1. Hello Jack, Henry & Ben, can you guys tell me a little bit about yourselves before you formed your band Sloan Woolly?
We met in college out in California. We started gigging under the name “Mammoth”–mostly in frats and campus houses. We’d always have to scrape together equipment and lighting to get a show together, and the sound would be pretty crappy in these sweaty little rooms. But we learned quickly the way to get people excited was to bring big energy to the stage. And we learned to love playing together live. So we decided, once we graduated, that we’d get serious about it and make this project happen in Nashville.
2. How did you come up with the name Sloan Woolly for your band name and were there any other names you were going to pick instead?
We put out our first single under the name Mammoth, but ran into trouble because there were about a thousand other bands going by that name. So we always knew we’d have to change it, and spent months trying to come up with one we could all get behind. We agreed on “[Something] Woolly,” a nod to Mammoth. Our drummer at the time had a great aunt named Sloan Sloan, which we’d joke about ‘cause it was so absurd. So one day, Henry had the idea that we call ourselves Sloan Woolly, and it stuck.
3. What is the background story behind your latest music piece “Futures” (June 19th)?
Jack was drifting off at work and started thinking about his path to Nashville. A tiny wrinkle in the past could’ve put him just about anywhere else. His mom had been obsessed with the idea of string theory when he was a kid and was always talking about this idea of infinite realities all happening at once. So that became the main lyrical theme. All the futures each of us dream of, in spite of the path we’re stuck on–or blessed with. As we worked out the parts as a band, we found opportunities to shake up the rhythms a bit, and ended up with what we hoped was a new spin on a blues rock tune. It might be our favorite song to play live–it gets people up and dancing and gives us the opportunity to really lock in together as a band.
4. What are a few of your first albums you guys have ever listened to you?
Ben: AC/DC’s Highway to Hell. One of those CDs that was in my dad’s car that I begged to hear every time I got in.
Jack: Al Green’s Greatest Hits. Like with Ben, the album just sat in my dad’s car for years. So I knew it back and forth by the time I was in high school.
Henry: Sugar Ray’s 14:59. My mom loved that record.
5. How would you guys describe your music in 3 to 5 words?
Old jukebox up in flames.
6. What is your recording process like when creating new music?
Meeting our producer, Mike Fahey, was a huge break for us. He gets the kinky classic rock sound we’re going for and understands how to capture the feel of a live show. Performing live is, individually and collectively, our favorite part of being in this band, and we wanted all the new tracks to reflect that.
In the month leading up to our studio time, we rehearsed our booties off to lock down every arrangement and get them as tight as we possibly could. We considered the studio a chance to record our live show and ended up with basic tracks for eight songs on the first day. This was a crucial foundation. Then we got to experiment. We tacked on layers of synths, percussion–all sorts of little touches here and there–with the goal of sustaining the live feel of the tracks, but adding some flair with the tools available to us in the studio.
7. What are a few of your guys’ favorite quotes?
“Love Anyway.”
-Mother Teresa
8. Is there anything else you would like to share?
We’re just excited to get these tracks out into the world. Moving to Nashville has been a dream and we couldn’t have imagined this place would feel like home so quickly. It’s a remarkable community and we count ourselves lucky to be a part of it. We can’t wait to get back to performing live and see our friends again. In the meantime, be sure to connect with us on social media and stream our music anywhere you can find music digitally!
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