like to do an interview with Phil!” they said, winning bonus points.

Find out more about Symmetry on their Facebook page.