Q&A: Poe The Passenger
BRINGING VIBRANCE TO ALL ASPECTS - Poe The Passenger’s passion for having rhythm and authenticity at the forefront of their band pushes them forward. The group has found a way to always go above and beyond the music, honing in on their visual side, their live performance and ensuring they use their platform to speak up about issues they care for. Poe The Passenger started 2020 off with the release of track “My Own”, today following up with the music video. Check out their new video and read below to learn more about the evolution of their live performance, their dedication to sustainability and more.
LUNA: For those unfamiliar with your music, can you please introduce yourself?
POE THE PASSENGER: Hey there everybody we’re Poe the Passenger. A three-piece Alt & Indie Rock outfit based out of Pasadena, CA. The core of the band consists of Jeff Pridgen on Vocals and Guitar, Trent Marderosian on Drums and Matt Rosenblum on Bass.
LUNA: What are some core elements to your sound? Any elements you want to explore more?
POE THE PASSENGER: We really like music that has emotive tones that tell raw and authentic stories. Elements of those songs move your body and your feet like a heartbeat. We strive for those sounds in our music as well. A thrumming rhythm section accompanied by vibrant and real lyrics paint the landscape for our sound space and live performances. We want our listeners to see movie scenes in color and evoke real interactions in their lives when they hear our music. We are always pushing ourselves to write new songs every week, explore new sounds and implement new material in our catalog to build on our earthy vibes.
LUNA: Can you talk a bit more about what filming the music video for “My Own” was like? How did you come up with the concept?
POE THE PASSENGER: Shooting the music video for “My Own” was such a unique experience of exploring the inner workings of our own material to bring it to life in a visual space. Our two main characters are artists existing in a commune together having never met, but are tethered to one another in an ethereal sense. When she moves, he moves and vice versa. We shot in three locations to express the varying places an artists goes in their headspace; a white-walled apartment, a dreamy landscape, and a blacked-out studio with choreographed lighting. The concept has existed from the conception of the the song, but it’s morphed slightly as it’s grown into a metaphorical representation of the ebb and flow of love in any relationship.
LUNA: How important is honing in on the visual side to y’all?
POE THE PASSENGER: We are all cinema fans, who appreciate the art of film making. So, to us visuals are extremely important. Our music videos strive to be intimate stories in which our music becomes the soundtrack, not strictly performance-based.
LUNA: What do you like about your live performances?
POE THE PASSENGER: We love bringing raw energy to the stage and putting everything we have into the performance so that the individual connects with us as humans and remembers that shared moment. Yes the set is polished and designed for the audience to enjoy, but there ends up being these special in-between moments where we’re rocking out as friends, laughing with one another, making fools of ourselves and ultimately taking it moment-to-moment. Our high energy performance mirrors our realistic lyrical scenarios and brings an edge into our sound that people can relate to and lose themselves in, which we think is the whole purpose of live performances. You should come see us live for yourself!
LUNA: In what ways would you like your performances to evolve?
POE THE PASSENGER: We saw Twenty One Pilots front row at AlterEgo last year and we were completely captivated by their stage design and live performance. That is the new bar for us. From cars on fire, to choreographed stunts and wardrobe changes to fit the style and mood of their songs, their set was full of special moments to enjoy. We continue to push the boundaries of our lightning setups, our sound design and aesthetic on stage to build a world for Poe to live in and do what we strive to do best… entertain.
LUNA: What value do you think using your platform to talk about social and political issues has?
POE THE PASSENGER: Our motto if you will is… “Be authentically you, embrace the things that make you different and spread love to those around you… because you never know who needs it”. We think that putting positive and raw information out into the community at any level is extremely important. After all, music becomes the soundtrack to our lives, so we believe the message should be constructive. We are all struggling, searching, loving and living, why not share those intimate emotions with everyone, build each other up and show one another that we are never alone.
We also love playing events that benefit charity. It’s a way to directly affect change through supporting organizations with our time and talents in a fun environment which spurs meaningful dialogue; that way, we also help generate funds for causes we believe in, such as sustainability and mental health. We don’t want to necessarily sway the public with our opinions, but instead allow a safe space for growth and mutual understanding that is cultivated by listening to one another. Any way we can make a tangible positive difference in our community makes our time as passengers exceedingly more meaningful.
LUNA: Is there anything in particular you want people to take away from your music?
POE THE PASSENGER: We just want people to love the songs like we do. Take them to heart and enjoy them on a personal level. Maybe they can find a bit of themselves in our lyrics, our moods and our sound. Self love is huge for us. Our feel good tracks like “Say It Again” are meant for us to be carefree and loving life, while the more real and authentic records like “My Own” and “Miles Apart” express our hopes for new beginnings and growth no matter the location.
LUNA: You’ve started the year with a new single & video - what do you hope the rest of 2020 has in store?
POE THE PASSENGER: 2020 has been extremely exciting for us thus far. We are booking the year out with live performances throughout Los Angeles, interviews and appearances, charitable outreach, festivals, single releases and new partnerships. As our community and family continues to grow we hope that you’ll come join the experience in a live setting near you.
