If you can’t accept your flaws or your faults, you just remain stagnant and complacent, and that’s not cool.”

Last month, I caught up with Casey- lead singer of the New Jersey native band Shoobies. I remember the first time I heard a Shoobies song: I was sitting in the backseat of a friend’s car when someone played ​Love​ and I instantly enjoyed listening. Another one of my friends, already a Shoobies fan, was also in the car... she became annoyed with me for not listening to them sooner- she’d been recommending them for months. At the time, when my friend told me the band was local, I couldn’t imagine them being any good. Now I realize how wrong I was to completely ignore not only the Shoobies but all the great artists from my area. Shoobies released their first EP to Soundcloud in December of 2016. In February, they’ll be releasing their first full-length album, which includes a track featuring Stevie Wonder’s choir. To say the band, currently comprised of Casey on vocals and guitar, Brandon on drums, another Brandon on guitar, Dylan on bass, and another Dylan (a.k.a little Dylan) on saxophone, synth, and guitar, has come a long way would be an understatement. However, their band members are still young and exuberant. This itself was proven when Casey rode up to the coffee shop we were meeting at on his motorcycle almost 45 minutes late... I knew he wouldn’t be on time because he had let me know he was having problems with his bike. He also ended up getting pulled over and ticketed. Later, the police officer who had stopped him walked into the coffee shop, but Casey didn’t let it phase him. To quote him: “It’s just my life!”

Grace: Congratulations, your new single is out! For people who have never heard your band’s music, how would you describe your sound?

Casey: We take a lot of modern-day elements of production yet have a very 1980s, synth-based sound. All of our prior EPs, they’ve been guitar-based... and although I hate the word indie because it’s very vague, they were indie-beachy-rock, I guess. Going forward, now, it’s more indie-pop, 80s-inspired, retro.
G : So your sound has obviously developed and changed over the years. What would you say prompted those shifts?
C : Just trying to establish an identity. In the beginning, we were influenced by so many different sounds, so many different bands... Initially that hurt us because we had a hard time finding our sound. I’m very, very in love with the whole 1980s aesthetic. Like John Hughe’s movies, and even just bands from the 80s, it’s really all I listen to. So I’m heavily inspired by that sound and that feel. I feel like in the 80s it was sometimes corny, but they were unapologetically in love. I feel like nowadays if you sing a song about being in love it’s almost frowned upon. Which is a weird thing for me! People like being so post-ironic with love, in a weird way, because everyone’s afraid to be vulnerable. I think that’s lame. I think we should be sad, we should be in love. That’s what prompted the change. Stylistically, I love the 80s, so we’ve just been really influenced by that.
G : I totally understand that. I do feel like today, especially with social media, with people not really opening up, only showing one side, I totally understand how that affects music too. The whole “I don’t care” attitude. In reality, it’s cool to have feelings! 

C : It’s so cool to have feelings! To feel is a blessing.
G : Do you think your upcoming album establishes your sound, or what you want to be your sound? Or do you think you’re going to continuously evolve and grow?
C : I do think the identity of Shoobies is going to be an ever-changing, ever-evolving thing, but as of right now, I do think the album does a decent job of establishing where we are, where we want to be. Sonically, all the songs are definitely cohesive, like they sound similar. But contextually they are all about different things. The ethos of the album is very 1980s, unapologetic, youth falling in love, that kinda thing. It’s very Bonnie and Clyde but also very Romeo and Juliet- it combines those two ideologies. That all-encompassing love, good and evil. So all the songs have a similar vibe, but they also sound pretty different. However, they’re not like our EPs. The songs now, if you listen to one song and compare it to another one, you can say “Oh, that’s a Shoobies song.” Whereas back in the day, the songs varied substantially.
G : You keep mentioning the 80s and classic love stories. Would you say that that’s entirely what the album is inspired by? All of your music now?
C : Yeah... yeah! Going back to that whole vulnerability thing, I’ve always found it easier to write about concepts rather than actual feelings. So, up until this point, all of our songs have been more so conceptual. But now, every song is about an actual genuine feeling that I’ve felt. The album is based on a book... I’ve never been too good at the whole music thing, but I like writing words. I wrote a fiction story that serves as the backstory to the album, and it goes through all of our EPs up until this point. It just ties everything together. It was written in the beginning sort of deliberately because I had to write about our old songs, but now the entire album is written based on the latter half of the book. And the book is, basically like I said, Romeo and Juliet meets 

Bonnie and Clyde. So that has inspired the entire thing. It’s really about just coping with mental illness, trying to establish an identity, and kind of establishing a faith... I don’t know I’m not a very religious person, but I do believe faith is a beautiful thing. Whether or not it’s faith in you and I... having faith in each other... I don’t know, I just think faith is cool. But, like I said I don’t really follow one religion, so it just dabbles in faith, love, and identity. 

