Cover Photo by Gianna Zaffino
UCLA Radio’s Rising Artist Spotlight aims to highlight upcoming artists who have demonstrated unique creativity and
talent through their music. Through interviews and features, we delve into their journey, influences, and aspirations, giving listeners a glimpse into the future of music.
In today’s world, being in a band means that you take the form of many: band member, content creator, producer, lyricist, and more. It almost feels like existing in a band is cut throat in the saturated field. Especially in indie rock, the struggle of many is trying to find out how to stand out in the sea of many. However, Atlanta-based Dinner Time is shaping what indie can mean. Through their funky single, “Cuídate,” to their newest song, “Shoes 2,” Dinner Time is mixing new genres to create a new wave of alternative rock. I had the pleasure of getting to sit down with the band and have a conversation with them about upcoming releases, the beginnings of their band, and what it means to be the “Beach Boys on acid.”
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity purposes
Interviewed by Chloe Gonzales
Chloe Gonzales: I just saw on your Instagram that you are coming out with a new single tonight [Feb 16th]. Can I hear more about this single?
Andrew Joyce: Yeah, it’s called “Shoes 2,” and it’s kind of a moody piece. Alejandro and I both take turns on vocals with it; it’s pretty jazzy. We called it “Shoes 2” because we’ve been working on this song for a couple of years now, and it still has the same skeleton, but the song has changed completely around it; it almost feels like a different song. So, it’s like a sequel to a song that doesn’t exist.
Chloe: Can I ask about the lore behind it?
Andrew: Yeah. Alejandro and I did our lyrics separately and kind of melded them together, so it’s not really a story, but from my end it’s kind of feeling lost, not knowing where to go and trying to get out of a rut.
Alejandro Uribe: Yeah. I was trying to play off totally from what Andrew was singing, and with his part he’s been like a little lost. Then, my vocals or characters are some of the darker thoughts you might have in your head. Some of the intrusive thoughts, one might say.
Chloe: That’s sick. I also wanted to ask about your most recent single, “Cuidate.” How has the reception been?
Ian Buford: Yeah, that song is a banger live.
Alejandro: It’s assuring when there’s good crowd feedback in a live setting.
Ian: It’s [the song] kind of like a group song, we all kind of wrote stuff. Alejandro wrote the song originally and then me, Alejandro, and Andrew have all verses. That’s like the first time we’ve ever done that. So, it was pretty cool to do that– I’m honored! It’s a great song.
Alejandro: Yeah, it was really cool doing the lyrics with everyone because we were just jamming on the progression and then Andrew was like, “Let me try something.” And then Ian got on the mic and was like, “Let me try something” and I was like, “Screw it, I’ll try something too.” And I was like what if we all just have a little part and kind of went from there?
Ian: I think overall with perception though, it’s been good definitely. I think it’s one of the best songs we’ve released. Personally, I’m very very proud of it.
Andrew: Yeah, it feels like a quintessential Dinner Time tune. Our sound has changed a bit over the years but getting everyone on the vocals and using all our new sounds and textures, I feel like it all kind of comes out in that song.
Chloe: Speaking of which, I saw your reels or Tik Toks on your series, “Tone Breakdown.” Can you guys explain that [the series]?
Andrew: That was all Alejandro’s idea originally.
Alejandro: I love seeing tone breakdowns. It doesn’t even have to be guitar music, but you hear a song and are like “How did he even do that?” There will be a cool sound and you can’t even describe it – it might be electronic even.
Chloe: Are those videos almost like a way for you to advertise as well? Because I’m very curious about bands having to promote themselves online and going about that. How do you guys feel about having to promote yourselves like that?
Andrew: Yeah, it’s all about the short form content. It’s a double edged sword for sure. It [the videos] definitely does play into it. But for me, a big thing is as long as we can incorporate our humor, and we actually get to talk about the art we make versus trying to create a viral trend to share around – it’s not necessarily bad but that’s not the sort of content we usually make. We usually get pretty burnt out when we start focusing on that. So it’s nice to just find a way to promote the art that’s a little more related than like an advertisement.
Ian: I feel exactly what Andrew said. It’s also like for some reason now if you’re a musician, you also have to be a part time content creator, and I don’t want to do that! I just want to write songs, but it’s part of the deal now.
Alejandro: Before if you were an artist, the big thing was like getting on “iCarly” or something. There’s always something, like trying to get radio hits. Thankfully with the internet, it’s like you don’t have to have some sort of connection, that’s the other side of it. I agree with everyone but it’s not totally negative.
Because there are people–and not just music related, also art related–who film or paint or cook; It’s like I would’ve never found them or get to support some of the content they put out where they get to express themselves. So like the “Tone Breakdown” in particular, I get to talk about some nerdy stuff in a humorous way.
Chloe: Yeah, and it shows when you’re being authentic versus when you can tell someone is trying to make content just for advertising and such. So, I think with your personal project it definitely shows your audience that you’re doing this for fun and have the passion towards it. I’m sure you guys have felt the impact of the internet too, with your hit song “Walden Park.” Did it blow up on Tik Tok or how did it get popular?
Ian: It was an algorithmic thing on Spotify. But, there was a TikToker that put it on his TikTok that got viral. Definitely though just Spotify blasting it.
