Artist Profile: Several Other Ghosts

Name:

Several Other Ghosts (Brandon Mackie, Nolan Rasar, Justin Bulk-Harden)

Hometown:

Marysville + Mill Creek

Your Medium/Craft:

Songwriter/Storytellers

Years doing your craft:

3 Years (initially, solo)

How did you first get started in your craft?

I (Brandon) have been writing and experimenting with storytelling in music for a number of years now. It was around my sophomore year of high school I began to take the craft seriously and started pursuing music full time.

The idea of "Several Other Ghosts" as a group effort has been with me for quite some time actually, long before I met the guys that would form the lineup even. You could say the music had a different timeline however, as the recording process of our debut album was completed before officially bringing on Nolan and Justin. It's quite an apt representation, that debut, of why I (as well as the rest of the band) write music at all. There's always been a large element of our process that feels very much out of our hands; we wouldn't have it any other way. Why we create music at all is a question we constantly confront ourselves with and I've found the band's existence to be such a clear answer to that. We feel as people with ability to express, regardless of medium, we have a responsibility to share the stories we're gifted with. This is everything that Several Other Ghosts means to us.

We started labeling our sound as "acoustic jam rock", which has turned out to be a uniquely appropriate description. SOG has always had a root in folk music, although its collided head-on with an unbridled energy of more fuller rock sounds. I've left sets with bloody fingers, the drum kits been thrown over before. Diversifying a night with intimate exchanges and high energy expression is a something we pride ourselves in doing.

A whirlwind of influence, as well as sonic transformation, has occurred since releasing our first effort "Ghost Stations". We're enthusiastic looking forward, as our sound evolves and our hopeful involvement in the local music scenes deepens.

Favorite Artist(s) and/or Inspirations?

We harbor a diverse range of influence, but some of the top picks among the group are acts such as Mutemath, Jim Croce, Novo Amor, Kings Kaleidoscope, Jon Bellion, Dominic Fike, Little Image, as well as the local inspirer Shoecraft.

Favorite Piece You've Created?

I think my favorite at the moment is a track off our debut called 'My Chest Hurts". It's one of the first full songs I created; it came in a flurry, birthed from a time of complex longing. It's in many ways paradoxical, and for that reason it seems to grow with me.

What’s the most challenging part of being an artist, or something you had to overcome?

Walking off a stage or away from a session feeling unfulfilled is something we've felt all too often. I think reigniting the passion for creating at all, with expectations completely aside, is often one of the biggest challenges. It can be conflicting, balancing the metaphoric temperament of creating, with the fearful nature of prioritizing transparency. Yes, we experience the seemingly 'unfair' compensation of the typical starving artist, but much more than this the inner conflict of creating stands out. The discipline in doing what I love is my favorite struggle in this thing; I'm grateful for that process.

How can people be supportive of the arts?

I've found the most rewarding way to be seeing local bands play live. Connecting to the folks creating as well as their music in real time has always been far more fulfilling to me. As much as it is a fantastic way to discover new tunes, it's also most band's bread and butter, so start seeing some bands you've never heard of; I promise you will be pleasantly surprised.

Favorite place in Everett to eat?

I'm obsessed with the deli at the Sno-Isle Co-op (and everything there, for that matter). None of us are picky, and everything in downtown is real solid so you won't hear us complaining. Major League Pizza is also a childhood favorites of Nolan's, apparently.

Favorite place in Everett to hang?

Narrative Coffee has always been the spot...if we're not there we're almost certainly hanging at Summit Everett.

Favorite quote and/or words to live by?

The phrases "Everything's New" and "Day One" have been close to our hearts for quite some time now, Nolan and Myself (Brandon) actually have those tattooed. At its heart it's just the concept that your mistakes don't have to shape your future, that every thing and day can be new, and that we're all forgiven.

What's next for you?

We're really excited to make some noise at The Black Lab Gallery with some of our buddies come March 6th! We've got a couple other local shows coming up, plus we're writing a ton these days too. Really excited to share some of our new sounds with the folks in the local scene soon.

Where can people see more of your art?

You can always catch us on Instagram. We'd really love to see some folks out at some of the shows coming up too! Always looking for people to hang and play with; seems the more people we meet the more I fall in love with the local scene.

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