G : Talking about faith and everything, let’s bring up Piety, the new song. It’s totally based on faith, but more so the combination of faith and love and how they’re similar.
C : Yeah, so the entire song is based on the duality to a faith that I think exists. The reason for dropping the whole Vogue EP was to showcase that duality. There’s Heavenly, where the main character claims he doesn’t need saving in a pious sense- he doesn’t need to go to heaven, because Heaven is living with you/her/his love interest- whatever. So it’s like he has that same faith but it’s not so much an existential thing. Instead, she is his reason for living, she is his God. And the new song, it just compares that same religious faith to the faith in her- she exists as his reason to be alive, she’s his God, essentially, but she personifies sacrilege. She is not a good Christian woman, but she serves as his God. She’s essentially his reason for not killing himself. So it’s a darker thing, but I don’t know... I’ve always thought that was kinda cool- someone or something serving as your reason to live as opposed to a religion.
G : Yes, and I think it’s relatable because whether or not you’re religious, you can still understand that physical things are easier for some people to believe in. When it comes to any religion, that’s why they’re hard for many- it may be easier to see someone and say “I believe in you, I see you,” rather than the fact that there’s an omnipresent being that’s just existing. 

C : Exactly. And I do think that idea of an omnipresent being is cool, and I don’t think it’s too far fetched of a notion, but I’ve just never felt any sort of solace in not having something tangible or something that I can physically see or feel. I know some people say they can feel that kind of a thing, but I’ve never had such an instance. I’m not necessarily a non-believer, I just don’t necessarily rely on it.
G : So, these songs, even though they have religious undertones, they’re obviously not religious songs, right?
C : No, they’re not religious songs at all- we’re not a Christian rock band. I mean, I feel like they’re the opposite. They’re almost blasphemous by saying a girl that personifies sacrilege could exist as a god in someones’ eyes.
G : Something that someone worships?
C : Yeah, and at the end of the song, over the sax solo, I scream “I found God,” and so someone that isn’t listening to the lyrics might think it’s a worship song, but it’s basically the opposite. G : The first thing I thought when I heard it was just, “God is a woman!”
C : Oh yeah, absolutely, and if there was a god it should be a woman... men are incapable.
G : I guess then, circling back to mentioning the saxophone and everything when you sit down and write these songs, you said that a lot of them came from the book itself, but how do you transfer that to lyrics? Do you think of the melodies and the music itself first, or is it different every time? What’s your creative process?
C : For me, I can’t write words if there’s no sound to write words to. So I’ll usually mess around on an instrument. I think Piety came about on the piano first. I was just playing that like ‘dun - un - uh.’ I’ll usually write on either an acoustic guitar or piano, just lay the framework 

instrumentally. Then I’ll hear melodies over it, like the intro lyrics “She’s so chic... ” I was probably just like ‘dun nun nun, dun-nun-nun.’ From that point, I try to throw words over the melodies that I write. So it’s more so a melody based writing style as opposed to words first. I feel like it’s tough if you already have words written to write an instrumental based around words, whereas if you find a cool melody that makes you feel some sort of way, you can write about those feelings. I feel like that’s a much easier process for me.
G : So once again referring to Piety, you mentioned mental health earlier... even though it’s pretty mainstream today to talk about mental health and mental wellness, it’s still taboo for a lot of people in a variety of places. How do you go about talking about that or incorporating that into your art?
C : Yeah, I feel like up until this point I haven’t. Granted, a lot of our music isn’t out yet, so I still haven’t done that good of a job. I don’t know, mental illness is something that’s plagued me and my family for generations. It’s been something that I’ve dealt with my whole life. I’ve always tried to keep my personal life and my band life separate, but now I’ve tried to transcend that gap. Because you do need to be vulnerable like we said. So the whole album is sort of written about it. I plan on talking about it quite a good deal going forward because I do think it’s important to talk about it. We just need to talk about these things. I don’t know... I haven’t really done my job or my part yet.
G : Now that you have established a footing, you’re pretty prominent locally... you’re at the point where you have a following. I think it will be good for people who follow you to hear about your struggles. Even in Piety, you say “I’ve been going through hell,” and sure, that’s the 

