Biography

For the last 3 years, melancholic rock band, “Old State,” has had one encompassing goal: To make music that speaks with raw emotion, and to be a beacon of compassion and understanding to those who are lost. Throughout the writing of their sophomore EP, “Perspectives,” the band cycled through a number of members and sounds in an effort to fulfill the creative idea that IS "Old State." With influences spanning alt punk to midwestern emo to folk, there was no telling where their sound was going to go next. After recording "Perspectives," David Fernandez, Aaron Buchanan, Thomas “Skippy” Vitale Ryan, and Shad Hillis spent time exploring and solidifying the sound and feel for what would soon be the new Old State. Perspectives is a snapshot of where they were creatively at the time it was recorded. A band, reflecting on their abilities and simply finding out what they are capable of. During recording, they found that instead of looking at what could be done, they should be finding what feels right, and what Old State should be doing. In January 2017, the forthcoming EP, “Weight,” was coming to fruition like a stick of dynamite, yet to be ignited. With the decision to work with producers Seth and Sam Henderson (prod. Works include Knuckle Puck, Real Friends, Rarity) at Always Be Genius Recording, they were setting out to make sure that "Weight" would be nothing short of exactly what the band needed. Thematically, the record speaks on the pressures of adulthood. As people grow older and finish their adolescent years, they typically have a dream, or a particular life goal in mind. For Aaron, the lyrics speak of a time and place during 2015-16 where his constant dream of being a musician was being consistently overshadowed by the pressure of his peers, and himself, to doing something greater. For other members of the band, the lyrics speak of self-loathing and darker times in life. For "Weight," Old State wanted something heavier and more dynamically intense than anything prior. With shrieking, overarching guitars, overdriven bass playing over intricate and heavy hitting drums, this record does not fall short of being the strongest material they’ve written to date. Where did Old State go when there were so many directions their sound could go? They did what felt right, and took their next big step into, “Weight.”