© Sumner Howells
Snarls is an alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. Their new EP In Heaven There's Rainbows explores themes of doubt, determination, love, and loss through grungy guitars and etheral vocals. Snarls will be touring the US with Future Teens this June. We caught up with Riley Hall (vocals, bass) to discuss the making of In Heaven There's Rainbows, embracing a louder and more confident sound, and building a band rooted in friendship and community.
The B-Side Hour: Your new EP In Heaven There's Rainbows takes a louder, grungier and rawer direction than your previous work. Was that evolution intentional from the start, and what were you looking to express through it?
Riley Hall: Definitely intentional. There was a conversation we had about what direction we wanted to focus on with this EP, and our main conclusion was that we wanted to feel like a sexy rock band while playing these songs. It's funny to say like that but there is a vision of confidence we wanted to embody for this release so, naturally we knew the music needed to match the vibe.
The B-Side Hour: You've described the EP as 'just friends in a basement making the best possible music they can'. How important is it for you to hold onto that spirit as the band keeps growing?
Riley Hall: It's everything! I think it's safe to say that over the years we've built a rock-solid connection with each other in the foundation of that spirit. For me personally, music has always been a sacred thing that I've intimately shared whether in my mom's basement as teenagers with Chlo, or with Mick when I first started gaining the courage to sing covers in front of anybody at all. We were most certainly the little girls singing with hairbrush microphones in the mirror. That's something that just hasn't left us all this time.
"We want all of our listeners to be able to experience these songs how we did when we wrote them"
The B-Side Hour: How has your dynamic as a band evolved over the years, especially with Mike joining?
Riley Hall: Knowing each other for so long has always made it feel like a little family. Mike is the perfect addition to the mix. Aside from being hilarious and always looking out for good food, he's helped us really hone in on the vision in a new way. We've always taken this band seriously and wished for growth, but now we're all in this part of life where we aren't satisfied with needing the 9-5 to pay the bills. It's like he's brought more fuel to the fire that we started and now we wanna take over the world haha.
The B-Side Hour: What were some of the biggest influences behind this record?
Riley Hall: Wolf Alice is the blueprint in our minds, but we all dove into the 90's for this one. Deftones, Third Eye Blind, Garbage, and pretty much all the loud sounds that make you want to go crazy in the pit. Can't forget Alanis Morissette too. Her iconic vocals really inspired Chlo and I to let loose and make these songs feel earnest.
The B-Side Hour: Your live shows have always been a big part of your identity as a band. Did the energy of playing live influence the way you approached this EP creatively?
Riley Hall: Heck yeah it did. The first version of creating this EP was seeing ourselves as, again, a sexy as hell rock band. Making the music was the bridge to that idea. It's made this feel like a new era for us.
"We wish, we wish, with all our hearts to be together for as long as possible"
The B-Side Hour: Speaking of live shows, you're heading on tour with Future Teens at the end of June. How do you imagine these new songs translating in a live setting?
Riley Hall: RIPPIN' but also raw. We want you to jump around and maybe shed a tear! Seriously though, we want all of our listeners to be able to experience these songs how we did when we wrote them.
The B-Side Hour: There's a real emotional honesty running through the EP, especially on a track like What's Inside Of Me. What does your songwriting process look like when tapping into something so personal?
Riley Hall: A lot of contemplation in silence haha. We wrote all the lyrics together huddled in Mick's home studio. Turns out that articulating those parts of ourselves takes quite a bit of time and thought, especially when you want the message to stick.
"Our main conclusion was that we wanted to feel like a sexy rock band while playing these songs"
The B-Side Hour: You sing 'If you light a match, you gotta let it burn'. How important as going all in been for you, both creatively and personally?
Riley Hall: 'All in' is kind of our mantra at the moment. You can't get to the next level when your eggs are in too many baskets even in everyday life. It's a great lesson to find what you're capable of when you don't let anything else hinder you.
The B-Side Hour: What are you hoping listeners connect with or take away from In Heaven There's Rainbows?
Riley Hall: Every part of life is something to hold gratitude for, whether you feel high or low. The phrase itself, 'in heaven there's rainbows' is kind of a literal statement that not everything is happy and perfect all the time. There's always something to take away from every experience you have. Knowing what you can learn is one thing, but accepting it and taking it in stride is what can propel you to your dreams.
The B-Side Hour: With a title like One Wish, your latest single, we have to ask: what's one wish you hold onto right now, either personally or as a band?
Riley Hall: We wish, we wish, with all our hearts to be together for as long as possible. To be able to share this incredible gift we have all created. Also, to be able to quit our jobs lol.
Tickets to Snarls' upcoming tour with Future Teens
Purchase / stream In Heaven There's Rainbows