whole god imagery, but also, going through hell can just be everyday life when you’re dealing with mental illness.
C : Absolutely, I’m glad you picked up on that.
G : And so this EP touches on mental health, and in February when you guys drop everything, you’ll be able to highlight it even more. Anyway, where you are right now- before the album comes out and everything... do you feel successful? I feel like success is very elusive. Personally, I think it’s your own level of happiness...
C : Yeah, well put. Success is definitely subjective. I don’t necessarily find as much catharsis in making music as I thought I would. I really like the writing of the words aspect, but I just don’t... I don’t know, I don’t feel like, I hate to say meant to be because who’s meant to be doing whatever, but I feel like I’m not meant to be a performer. I have issues with going out in public. I’m very, very reclusive, but I do like performing, it is fun, and it is an inherent part of being in a band. But to have been able to establish ourselves as an entity and become self-sufficient enough to do whatever (we paid for our whole album with money we’ve made from the band). That was definitely really cool. And you feel successful. But, I don’t know, what is success? If I’m not happy, then what’s it matter? I do love making music though, and I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else in the entire world...
G : What do you hope to accomplish? We already talked about using your platform for good- is that your end goal? Or is it just to create art? To perform?
C : Um... that’s tough. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I’m this philanthropist that’s just sitting here doing it for good. It’s definitely a good excuse to hang out with my best friends. I live with them now, so it’s a good excuse to be productive with them. In the end, I think I just 

want to be happy. If I could use it to do some sort of good or to make somebody feel something, that’s definitely really cool... I mean a platinum record and a million dollars would be sweet...

G : Exactly...
C : Like that would be the dream, but I could definitely do without it... it doesn’t hold as much weight as some people think it might.
G : For sure. You mentioned that you live with your bandmates. That’s a house full of guys! What’s an average day like? Now that your album’s finished, are you still writing, are you still working, have you taken a break?
C : Yeah, I don’t really get a break. Um, we have the album done, halfway done with our EP we’re dropping after the album, just started writing...
G : An EP after the album?
C : Yes! It’s not a joke EP, but it’s an EP that no one is going to like, that only I’m going to like. It’s just super dark and super weird, and no one will be into it. It’s just not very marketable, so... G : But that’s different than people not liking it!
C : Yeah, I guess you’re right... so, I’m halfway done with that, and I just started writing for the second album. We’re also making a visual album, which is basically going to be the book without dialogue. It’s just going to be the events that unfold in there. It’s going to be an obscure version of the book, a different interpretation in the sense that we’re gonna get weird with it. And it’s not exactly the events that happen in the book. So I’m working on the visual album a lot. We’re going to do episodes I think... ten different episodes. And then I still have to finish up the actual book. I’m about 300 pages in and I think I want to end around 350, 400. And I’m doing music videos for a bunch of other bands! I’m working on Skyeline and Sonic Blume’s videos 

right now... so I don’t really get a break. But, the other guys- Brandon’s always practicing 

drums, Dylan works at a bank so he’s always working. Little Dylan is still in school, so he doesn’t live with us yet, and then there’s another Brandon in our band now, he’s always over and working on mixing and stuff for songs. It’s a lot of fun, there’s never a dull moment! We don’t argue at all, we’re always having fun.
G : So an average day is still jam-packed? Do you plan on touring with this album, before the next one?
C : Oh yeah, yeah. We just bought a bus!
G : Oh really? That’s so exciting! So, national tour? International tour?
C : International tour would be a dream. I don’t know how we’d get our equipment over there. But, national tour for sure. Well, I mean, I guess Canada and stuff. We’ve done that already. So maybe international.
G : You’ve played in Canada?
C : We played in Toronto.
G : ... with Happy Fits?
C : With Happy Fits yeah, it was a lot of fun.
G : That is fun! So a North American tour?
C : Yes, North American, I’ll say that. That’d be cool, that’d be really cool. I’m working on it right now. You have to schedule these things super far ahead of time, so I’m planning our tour for next summer, once little Dylan graduates high school and is 18, so he can actually travel. G : So summer 2020?
C : Yes, summer 2020. 

G : That’s soon!
C : Yeah, you’re right...
G : That’s when Harry Styles is touring!
C : Oh wow, that’s freaky man... Yeah, so, we’re planning to tour... We just bought a bus three days ago. I ripped all the seats out, we’re decorating it like crazy. It’s sick! It’s massive, seriously so big. We’re putting two beds in there, a TV, a desk, a couch. Have you ever seen those people that turn old school buses into houses? That’s what we’re doing.
G : So now that you have the means, it’s just about reaching out to places?
C : Yeah, so if people want to see us live, I’ll go wherever! We’re definitely going to Chicago, I think that’s our biggest area, and LA... and then I think our third biggest is actually London, which is cool. I’ve always wanted to go to England so badly. We have a big London fan base, which is so weird to me! The fact that you even know about our band is so crazy to me, let alone people 3... 5,000 miles away... It’s crazy, super crazy. That’s something I’ve never gotten used to. Freaks me out, a little bit. It freaks me out because of how much I dislike our older music. I just don’t want our band to be synonymous with the things we used to make music about. It’s just not me, it’s not who I am. We were trying to perpetuate a notion that sells, we put out this facade that we were this rock and roll band... and that’s not me at all. I haven’t listened to rock and roll since I was like 10. As I said, I like those 80s synth-pop bands. So, I don’t know... G : But I think people understand that artists are always growing and changing. Like that’s one thing that I love about, one of my favorite artists, Bon Iver. His music from forever ago is so different. And so some people obviously don’t like his new stuff, don’t like his old stuff, but it’s still... 

