We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hat Pin Panic. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hat Pin below.

Hat Pin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Our EP, The Remote Sessions, is our most meaningful project thus far. The pandemic presented our band with the uniquely meaningful and challenging project of writing and recording an EP. We had already been gathering and writing songs before the lockdown. We were able to use the recordings from those sessions as scratch tracks. Each band member then recorded their final versions at home. The process of collaborating remotely required us to adapt and experiment with new methods of writing and, in some cases, learning new technology to record and share our work.

We also undertook our first music video project during this period, which presented its own challenges. Each member of the band had to record their parts individually using whatever devices were available. During editing, we layered in stock footage to add more visual interest other than our masked silhouettes.

Amidst the uncertainty and upheaval, focusing on creating new music and videos provided us with enjoyment and vitality. It also fostered a sense of camaraderie that was hard to come by elsewhere. We named the EP “The Remote Sessions” in reference to its creation during that time, and as a nod to the fact that the songs were wholly representative of those early months of the pandemic. The songs reflected the political and emotional turmoil of the worldwide apocalyptic hellscape.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hat Pin Panic started out as a party band in 2018, playing our favorite covers just for fun. We played a holiday party at Jenifer’s house, dubbed the “Christmas Carnival,” and it was such a blast we decided to start writing our own songs. We’re a 4-person band from Los Angeles whose members include Danita Lynne (drums), Eric Edmond Vasquez (guitar and vocals), Chris Simental (guitar and vocals), and Jenifer Roosevelt (bass and vocals). Our creative effort is rooted in a genuine appreciation for musical art and artists. We write from a place of introspection and visceral connection to the social, political, and natural landscape.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For us, the most rewarding aspect of being musicians is the journey. It’s rewarding when we pack a venue and connect with an audience. There’s no better feeling than sharing the vibe with folks – watching them dance, tap their toes, and nod their heads to the tunes we’re playing.

It is a gratifying experience to cultivate the seed idea for a song and nurture its evolution into a beloved collection of music that our audience enjoys. Through our music and band, we have garnered authentic interest and support, which has helped us grow and refine our sound.

Aside from the recordings, playing live allows us to connect with fans and community in a way that we can’t otherwise be replicated.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Creative endeavors include many of the same struggles as other pursuits. Just like any other business team, we’re equal stakeholders in the band and have to navigate schedules and budgets and personalities and differences of opinion. There are hard financial decisions that need to be made in order to move the band forward. We have to pay for our own equipment, guarantee a certain draw to promoters at shows, hold each other accountable, and constantly network. All of this requires a lot of self-discipline to be successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hatpinpanic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hat_pin_panic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HatPinPanicLA/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/PanicPin
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCybp0-D8uttsE1wvI2uT2jg
• Other: https://linktr.ee/hatpinpanic

Image Credits
Therese Whitten Noel Truick Paula Vasquez