With an album released in 2010, several EPs, already talked on Rolling Stone magazine - with two great hits Crush Me and Take It Personal, Go Periscope have everything to be successful on the music business.
Very kindly Joshua Frazier, the other part of the duo with Florin Merano, answered our questions with all the possible honesty and made this a very nice interview, where you can know a little more about the band and their personal choices.
Fuck Yeah Music Stories: We know you are from Seattle, how and when did you start in music?
Joshua - Go Periscope: We both had our own individual projects for awhile, and originally we started working together by just collaborating on different projects. Pretty soon that started picking up to where even though I was going to school in Bellingham, WA and he was in school in Seattle we were making the 3 hour drive every other day after class, staying up all night to work on music, and then heading back to class. After doing that for about a year, we decided to make it an actual band, and work on, what is now our debut album.
Joshua - Go Periscope: We both had our own individual projects for awhile, and originally we started working together by just collaborating on different projects. Pretty soon that started picking up to where even though I was going to school in Bellingham, WA and he was in school in Seattle we were making the 3 hour drive every other day after class, staying up all night to work on music, and then heading back to class. After doing that for about a year, we decided to make it an actual band, and work on, what is now our debut album.
FYMS: How did you meet each other?
J-GP: We both played the same sports in High School, so we became friends through Cross Country, Basketball and Soccer. We never talked about music when we first started hanging out, so later after we were friends for awhile it was actually surprising that both of us had these individual projects we were privately working on, haha.
J-GP: We both played the same sports in High School, so we became friends through Cross Country, Basketball and Soccer. We never talked about music when we first started hanging out, so later after we were friends for awhile it was actually surprising that both of us had these individual projects we were privately working on, haha.
FYMS: Why the name “Go Periscope”?
J-GP: We’ve always like the idea of viewing things from a different perspective., which is what a periscope does while a submarine is underwater. We try to take different music genres, and just show incorporate it in a new and different way. It’s why we aren’t really any one specific genre, but rather a bunch of different genres mashed into one.
J-GP: We’ve always like the idea of viewing things from a different perspective., which is what a periscope does while a submarine is underwater. We try to take different music genres, and just show incorporate it in a new and different way. It’s why we aren’t really any one specific genre, but rather a bunch of different genres mashed into one.
FYMS: Can you name any artist you would trade with?
J-GP: I think success why’s we would trade with quite a few, haha… But honestly music is a journey, so you the idea of trading with anyone wouldn’t actually be rewarding, even though playing as Daft Punk or Blink 182 for a night would be pretty damn cool.
J-GP: I think success why’s we would trade with quite a few, haha… But honestly music is a journey, so you the idea of trading with anyone wouldn’t actually be rewarding, even though playing as Daft Punk or Blink 182 for a night would be pretty damn cool.
FYMS: You’ve recently shared on your twitter account (@GoPeriscope) something related with your new album –“ This next album is getting better and better everyday.” What can you tell us about it?
J-GP: For this album, we have a very clear idea of where our sound is. We learned so much as songwriters and producers on the first album, and it just feels like we’ve really come into our own as artists in the past year and a half. This album has lots of 80’s influences, plus we are all around better instrumentalists/vocalists then we were, so it’s just exciting to apply everything to get each song where we want it, without having to settle.
J-GP: For this album, we have a very clear idea of where our sound is. We learned so much as songwriters and producers on the first album, and it just feels like we’ve really come into our own as artists in the past year and a half. This album has lots of 80’s influences, plus we are all around better instrumentalists/vocalists then we were, so it’s just exciting to apply everything to get each song where we want it, without having to settle.
(Left: Joshua Frazier / Right: Florin Merano)
FYMS: When you write songs, how do you get that inspiration from? Is there a special place where you write them?J-GP: We both are inspired by different things, and sometimes write songs from start to finish together, or sometimes write individual pieces a part. It can be on a road trip, or maybe even an idea pops into my head while I’m at the grocery store and I’ll just bust out my phone and sing an entire verse free-style. We really don’t have any specific system, but when one of us has an idea that we are really excited about it, we call the other one, and we head straight to the studio. It’s really fun that way.
FYMS: Which artists influence you the most?
J-GP: I would say 80’s bands like Eurythmics and Phil Collins have huge influences on our sound. We also love dance artists like Daft Punk, Tiesto, and Above & Beyond, and modern rock bands like The Bravery, Anberlin and Blink 182. We really like to take our favorite parts of each genre and add those pieces to our songs.
J-GP: I would say 80’s bands like Eurythmics and Phil Collins have huge influences on our sound. We also love dance artists like Daft Punk, Tiesto, and Above & Beyond, and modern rock bands like The Bravery, Anberlin and Blink 182. We really like to take our favorite parts of each genre and add those pieces to our songs.
FYMS: Did you ever thought on planning a European tour?
J-GP: Every day, haha.
J-GP: Every day, haha.
FYMS: What do you know about Portugal?
J-GP: I know Cristiano Ronaldo, (who is one of my favorite soccer players) plays and is from there.
J-GP: I know Cristiano Ronaldo, (who is one of my favorite soccer players) plays and is from there.
