It wouldn't be out of line to call
Throwback Suburbia the darlings of
GarageBand.com. Two years ago, the Portland power-pop rock and roll quartet won the
GarageBand.com/Budweiser True Music contest. Since then they've made it to the upper reaches of the GB charts with every song they've uploaded.
Their success didn't stop there -- Throwback
Suburbia has garnered many endorsements, prime opening slots, national radio airplay and most recently a spot on a Posies tribute CD overseen by the Posies themselves.
We checked in with the band to give GB members a sense of how they made it this far up the
music industry mountain. According to lead guitarist Paul Bond, the secret can be deceptively simple:
"We just kept playing and playing, and good things began (and continue) to happen," he said. "Keep playing. If you believe in it, people will dig it."
Vocalist Jimi Evans suggested making music you like first, then worry about the fans. "I think the biggest mistake would be to try and craft something you
think people want," he said. "We play music that we all love and I have to believe that sincerity plays a role in any success we may have obtained."
"I think the next step for any band out there today is to find like-minded people and surround yourself with them," he continued. "Create your own revolution driven by your passion rather than try to fit into pop culture's vocabulary."
Drummer Mike Collins emphasized substance over style when it comes to getting noticed. "We use the internet as much as we can to spread the word," he said. "As a result, we've networked with some influential people in the business that have helped us along the way. At the end of the day, it's the strength of your music that gets the attention. You can have a fancy website, the right haircut and clothing, but if you don't have hooks and something in the music that resonates with people, you just have hype with no substance to back it up."
Evans agreed, cautioning that "online presence can be a deceiving thing. You're either led to believe you're bigger than you actually are, or you become discouraged because you get an impression that you're not as big as you deserve to be. I think if anything, the online presence allows us to stay in touch with true blue fans."
Of course we had to ask the band how GarageBand.com factored into their music career. According to Evans, "GB has allowed us an amazing opportunity to run our music up the flag pole, so to speak. We've received some amazing, constructive comments. It also forces us to step out of our box and listen to other art, which is so important!"
"It's been a great tool for getting instant feedback and constructive criticism," Collins added. "It's also gained us a good deal of fans that have sought out our music and purchased it."
Throwback Suburbia is currently mixing their new album, fully aware that it will be released into a crowded market and an uncertain music industry. But the band's love for their art is a shining beacon that looks to carry them up the GB charts once again.
"If you believe in yourself and like what you do, chances are there are a million other people in the world that will love it as well," concluded Collins. "Find your niche as a songwriter and work it. Find people that compliment the gifts you already possess and you will blossom in your craft."