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OnesToWatch: Love bands. Why are you a band?

Hayden Field: I guess that happened without us really thinking about it because we initially we were a band because we wanted to play, like we just wanted to play covers or any song at the local bar, so you need a band, a group of guys to do that. And then it kind of morphed into you know sharing original music and recording original music, and so just the nature of already being in a group and already being in a band kind of was the reason we're in a band. I do like that question, but I don't think we really thought about that much.

How about this? Why aren't you a DJ collective then?

Chase Perkins: Because I think we all felt a calling to the live rock and roll music.

Hayden Field: We all played instruments. 

Let's get into the writing process. It always fascinates me. You know, most people these days write themselves, their laptop, maybe one other person. It's a pretty small cadre of people working on it. Obviously, inherently with a group, you guys need to share and collaborate more. So, is there a process? Do you guys all bring things individually? Do you have roles? How does a song come together generally?

Hayden Field: Generally, I'll bring full parts of songs or just an idea for songs. The most collaborative part about it is sharing ideas, and then getting the whole group's opinion and perspective on what we want to work on. Once we decide what we want to work on, everybody's adding their own parts, and we're figuring out arrangements. Should I play this here? Should we change this chord progression here? I like this part, let's do that twice.

That type of collaboration, is that discussed? Do you guys jam and work on things and trial different things? Is it both?

Jacob Rhodes: I'd say it's a mix of both. I think, yeah, like for example, I will like send the band 15 voice memos, there'll be a verbal discussion of everybody's opinion. Then we'll jam and play off of each other to dictate other things. So some things are more spoken, and I think some things are more kind of second nature.

Love it. When you guys are coming up with concepts, what is the core inspiration? Is it melody, top line? Is it thematic? How do you normally get into the songwriting mode?

Hayden Field: For me, it's always been – and I'm trying to broaden the horizons a little bit –but top line melody for sure is always what I like. Growing up, for whatever reason, I was like, a song is good if the top line melody is good, and that's just the way my brain works. But there's so much more to a song than that.

Ian Marmont: I'm curious, when y'all are listening to stuff or writing stuff, what are you concerned with?

Got a new interviewer.

Ian Marmont: I know what I think, but whenever I send y'all stuff or y'all are writing stuff, like I am kind of curious. 

Chase Perkins: I'd say memorable lyrics or visual lyrics, something that sticks out. But I'm also very driven to guitar stuff as well as the guitar players. I feel like it's a lot of listening around to what other people are doing and taking notes. Especially with rhythm.

Jacob Rhodes: Yeah. Always look to play something simplistic but dynamic that doesn't take over a song. When the drums take over a song. I feel there's so much more space that could be had for guitars and bass and all that good stuff. 

Given you guys have had some success as a band, what do you think is your signature version of success? What works best for you guys? You've been touring. You've seen the things. What works best for you guys in terms of just keeping the band together, cohesion?

Hayden Field: I think to me, just night in and night out, playing a good live show always seems to drive things up for our business, and just staying tight and communicative as a group of four brothers as well is really what keeps us moving. 

Let's talk about your most recent project. How old are these songs? Is this a time and place? Was it pulling stuff to try to match a tempo, a theme? How did it all come together?

Hayden Field: Our album that just came out, it really is the collection of a lot. We moved to Nashville June 1, 2025, after graduating all from LSU, and the songs are really just from the past years. We were blessed with opportunity to work on this full time, and the four of us really put our heads down. It happened so quickly and we haphazardly decided that we're doing this. I don't think any of us would have had it any other way.

A graduation gift to yourselves. What were the themes or inspiration for it? 

Hayden Field: When we moved to Nashville, I remember we all had to call jobs and opportunities to tell them we were going to be in this band instead. That was in February. There's inspiration in the record from the whiplash of that decision. Also for me, and I think for all of us, moving to Nashville is the first time we ever lived or moved from Louisiana. In a way, it's also strange and isolating to be in a band from where we're from, because it's not the expectation. A lot of the songs I think are about that change and hoping that we can stack up to the opportunity that was given to us. 

