Lane Change began back in 2013, taking off soon after, leading them to play shows, tour, as well as some releases including a full-length album and most recent an EP titled "Rise". The band took some time to discuss this release, as well as about themselves, and what they have planned in regards to future shows and their future.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
The road to LANE CHANGE began in 2013 when four musicians came together for the one thing they had in common: their passion for music and performing. Although their musical tastes were as diverse as their backgrounds, they soon found that their commonalities would allow them to focus their efforts as one collaborative unit instead of four individuals.
Founding Member, Cameron Holladay was diagnosed with Autism when he was 6 years old. For years he unsuccessfully searched for activities and hobbies that would put him in a place to establish social relationships with others. When he was 10, he found that place…behind a drum set. Over the next 3 years, he would quickly hone his skills by studying the influences that came before him. Developing the techniques of John Bonham and Ginger Baker, and the mirroring the stage presence of Keith Moon, Cameron quickly became one of the most in demand drummers among his peers. However, he soon realized that his style of playing was not necessarily a good fit for their desired directions. “I’d played in a handful of bands, but I was never able to find a deep musical connection or common interest. I needed to be a part of group that was on the same page as me."
Ready to start a new project, a friend of the family suggested he check out another performer on the Phoenix scene, Myles Vann.
Myles had been involved in various musical theater companies around the valley, as well as filling in as a Karaoke host when needed. He was no stranger to the stage. His musical roots were planted in his hometown of Chicago, and were nurtured by his Father who sang in the local church choir, and his grandmother who introduced him to The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye. At the time Cameron went to go see him perform, Myles was singing in a popular local R&B group and he blew the scouting, young musician away! After the set, they made an instant connection, bonding over favorite bands, songs, and singers. “It was immediate,” says Myles, “I knew we had to do something together, but I wasn’t sure about being a rock singer. Cam was, and I decided to trust him.”
So with a heartbeat and a voice in place, the two began their search for the sound. After, working with a few guitarists, the duo had not yet found someone who could accompany both the soulful stylings of Myles vocals with thunderous crashing of Cameron’s Drums. They sent out an A.P.B. throughout the local music community to find their man.
Jake Galambos is a Georgia native who began his musical career in his school’s orchestra playing the instrument that nobody else wanted to, upright bass. While in school his family decided to head west. Jake brought his knowledge of musical notes with him and decided to add 2 more strings to his education as he began playing guitar in college, where he graduated with a degree in composition. With a degree in one hand and a notebook full of half completed songs in the other, he returned to Arizona. “I was teaching lessons at a studio, and one of my colleagues handed me a flyer, and said, 'this sounds like you.' It was a list of influences, styles, desired experience, and what they were doing. It was me! Cameron recalls the “audition” as if it was yesterday. “We made him learn three songs, and we plowed through all three, but we knew as soon as we finished the first song this was our guy.”
After performing as a successful cover band around town with various bassists for some time, the trio was ready and eager to open up Jake’s notebook and start working on original material. While there were some successes everyone agreed that they were still missing “The Hook.”
While attending college, Jake took a musical and personal interest in one of his colleagues, Lizzie Shafer. Lizzie had left home to pursue her passion for singing. In the process of studying to become a classically trained opera singer, she was required to learn to play a wide range of instruments. Jake’s confidence in Lizzie’s musical ability convinced him to mention her to Cameron and Myles as a solution to finding a permanent bass player. “Jake and I were dating at the time, and while I sang, played guitar and piano, I had never picked up a bass. He asked me if I would be willing to learn. I was looking for an original project, and I’d seen these guys play live. How could I say no”? Lizzie remembers. “When I first mentioned Lizzie to the band they were hesitant to bring on a female with no bass experience. Not to mention bringing in a relationship is always a wild card, but when they heard her play and sing, they knew she was the missing piece.”
LANE CHANGE had found its “Hook”!
