Exclusive: A Shipwreck A Castaway Interview

A Shipwreck A Castaway is a Pop Punk/Hardcore band from Riverside, CA who recently released an acoustic EP, entitled The Home Life, on Anchor Eighty Four Records. The band is also currently working on their debut full-length album, due out this year. We recently caught up with the band's drummer, Robby Stilwell, to discuss the above and much more!

Firstly, can you state your name and role in the band?

Robby: My name is Robby Stilwell and I'm the drummer and booking/press representative for A Shipwreck A Castaway.

The band started out in 2007, but tell us how you guys got together and chose the band name. I'm assuming you are/were fans of Chiodos?

Robby: It started as four of us just jamming in different garage bands and deciding to start something together in our senior year of High school. We were huge fans, they were a gateway band for us in High school and had a huge influence on our first EP. As for our name well we wrote a few songs for our first show but we were still nameless right up until that morning of thew show when I suggested the name for a temporary title... and I guess it just stuck haha.

Back in August 2010 the band signed with Los Angeles' Anchor Eighty Four Records - what has it been like working with the label since then?

Robby: To say the least it has been great. Cody is a super down to earth guy who loves music and the associated scene. He is easy to work with and has become a good friend and someone we hope to work with for a long time. The label has helped us with publication, promotion, and contacts which has been very beneficial for ASAC.

So in 2011 the band released the Life In General EP, as well as the acoustic The Home Life EP. What was the overall reception to Life In General like? What are your favourite songs from the EP to play live?

Robby: Honestly it's been a mixed opinion kind of thing. It seems that most people have embraced it positively and given good feedback, but on the other hand we have has negative criticism on the loss of a heavy aspect that we had in older music. Life In General had taken a turn away from our old more Metal sound towards a more fast paced Pop Punk sound... this wasn't necessarily intentional but more so what just came out... it was a reflection of our personal music influences and kind of where we were in life. This EP is all about the struggles we face everyday in life and just how we react to... from songs about bad luck to having issues with anger... it's all about how you deal with what your dealt.

It was great to see new and old tracks on the acoustic EP, I really think it came out great. Was the release a last minute idea or something you had planned in advance? Tell us a little about the EP.

Robby: Thanks haha, kind of both actually. We recorded I've Got A Bad Feeling About This months ago as incentive for people we met on Warped Tour to follow up on our music and updates via Facebook. Cody from Anchor 84 suggested we just go for an album that was all acoustic. It was at first just Life In General tracks, then we decided to go with our first song ever written, Dear Anna. Then we decided to do two original acoustic tracks. I lost my Mom to Lou Gehrig's disease a few years back which hit me pretty hard, and we know that this kind of thing is something that everybody can relate to one way or another so we wanted to express those feelings in a song. Unspoken was written to embody those feelings and how we deal with them. The Home Life was written and is almost taboo for a touring band. You hear all these Pop Punk bands, including us, who write about the joys of tour and being out on the road, but in the back of your mind you still get that feeling of being homesick. We try to be as real as we can and just write about stuff we deal with and loving where we come from and missing the things back home is one of those things.



You guys also had a hometown release show for the EP - what was the turnout for this like? Did you end up seeing many ugly Christmas sweaters?

Robby: The release was a lot better than what we had hoped for actually. It was in a living room of a friend of ours, Adrian of My Enemies Her", the place was packed and yes, there were a good amount of ugly sweaters haha. It was great to see people sing along with us... and it was really personal... we like to consider people our friends not just fans... this show really solidified that. It was great.

I understand the band is also working on its debut full-length set to be released this year - How's the progress on this coming along? When could we possibly expect a release or new material?

Robby: Great, we are pumping out songs like Octomom pumped out kids. The goal is to release it in 2012, so as far as that goes that is the best idea I have right now. We plan to release a teaser of some sort within the next few months so keep an eye out!

Nick also engineered, mixed, and mastered the acoustic tracks at his own studio - what was this experience like in comparison to hiring out a studio? Will you guys be recording here in the future, too?

Robby: We've always felt like studios that we have done work with are only waiting for you to pay them and don't really care what your music comes out like at the end of your session. It's like I tell any band contemplating working with him, Nick actually cares about your band and your music... he puts in work stresses on making it sound the best he can. We do pre-production with him, and may possibly do some tracking for the full length with him. If you are looking for an affordable, enjoyable recording experience with someone who knows music... I'd say go with Nick Mac studios.

Aside from working on the full-length album, what other plans does the band have for this year?

Robby: Shows, shows, and more shows. We are going to be getting out to some of the areas we hit while at Warped Tour to follow up as well as promoting at and hopefully playing some of the Warped tour dates this year.

Thanks for doing this, is there anything else you'd like to mention?

Robby: No problem, this is a great website and we hope to work with you guys more in the future! Pretty much just go to shows, support local bands, buy merch from them, and don't listen to dubstep. Check us out @ facebook.com/ashipwreckacastaway. May the force be with all of you... Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Friday, January 27, 2012  Mario  View Comments
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