When classic rock meets ambient pop, you get an original, fresh sound, all from one band: The Chordaes. Hailing from New York, this five-piece group makes and arranges music to create smooth melodies and passionate lyrics to fit any mood. The Young Folks had the chance to talk to Nick McFly (Bass), who talked to us all about their music video collaboration with Phil Harder, their favorite venues, and recent music.
The Young Folks: You released a music video for your song, “What Do You Want From Me,” back in October under the direction of Phil Harder. What was that experience like? What was your favorite part about working with him?
Nick McFly: This was our second time working with Phil. It was a bit more difficult because a large part of the shoot was playing the song at two and a half times speed. This might not sound too difficult but trying to act natural while flying through the song was not easy. It was quite fun messing around in front of the green screen.
TYF: Coming from someone who currently studies Latin, I noticed right away the use of Latin in naming your EP In Itinere, meaning “on a journey.” Is there a special significance behind this name?
McFly: This title came from the feeling we were having around the time of recording the music. The band had gone through several transitions, and we spent a bit of time on the road. We really felt like we were on a journey, and we want to take our listeners on a sonic journey.
TYF: What are your plans for creating more music in the future?
We just finished up recording our next single, Venus, which we’re looking to release fairly quickly. This is the first song we’ve recorded with our current line-up and it’s really been a fun experience. Beyond that we’re hoping to showcase new material in our shows regularly throughout 2018 and see what clicks with people.
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TYF: Out of all the venues you’ve been able to play in, what has been your most memorable and why? Have there been any venues where you’ve been multiple times?
McFly: We had a blast playing Kudu Coffee in Charleston, SC last year. They have an outdoor stage in a courtyard and the whole place was FILLED with some of the nicest people we’ve met. They were such a welcoming and attentive crowd that we can’t wait to go back.
TYF: Listening to your songs, I can tell that you really try and capture the essence of classic rock while making it modern, original, and fresh. Have there been any musicians that have influenced you or led you to this sound?
McFly: When Leo writes he draws from a variety of influences including The Beach Boys, New Radicals, and Radiohead. We’re all students of classic rock and want to emulate that, but it’s always fun to pull from our more contemporary influences when arranging songs.
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TYF: What has been the biggest obstacle for you individually or as a band? How have you overcome that challenge?
McFly: We’ve been working really hard to make our live show live up to the recordings. The EP is packed full of dense songs that take a lot of effort to recreate live. We want to give our audience something special each time, so we’ve put a lot of time into crafting an interesting stage show.
TYF: If you had to describe your band to someone who was new to listening to your music, what would you say? Are there any specific adjectives or phrases that can aptly depict your sound and style?
McFly: This is always a tough one to answer. As we said before, our music is heavily influenced by classic rock infused with modern elements. We’re a bunch of East Coast guys trying to sound West Coast.
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TYF: If you could only play one of your songs for the rest of your career, which would it be and why?
McFly: We’re all very fond of playing I’m Free off of In Itinere. It’s got a mellow, laid-back vibe with a 60’s pulse which gets us boppin’ around on stage. This is the song that we get to goof around during.
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