Artist Spotlight: Echosmith [Interview]

They may not hail from Utah, but when we heard Echosmith was rolling through SLC during their 2022 concert tour, we couldn’t pass up the chance to chat with them for our November Artist Spotlight in advance of their 11/9 show at Soundwell. The sibling trio shared what it’s like to be back on tour together for the first time in almost three years, what inspires their music these days, and what they’re aspiring towards in the new year.

Name: Echosmith

Members: Sydney Sierota (vocals, keys, guitar), Noah Sierota (bass, vocals, production), and Graham Sierota (drums)

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Genre: Indie Pop

Fun Fact: “We are big foodies, our whole family. We get really excited being on tour because you never know what you’re going to end up eating and we try to hit up all the classic spots wherever we are. Red Iguana is a very central spot for us in Salt Lake City. We do that every single time we pass through town and get the mole platter.”

Who are some of the band’s biggest musical influences?

“We’ve always loved The Killers and Coldplay. We love the 80s new wave music as well: The Cures, The Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen. Those are some we’ve always pulled inspiration from since the beginning so it’s cool now to continue to be inspired by them, but also find some new ones and be inspired by all sorts of music, like Kacey Musgraves.”

Who is the biggest jokester in the band? 

“We all have a sense of humor, but I think I (Noah) joke the most. I tend to make a lot of jokes when everyone is tired … Some people say it’s bad timing.”

Who is most likely to be late to practice?

“Probably me (Sydney), but I have a lot more to do to get ready to be fair. They do give me a run for my money sometimes though!”

What previous albums and releases do you currently have out? 

Talking Dreams – 2013
Inside a Dream EP – 2017
Lonely Generation – 2020
“Hang Around” – 2022
“Cool Kids (our version) – 2022
“Gelato” – 2022

What was the inspiration behind your recent release “Gelato”? 

“‘Gelato’ was a fun song to write. It sounds really fun and that’s what people pick up on the surface. But it was also inspired by the woes of life … Sometimes you need to put those aside and choose to not worry about tomorrow. This song is addressing that feeling and taking a break from the things that really weigh us down to try to be present no matter where you’re at. It’s a really fun song to play live and bring to life in that setting.”

And how about “Hang Around”? 

“‘Hang Around’ is a song that came about from conversations Sydney and I (Noah) were having about our relationships. We’ve both been married for many years now, which is such a gift and we appreciate the people in our relationships so much. For us, independence is great, but in our relationships, there has to be some sort of dependency because at the end of the day we all need each other. And we have people in our lives who care for us and sometimes all you want to do is just hang around with that person … that kind of feeling feels so heaven-sent.”

So your re-recorded Cool Kids (our version). The original song was a hit and it’s recently gone pretty viral and has had a total resurgence through social media (primarily TikTok reels) since its release in 2013. What’s that been like?

“It’s been so cool to see all of these people relate to this song all over again. I still relate to it so much. Yea, it looks different than how I related to it when I was 15 when we wrote it, but even being 25 and still figuring out who I am and how to be comfortable in my own skin, I can still really see myself in this song … It’s been really special to see people tell their stories of the journeys they’ve been on and the growth they’ve seen in their own life and they’re using our song as their soundtrack!”

@auroravk finally a cool kid &lt3 #coolkids #fyp #foryou ♬ Cool Kids (Sped-Up Version) – Echosmith

@christian.d_1 Biggest flex♡ ♡ #fypシ #trend #coolkids #christiandavebou ♬ Cool Kids (Sped-Up Version) – Echosmith

“That’s what inspired us to make this new version. We didn’t really expect to do it, but people were really feeling seen with this song and that’s when we decided to write the new bridge and ultimately, re-record the whole thing. It felt like a really cool full-circle moment for us as a band and a family. It’s also really shown the musical and creative growth in the past 10 years. I love the original version, but this really captures who Echosmith is in 2022.”

What current projects and new releases are in the works? 

“We have an unreleased song that we’re playing on tour so that will likely release next. We have a lot of songs written that need to be recorded once we’re off the road and the goal, ultimately, is to release a new album that’s more honest than ever. We want to wear our hearts on our sleeve — musically, creatively, emotionally.”

What’s it like being on the road together and, in general, spending so much time with your siblings? 

“We’ve been doing this for 16 years, which is kind of mind-blowing. We don’t know anything different. We really enjoy what we get to do and we see it as something we GET to do. Doing this with anyone else would be completely different. We have that comfort and can be really honest with each other about what we need. It makes those band dynamics so much easier and feel like we can really just be ourselves and relax when we’re together.”

Where can we see you play next?

“We’ll be at Soundwell on November 9th! We love playing in Utah. We’re so excited for the Salt Lake show. The last time we were there it was the best crowd ever.”

As we near the end of the year, are some of the band’s goals and aspirations for 2023? Release a ton of new music

“We want to release a ton of music and tour a lot more. This tour has made us so excited to do as much as we can next year. We hope to see our friends in Utah a lot next year!”

Where is a dream venue the band would love to play at one day? 

“The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington … That venue looks insane. We played at Red Rocks and that was legendary.”

What do you want fans to feel when they listen to your music?

“We want our fans to feel seen when they listen to our music. We want to wear our hearts on our sleeves. If telling one story of something we went through can make even one person feel less alone, that’s a goal accomplished for us. We want them to feel loved and cared for through it. That’s a goal for our music and our daily lives and interactions off-stage. That’s what really encourages us to keep going.”

Tickets to the Echosmith’s show at Soundwell can be found here. For more information on Echosmith, visit their webpage here and follow them on socials below. Check out all of Volume‘s previous artist spotlights here.