Blackbird Bullet

Interview with Blackbird Bullet

March 4, 2016

Describe your band, telling a little about it.

We’re Blackbird Bullet an alternative rock band.  We recently released a new single called Sawtooth.  You can pick it up at any online retailer.  We are currently recording a new album which has yet to be titled.  We plan on releasing it this spring and are really excited about getting our new material out there.

What are your names? / Who plays what?

Brad Sprentz (Vocals/Guitar)

Jake Markosky (Guitar/Vocals/Keys)

Sam Hrinda (Bass)

Eric Miller (Drums).

Have members played with any other bands?

We have all done our thing in a few different groups and in a few different ways.  We all grew up on music, it wasn’t really something we picked up later in life so we’ve been around the block a bit.

Do you write your own music or perform covers?  Has it always been this way?  We focus on our own material.  Here and there we take a song and kind of make it our own and work it into our set but we primarily just focus on our own music.

What year did the band form? 

That’s kind of a grey area. This lineup has been together for around 2 years but the band has been around since 2011/2012.  It actually started out as a duo with Eric and I (Brad), then expanded to a trio and then became the four piece it is now.

Where is bands home?

We all grew up in the Pittsburgh area.

What's your style or genre?

We call it Alternative rock because that’s a pretty wide open genre stylistically. We kind of move in and out of a few different things but it always stays grounded to rock.

What inspires your music?

Anything and everything.  Stuff that we have gone through and other music mainly I’d say.  We all listen to different music.  We enjoy a lot of the same types of music but I think our favorite things differ.  We all really enjoy the live setting.  Interacting with people who are there to enjoy live music is something only experienced through being in that situation.

How often do you rehearse?  As much as possible

What gear do you guys use?

Oh boy hahaha. A few of us are a bit obsessed with stuff like that. I’m (Brad) probably the biggest enabler in the band. I’m always after something and I’m always supplying everyone else with new potential pieces of gear they might like. It’s a slippery slope my friend. Instruments are capable of so many different sounds I think that’s what we all are drawn to. For a musician, not being interested in your gear is like not being interested in your music. Your instrument and it’s tone are like your voice. Your sounds identity, in a way.

 Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that?  Anyone who can help to better get our music out there is someone we are interested in talking to.  We are always interested in any opportunity like that.  Smaller labels have done some amazing things for bands who might have otherwise been overlooked.  The variety of music that’s available to us now a days is great.  I think it’s a beautiful thing that artists who are experimenting with different things can be widely popular.

What are your songs about?  The human condition, basically.  We are currently working on our new album and that’s what a lot of its content is about. The journey we know as life and its ups and downs. We all have that in common.  The obstacles we face that we don’t always choose or can’t help but find ourselves involved in.  Some can be overwhelmingly positive and some can be pretty devastating and we have to find a way to balance it.  It’s a very interesting thing to look at.  Someone’s story.

Where do you plan to gig the coming year?

We are going to be busy this year with a new album out. We will be playing throughout the northeast in support of it. We are really looking forward to it.

What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days?

In some ways it’s really helpful. I think it makes it easier to get your music heard by more people. If you are looking for immediate profit it might not be such a great thing but I think overall it kind of gives everyone a chance to be heard and that’s something we really like. People are really into owning actual vinyl records now too. It’s good to know collecting music is kind of coming back.

How do you think the music industry have changed because of this?  There is an entirely new task involved in the sales end of the music industry.  So much music is heard through the streaming subscription route.  It will be interesting to see how it evolves further.  New artists emerge every year and music never stops so I don’t see it as a problem.

Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today?  Music from all genres and era’s shape our sound.  I mentioned earlier we all kind of come from different musical influence yet we still enjoy a lot of the same things.  The music you are around as a child molds who you become as a musician I think.  The roots of our early musical interests continue to stick with us.  I think new music plays a large role in keeping us updated on where the bar is set so to speak.  Where is this genre going?  Where can we take it?  That kind of thing.  Early influences are the brush.  New influences are the paint.

What advice would you give other bands or artists?

Make a plan and stick to it. It’s harder than it seems but having goals established and getting everyone on board and contributing to them makes a huge difference.

How do you get psyched for a gig?

EJ plays some tribal stuff and Jake does 15 consecutive back hand springs to it.

What are your web sites?

www.blackbirdbullet.com

How can people reach you?  There is a contact section on our website or you can contact us via social media. (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.)

What are your plans for the future?

We are going to finish up this album then take it out and play it for as many people as possible. Overall we want to just continually grow musically and reach as many people as we possibly can.

What do you think of my work?

We think it’s really great that you take time out of your life to help give bands a promotional boost.  It’s extremely appreciated!  Any kind of media/ press is great for any band and we are happy to be a part of it.  We appreciate you having us!

What is one thing even your biggest fans don't know about the band?  "Fisherman's Friend" cough drops are the driving force behind our live shows and we hope to get a sponsorship someday.