Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andy Sutphen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Andy, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Well, we just finished our most dynamic album we’ve ever written.. But it’s finally done. It’s called Hostile Architecture and it’s our 4th album. It’s been almost 3 years since I brought John (Xarras) the demos. And it’s been a wild ride ever since.

But I can honestly say this album is us at our absolute best. Lyrically, I had a lot to say. Musically it’s very diverse but all the way us. Dancey, thoughtful lyrics, catchy as hell -At least I’ve been told- and people seem to dance their asses off to the new stuff. Especially Digital Nomads and Last Payphone in New York.

John’s production took forever (lol) but the level of detail he put into this project we just couldn’t have gotten from anyone else. The whole band really buckled down and spent many a late night mixing sessions to make this record a reality.

All in all I don’t think we can do better. We gave it everything we got! Now it’s for the world to decide.

Andy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Well, Street Clothes has been a band for about 10 years. We’ve made four records. I’ve written most of it with creative input and production help from various co conspirators lol. Veronica and Dave from Bero Bero started the band with me and played on the first two records along with our friend Austin Harris who came back to help on our last record Decadence and Decay as well. But John (Xarras) has been in the band for about 8 years. He started off on guitar but is a multi instrumentalist and producer. And he’s been in the band since the second album, Superautomatica. We have very different styles and talents but neither of us could’ve made this album without the other and that’s kind of what a band is supposed to be.

The lineup is super tight and everybody really brings something to the table. So It’s Mike Spillane on guitar, John switched to bass because it’s kinda the most important instrument in the band. It’s really a lead instrument for us. And I wouldn’t want anyone else to play those basslines. Danny Moon formerly of Les Racquet is on drums. And those three have known eachother for years. Our new keyboardist Aaron has been settling in nicely but he’s got a tough job, we’re a synth band and the way we write songs he may need an extra arm…but he’s been really great at knowing when to bring it and when to lay back. It’s a lot of dynamics to our songs that you just can’t explain. You have to feel it.

At the end of the day we’re just excited to play out again after a year in the studio. And we’re equally excited for the world to hear the new record, Hostile Architecture. Our next show is gonna be Friday May 30th at El Rocko. We’ll be releasing our first single by then and soon the rest of that monstrosity haha

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

For me it’s the whole process of creation. I have been obsessed with records since I can remember. And as I got older I got even more driven to know everything about certain albums and artists. Thee lore, the stories behind those albums, the worlds and sounds those artists created -I feel like I live that world at least as much as I live in the real world. But I also believe that you have to be obsessed with something to be great at it. And for me I’m obsessed with writing albums. Each one is like a friend or child or something. And I also kind of map out my life with what record I was working on at what time. And at the end of the day -no one can take that away from me. I made those records and I’m proud as hell about that. And I hope everyone has something -be it artistic or not- that they’re passionate about. I don’t like walking on beaches, don’t care about video games and I don’t really follow sports but I could talk about London Calling or Depeche Mode Violator or Patti Smith Horses until I’m blue. And everytime I set out to make a new record those are the albums I’m aiming for. And that may sound crazy or egomaniacal but that has to be the goal post. I just wanna make somebodies favorite record. And I hope that it makes that somebody want to go write a song ya know?

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think free, education and places of higher learning, even libraries will help breed great minds – but at the end of the day -great artists don’t have a choice -they have a passion that only artistic expression can fulfill – or to quote the great Christopher Walken -“I got a fever!”or something like that…

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.Streetclothesband.com
• Instagram: Instagram@streetclothesband
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Streetclothesband

Image Credits

Robin Birdy

Victory North LLC