FYMS: Go Periscope has some live experience. How did you feel/thought the first time you played on a stage?
J-GP: The first time we played on stage was just the coolest feeling ever. This is our first band, and even though we spent a lot of time writing songs, and playing music together, we were really reserved about sharing it with anyone, until finally we posted some songs online and people were really supportive about it. There is a great energy when you are on stage and performing music that you love. For me, nothing compares to that.
J-GP: The first time we played on stage was just the coolest feeling ever. This is our first band, and even though we spent a lot of time writing songs, and playing music together, we were really reserved about sharing it with anyone, until finally we posted some songs online and people were really supportive about it. There is a great energy when you are on stage and performing music that you love. For me, nothing compares to that.
FYMS: Is there any place you would love to play in?
J-GP: We’d love to play anywhere in Europe honestly. Dance and Electronic music in general is just so celebrated there, I can only imagine how fun it would be to play for a crowd there. OR New York, we’ve never played there either.
J-GP: We’d love to play anywhere in Europe honestly. Dance and Electronic music in general is just so celebrated there, I can only imagine how fun it would be to play for a crowd there. OR New York, we’ve never played there either.
FYMS: Which is the most surreal thing that you ever done?
J-GP: Probably being in Rolling Stone Magazine, as an unsigned band. That is so extremely rare, and I think my mom bought like 30 copies, haha.
J-GP: Probably being in Rolling Stone Magazine, as an unsigned band. That is so extremely rare, and I think my mom bought like 30 copies, haha.
FYMS: Besides the new album that is coming, are there any future projects?
J-GP: Yeah, we have a few really exciting collaborations with some really cool artists.
J-GP: Yeah, we have a few really exciting collaborations with some really cool artists.
FYMS: If you weren’t a musician, what would you probably be?
J-GP: Well we are both graphic designers, and Florin is pretty into photography. But there’s no way I could ever stop making music. We will both continue to be songwriters and producers until we die, and even then, I’ll probably sing some haunting ghost sounds from the grave. We love making music.
J-GP: Well we are both graphic designers, and Florin is pretty into photography. But there’s no way I could ever stop making music. We will both continue to be songwriters and producers until we die, and even then, I’ll probably sing some haunting ghost sounds from the grave. We love making music.
FYMS: Are there any secret talents that people don’t have any idea that you have?
J-GP: Hmm, I already mentioned the whole art/graphic design thing. We do produce and write songs for other artists, which is really fun. It gives us a chance to dabble in a bunch of different genres, and work with some really talented and passionate people.
J-GP: Hmm, I already mentioned the whole art/graphic design thing. We do produce and write songs for other artists, which is really fun. It gives us a chance to dabble in a bunch of different genres, and work with some really talented and passionate people.
FYMS: How is your relationship with your fans? Which was the most awkward moment you had?
J-GP: I would say it’s the best? Haha. I mean, even though we haven’t gotten to play everywhere we want to yet, we are really accessible online. We try to answer everybody that takes the time to leave us a message or comment on twitter/facebook/etc. because it’s such a cool way to instantly connect with the people that like your music. The only awkward moment was at a show, I forgot I had gum in my mouth, so as the chorus for the first song started, it flew out of my mouth onto the front of the stage, and somebody reached out and took it. I was like “Eww, what do you want with that?!” haha.
J-GP: I would say it’s the best? Haha. I mean, even though we haven’t gotten to play everywhere we want to yet, we are really accessible online. We try to answer everybody that takes the time to leave us a message or comment on twitter/facebook/etc. because it’s such a cool way to instantly connect with the people that like your music. The only awkward moment was at a show, I forgot I had gum in my mouth, so as the chorus for the first song started, it flew out of my mouth onto the front of the stage, and somebody reached out and took it. I was like “Eww, what do you want with that?!” haha.
FYMS: Complete these sentences...
a) One Day...
J-GP: ... we will be as cool as Michael J. Fox was in Back To The Future.
b) The best thing people can say about me...
J-GP: ... we are genuine to everybody we meet.
a) One Day...
J-GP: ... we will be as cool as Michael J. Fox was in Back To The Future.
b) The best thing people can say about me...
J-GP: ... we are genuine to everybody we meet.
c) And the worst...
J-GP: ... we’re too busy sometimes for the people in our lives that we care about.
d) In ten years...
J-GP: … I’ll still be rockin’ vans.
J-GP: ... we’re too busy sometimes for the people in our lives that we care about.
d) In ten years...
J-GP: … I’ll still be rockin’ vans.
FYMS: What would you tell to FYMS readers?
J-GP: Thank you for reading, and if you like our music/want to check it out and download it for free, go to www.goperiscope.net or hit us up on Facebook.com/goperiscopemusic or twitter.com/goperiscope.
J-GP: Thank you for reading, and if you like our music/want to check it out and download it for free, go to www.goperiscope.net or hit us up on Facebook.com/goperiscopemusic or twitter.com/goperiscope.
Special thanks to Joshua and Go Periscope, the authors of the photographs used above (if you know who took them, just tell us).
i love go periscope! seriously cannot wait for their next album!
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