Chloe: And how do you guys differentiate yourself between other indie bands, because I also feel like there are a lot of bands nowadays. How are you guys being like “this is Dinner Time?”
Andrew: I feel like we’re pretty comfortable with ourselves, but it’s definitely on our minds. I don’t know; I think that’s what we are honing in on with what we’ve been making lately. For us, it’s about the friendship, the five of us – we want our shows to be like a party. You know everyone’s invited, just like a good time. And that’s one of the things we want to show off to people and welcome people into the Dinner Time party.
Ian: It can be so easy to get trapped into thinking about other bands. Like bands I look up to. I listen to so much contemporary music like we all do, but you just have to think on your own and be confident. You make the songs not only for your audience, but also for yourself. Like, do I like the song? Am I proud of it? And there’s a part in there too about not trying to compare ourselves too hard to other bands because you’ll get stuck and start spiraling.
Alejandro: We’ll joke and we’ll write a random progression – we never make music to sound different, we make music that we are just genuinely trying to make–
Ian: And it might end up sounding different.
Alejandro: But to answer your question, I’ll write progressions and then be like, “Oh my God, does this sound like the Toy Story theme song?” It’s funny to recognize the similarities, but if you keep thinking that you sound like this or that, you’ll never end up finishing the song or making a release. It’s that saying of the hero’s journey and like every story has basically been written already. As long as it’s yourself, people are listening to this because it’s our music.
Chloe: I guess that it’s also just a part of human nature – we tend to pick up on other’s traits and gain inspiration from it. It totally makes sense because it’s just like encoded into us, but to not only take that and make it your own, it’s something very special.
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Chloe: I also know that you guys touched on live performances and I just wanted to know if you guys preferred the studio or playing live more?
Ian: I think our live shows are, like he said before, definitely a party and it’s very fun and inclusive. We have a great time. I mean, a good time on stage. Even when it’s slower songs — I much rather do it live. I love the studio, but it’s so hard to compare the two because I’m in two different mindsets. And it’s like my nerdy mindset is in the studio, but then live I’m just like Animal from Sesame Street – animal mode!
Andrew: I think I’m live all the way. I don’t know, that was always my big thing of getting into music. I always like writing songs, but being on stage playing music with people – that was always like my dream. I guess I love the ethereal nature of a performance. You know in the studio it can get easy to get very perfectionist and bogged down. And I mean, I’m guilty of that. I like how with life, the moment passes and it’s gone. You can’t get it back and then you move on to the next moment.
Ian: There’s people that have come to our show saying like, “This is my first show ever.” Like that’s crazy, you know? Like, I remember my first show, everyone remembers their first show. So I want to make sure it’s good for everybody, it’s got to be a good time.
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Chloe: How did your band form?
Ian: Okay real quick, I was in a band. We broke up. I knew a bunch of people that were in other bands, like Andrew and Alejandro, were in another band. I went on tour with a different band, cleared my mind, and came back to Atlanta. And I was like, “I want to start a new band.” I had members that were there. My friend, Ethan, who was in my old band had to leave and then I got Alejandro. We were friends with Ben and Chan and eventually they left and we ended up making our own thing. Now, we’ve just gone through like a bunch of different iterations really. One day, I’m gonna leave the band and it’ll be like the Beach Boys but no Brian Wilson.
Chloe: I actually was gonna get to the Beach Boys because one of the only things I could find on y’all is that you say you’re the Beach Boys on acid. Is this still true? Is this a joke? I need to know.
Andrew: It was a YouTube comment!
Ian: Yeah, it was one of the first comments we ever got. And the guy was like, “You sound like the Beech Boys on acid.” It wasn’t even spelt right. So that’s just been a meme for years.
Chloe: And speaking of sounds, I wanted to know what would you describe yourself as?
Ian: I would say in the early days it was like a garage rock, definitely surf influence. There’s probably still a tiny bit of surf with the sounds that we use liek our pedals, but definitely more psychedelic. A little more jazzy. All of us have been influenced by bossa nova and like Japanese city pop, stuff like that. Video game music too!
Andrew: I think we’re still firmly in the indie rock area but like he [Ian] was saying there’s like touches of jazz and some other influences and even psych – not straight up 60s psych– but what sounds kind of like it. We try to make weird sounds and so as you’re listening to the record someone will be like, “Woah what was that sound?” So we try to do that kind of stuff.
Chloe: What do you hope to accomplish with your new album?
Andrew: With the new record, it’s like a new era for Dinner Time. So, I hope people receive it well and I want to introduce it.
Ian: I hope they love it as much as people loved Usher’s performance at the Halftime Show.
Andrew: That’s a high bar.
Alejandro: I hope old comers of Dinner Time like it and hope that there’s a bunch of new people that find out about us because of this new stuff, and be like, “I hate their own stuff actually.” I just want to experience that.
Chloe: Yeah, to see how you guys have grown!
Wrapping things up, it is UCLA Radio, and all of our members who have a show have a Dj name. So, aside from Dinner Time, what would you choose as your DJ name?
Ian: DJ Doopy Time
Andrew: DJ Grape
Alejandro: DJ Yo-yo
Check out Dinner Time’s new single “Shoes 2” out now!