The rhythm section of Cameron and Lizzie is as tight as it can get, which allows guitarist, Jake Galambos, the freedom to interpret or create songs as it best suits a 3 piece band. The band has found a way to maximize both Myles’ and Lizzie’s vocal talents in everything they do. Whether it be writing new songs or working up some of their favorite covers, that is the element that makes the LANE CHANGE sound. “Most bands are lucky to have one person strong enough to front the band vocally”, says Myles “We have a double barrel aimed at you! The dynamic and diversity that allows really puts us in a unique position”.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
The name LANE CHANGE was originally intended to describe the band in its early state as a cover band. We would play songs that no one would expect, and our set list was one of the most diverse in the local music scene. We took a great deal of pride in people having a “WTF” or “I can’t believe they just played that” reaction. As we have transitioned to an original act, the name still holds relevance to what we are all about. With the dual, male and female vocal diversity, it really allows us to be unlimited where we go with our songs. There are songs that are predominately Myles or Lizzie, and then there are songs that are an equal duet type of vibe. Some of our songs have a throwback, classic rock simple formula, and some of them are very complex with multiple layers and parts. We get a kick out of keeping listeners on their toes and preparing them for the next unexpected change in the lane.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
We all live in the greater Phoenix, AZ area: The Valley of the sun. The music scene here has been really great to us. There are a ton of great venues, and a lot of great fans. It’s a city that loves live music. We’ve played well over 200 shows as a band in the last 3 years, so we haven’t had a chance to see as many shows as we would have liked. Now were getting a chance to get out more and see some other bands. We really like what Alex Headstrum is doing with his band Headstrum. Christopher Shane Band is also really good and doing some cool stuff.
4. How would you describe your style?
We’ve always called our music Rock and Soul. It sounds like a cheesy tag line, but it represents the diversity of the members of the band and their different musical influences. We come from very different corners of the musical world, but when you put us together something awesome happens. So far the closest we’ve come to a genre is Rock and Soul!
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
We released a full length, self- titled album in 2015. While we were happy with the effort, we soon realized that there were many things that we could have done differently. The main characteristics of the band that makes us unique is our live performance, chemistry, and sound. We didn’t feel as though our first swing was conveyed that in the recording.
On our recent EP, “RISE”, we really took the time to make sure that we were much more focused on what we were looking to ultimately create. We partnered with Michael Beck at Sound Vision studios in Mesa Arizona to record, produce, mix and master the EP. He himself is a vocalist, so he really had the knowledge to offer up some direction and insight that was not previously available.
As far as what to expect…We just hope you dig what we are doing. The music is up tempo, with some catchy riffs, pounding rhythms, and some pretty cool vocal work. We hope that people will like all 4 of the tracks, but if we connect just one song with a listener, we will be very happy.
6. Why should people go out and pick up this release? Because it ROCKS! No seriously…We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We are not trying to solve the world’s problems or make a statement. We like to have fun, and we have a passion for music and one another. We think that the various influences of the band members have helped us create to something very familiar, but also fresh and unique. There are 4 songs on the EP, “RISE”, and all of them are independent of one another, but we hope that the collective work still leaves listeners with a cohesive effort. The songs are fun, upbeat, and make for a great work out soundtrack!
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
We are constantly playing shows on a local level. However, this year we have scaled back the amount of shows in order to focus more on the original act transition. We have tried to focus on larger festival, fair, and concert type settings in an attempt to reach as many fans as possible. Obviously we would love the opportunity to expose the band to new listeners and audiences so we are open to anything a promoter or another act may have in mind. If you like what we are doing and have an opportunity that would be a good fit for us, hit us up!
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
Well, we are going to continue to try navigating this “indie” band journey as best we can. We will obviously continue to perform our live shows through 2017, and we are already working on material for a follow-up EP to “RISE” to be recorded this Fall for an early 2018 release.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
You can find and download the EP, “RISE” anywhere digital music is sold: iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, etc. If you are one of those people who still prefer a shiny silver disc to play, you can buy the physical copy on our website, lanechangerocks.com.
We would also like to encourage people to check us out, give us your thoughts on how we are doing, offer up some ideas of what you would like to hear next or different, or simply stop by and say “hi!” All of our social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc. can be found by entering, lanechangerocks.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
We would like listeners to feel our passion come through in the music We would hope that they also hear something that they feel they can relate to in some way personally or emotionally, and really that they like what we are doing enough to buy our music, tell their friends about us, and come out to see us live. If we get one of those takeaways or all three, we’ll be happy.
Post a Comment