C : Yeah, it’s still uniquely him... I don’t know. The change in sound from the 1st album to the fourth album is crazy.
G : But I think you guys are unique... well at least definitely now...
C: Definitely now.
G : I understand what you were saying... when you were trying...
C : Yeah, we were trying to be the rock band- the sex, drugs, rock and roll, because that’s what sells. And it did a lot for our band in terms of a live show, like those songs are definitely a lot of fun to play live, but I just feel like it put out... I don’t know, we just weren’t talking about anything substantial. Like “You’re a love machine.” What does that even mean? There’s literally no point to that song or that EP. And it was conceptual, like the tracklist spelled out LSD, it was supposed to be a metaphor or a comparison...
G : Wait, I had no idea...
C : Really?
G : Yes, I can’t believe I never caught that before!
C : The whole thing was supposed to be comparing like the way love affects the body in contrast to how drugs affect the body. You know... I’m not somebody that uses drugs, ever, but I thought the concept was cool. Like how something tangible and chemical could affect the body in a similar way to how something not man made can affect the body, And how they’re both just chemical reactions.
G : Yes, chemistry as they say... wow, that’s news to me, I’m honestly a little blown away... I just can’t believe I didn’t realize that. 

C : Yeah, see that’s why... I wrote those things hoping those would be the message that got across and then nobody saw that and I was like, “Ugh! I’m an idiot, I didn’t realize I just did that to our band.” It was poorly executed.
G : Sure, but I think it says a lot about you guys that you’re able to acknowledge that you’ve change. You’re not all “We’re the best band and we’ve always been the best band.”
C : Oh my god, we’re terrible.
G : No, I think you should be proud of what you’ve put out and everything you’ve accomplished! C: No, I am...
G : But also, I think that it just shows how far you’ve come. I mean, what year was it when you guys started? How many years have you guys been together?
C : We dropped Dear June December 23, 2016.
G : So it’s been three years, which is quite some time, but, in the scheme of things, it’s not that long. Especially considering how far you’ve come, and to see how much you’ve changed.
C : It’s weird though because I feel like we’ve almost gone full circle. Our new album kind of sounds like Dear June but with synths. That’s because back then we weren’t making music for anyone else. No one listened to us when we wrote Dear June, nobody knew we were a band. So we, at the time, decided “We’re going to make whatever music we want to make.” And that’s what we made. And people were like “Alright, it’s decent.” So we decided we’d try to make it more mainstream. And then that’s what we did, and we got a fanbase. But then we realized we hated that, so we went back to writing music that feels good to us, about genuine feelings, and love, and feeling sad.
G : Being sad! 

C : Yeah, it’s definitely been a prevalent issue in our music. But a good kind of sad.
G : Yes, it’s just self-awareness.
C : Yeah, absolutely! If you’re not obnoxiously self-aware and self-conscious at all given moments, how is there any room to grow? If you can’t accept your flaws or your faults, you just remain stagnant and complacent, and that’s not cool.
G : If you... not to say that people would get sick of you, but if you were just making Dear June over and over again...
C : Oh, god... nobody wants to make the same thing forever. I feel that on a song to song basis. I don’t want to make the same thing twice, ever! I get over sounds quickly. I change rapidly, on a day to day basis... One day I’ll feel this way, and one day I’ll feel completely different, so it’s hard to encapsulate all those feelings in one cohesive sound. But, I think genre-bending, and genreless music is the way of the future and everybody’s adapting to that and it’s becoming more acceptable. We’re not robots. There’s not an on and off switch, so it’s not a one size fit’s all kind of thing too. To touch on all the complex emotions someone feels, you have to touch on different sounds and ideas. It’s only possible if you use different genres.
G : That was a perfect way of explaining it.
C : Thanks.
G : Well, I know you have to get going, is there anything else you want to say?
C : I don’t know. I talk a lot once I get talking, so if I missed anything or if I droned on too long, please...
G : Not at all, it was great talking to you! So, any last words?
C : Follow us on social media I guess? 

You can find the Shoobies on Instagram and Twitter @shoobiesnj