by Mely Duong
(photos by Natalia Gubinski)
American Pinup is a New York band originating in 2010 and currently signed to Altercation Records. Although they are technically classified as a mix of indie rock, pop, punk and surf music, their name reminds us of the subversive yet innocent and fun nature of American pinup culture. This same attitude is reflected in much of their music and their presence as a band in the industry. To go even further, their name alludes to the similarity between sex, music and artistic performance as they have become a commodity, in other words a consumable product. The name itself seems to insinuate quite a bit. However, the band insists that they do not represent anything at the current moment.
“I think you find [your purpose] out later, after your band has come and gone from its highest point of success, wherever that is. I think your fans and cultural landscape will assign a purpose for you and it’s not necessarily something you get to choose,” states Lauren West, vocalist.
American Pinup consists of four members: Lauren West (vocalist and guitarist), Rob Peralta (guitarist), Tim Robbins (bassist and backup vocalist), and John Casale (drummer). In terms of song writing, West and Robbins write much of the songs, while West writes all the lyrics. There is no set pattern for their musical writing though, as sometimes West will write a song top to bottom over the span of a few months. Other times, she will have a nearly finished song and the band will collaborate on a full band arrangement, or she works off of a riff or a chord progression someone else initiates. Regardless, the arrangement of the song requires utmost team work and has truly portrayed the partnership and chemistry amongst the members.
All of the songs are also a direct highway to West’s thoughts and experiences. Her experience as a female vocalist in the industry has been a minor challenge. She admits that women face more adversity in most professions and must strive for respect. “But women are getting it done. This year was a great year for women in mainstream music…it’s not like being a woman makes it harder to be a musician. You’re just a different kind of musician than a man is. Your identity informs your work and the way you manage your career. Those things are inextricable for everyone.”
Some of their strongest songs include “Far Away” and “Storm Chaser” for those wanting to check out American Pinup’s music. If you think those are good, just wait for their new and unreleased stuff, which is even better indicates West.
Even though the band has been around for four years, their unique sound has not changed, rather it is more refined and mature. That comes naturally as they hone their skills and invest more time and thought into their songs. Because their sound is so broad and appeals to such a vast audience, they are provided the opportunity to write whatever they want and to really experiment with different directions. Despite the differing influences, American Pinup is a band that trusts their own tastes, which has guided them well so far. Their strength lies in their dedication. They spend countless hours working out arrangements, fine tuning each song, and practicing. It pays off because they deliver strong authentic material.
On the contrary, their biggest weakness is managing their time. American Pinup loves touring but with the resources they have, they are unable to tour as much as they wish. “We do everything ourselves and balancing all of the responsibilities that come with essentially running a business, plus being performers, is really a challenge,” comments West.
American Pinup plans to record this January and prepare for possible tours in the upcoming year. To learn more about the band visit the following:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Twitter: @american_pinup
Instagram: @americanpinupgram
Website: www.americanpinup.net
