Q: The band has worked hard to get where you are now. You first started playing at small clubs in Nyack, such as Olives. Can you briefly describe how the band got started and how you worked your way up to where you are now?

 Honor Society came out of the break up of the band I was in all through high school and college called Velvet Frogg. I remember being devastated for a second but immediately turning it into an opportunity for me to start something I was truly happy with. We started the way most bands start, writing songs, rehearsing, playing tiny clubs. We saved money to make a few EPs and always made sure to connect with our fans on a real level, not just to make fans. 

Q: Do you feel that being from a town so close to New York City has helped you as a band? In what ways?

Absolutely. I’ve always been SO grateful to grow up so close to NYC and then to go to NYU and live in Manhattan. There is no energy in the world like the energy in New York. I loved being able to get influenced musically by the suburbs and the city. It also made it very attainable to be able to make contacts in the music industry. 

Q: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration?

Life. There is always a certain amount of creativity that goes into it, but whether you mean to or not you’re always writing about your life.  

Q: What is your usual songwriting process? How long does it usually take?

The process is always a little different but it usually starts with a title, then playing around with some chords or a riff. It can take 15 minutes or years haha.  

Q: How do your newer songs differ from your older material?

I think our newer material will have more attention on the lyrics.  

Q: You guys have been in LA for a while now, how does the music scene there differ from the music scene in NY?  Which do you prefer?

I personally prefer the NY music scene. LA is where things come once they’re successful but NY to me is more on the cusp of what’s happening next.  

Q: A lot of friendships have been created with the help of the band because people can bond over similar interests (like mine and the “group texters”), how do you feel about that?

Honestly not to sound too deep but one day (hopefully 80 years from now) when I’m gone, my music will still be here and those friendships Honor Society has helped spark will be there too. It means a lot that we’ve been able to bring people together rather then tear them apart.  

Q: You have given music out for free in the past, what do you think about the illegal downloading of music that has been happening for the past few years?

It’s the ultimate bummer. Almost no other profession on Earth is it socially acceptable for people to get a person’s services for free. Yes, music is art and art should be shared but at the end of the day we live in a society that requires people to make a living and it has certainly hindered people’s livelihoods. 

And lastly.. it wouldn’t be an interview without my South pride and Mike’s pride for North…

Q: What is the name of your favorite high school in Rockland?

     a) South        b) South

     c) South        d) South

This is a trick question …. CLARKSTOWN NORTH RAMS BABY!