I got to ask, what were the jobs, the alternates? 

Chase Perkins: Probably something in engineering, like maybe working at a refinery. 

Ian Marmont: Yeah, yeah. I was gonna go to law school. Either that or be a CPA somewhere.

Hayden Field: I was gonna work at a bank. 

Jacob Rhodes: I was gonna take a job in Florida to be a structural engineer.

Oh my God, you guys are like the most well-educated band. I know it's a little hard to answer as a group, but as this album comes to fruition, do you have an ambition for the record, for yourselves, and also for your audience? 

Chase Perkins: When I hear music that brings me a feeling of nostalgia or happiness, I think that is like my favorite type of music. So I hope that people can feel that feeling conveyed through some of our songs.

Jacob Rhodes: I second that. I just hope the songs connect with people. One of the songs that's already out, "Seasons Change." It's like, everybody goes through changes. I feel like our experience and some of the things we're talking about can be applicable to anybody's lives. I hope it connects with people and also makes them want to come see a show and enjoy that experience. Because recording the music is really fun, but playing the show live is where you get to see the tangible connection.      

Chase Perkins: I think the music is very suited for a good live show too. Some of the songs, like "Seasons Change" have more that anthemic, big feel, so I think it's going to make for the live show to be really exciting once all these songs are out in the world and digested and stuff like that.

Hayden Field: We love playing them live too. 

Gonna pivot to some more fun questions. Who is the zen mediator of the group?

Jacob Rhodes: Guess that would be me. 

Who's the wild one?

The Bends: Ian.

Who is the one that can bring everyone back on course, keep you on task?

Hayden Field: I feel like Chase is good if we're arguing about something, he'll come in with the fourth opinion and just be like, do this, and that's what we're gonna do.

Ian Marmont: Jay seems to be pretty objective. 

If you guys are hungry, who can whip up a meal? Who's the cook?

The Bends: Jake's cooking.

Jacob Rhodes: I do a good fillet, to be honest. You sear it on the cast iron on high for about two minutes with some butter, some garlic compound butter. You take the cast iron, put it in the oven at 450 for about five minutes. Put butter on top before you put it back in, so it stays moist in the pan, doesn't burn the bottom of it.  

If you could go anywhere to be at your most calm, your most zen, your happiest place. Where where would it be? What would you be doing?

Chase Perkins: For me it'd be my hunting camp in South Louisiana.

Hayden Field: I like the mountains, Colorado, Rocky Mountains.

Ian Marmont: Maybe like Florida somewhere. Destin. Because that's nostalgic for me. Because my family always goes to Destin. 

Jacob Rhodes: Kind of like Hayden said, maybe not mountains, but a nice forest. Just go for a little trail walk.   

Last couple questions. I'm going to ask each one of you two questions. Would love a non-music recommendation. And then a music rec. 

Chase Perkins: Non-music, I've gotten into cooking lately, which has been nice. It's a nice step aside for me. 

What got you there? 

Chase Perkins: It was when we moved away. I learned to appreciate the time that it takes to cook for yourself. Music-wise, I've been listening to a band called The Hellp lately.      

Jacob Rhodes: I'd say for me, if people are able to get the opportunity to go snow skiing, it's probably my favorite physical activity to do in the world. It's not the easiest thing to pick up, but I like the peace. Sometimes I like to get treacherous with the terrain. Sometimes I like to just cruise and lose. I think that's it's just incredibly peaceful and I'm able to reset. And then the album Cub by wunderhorse. Throw that on and go for a run. It'll change your life. 

Hayden Field: I'm reading this book right now called "The Power of Now." The short description of it is to control your thinking and not let your thinking control you. One thing I never realized growing up was how much you think without thinking, and it can be pretty liberating to control your thoughts, and subsequently your emotions. So I throw people on that and be a Jedi. For music, JJ Kale is the most underrated musician, I think.    

Ian Marmont: My non-music rec is that everybody once in their life, should watch The Godfather Part One and Part Two. Everybody once in their life should watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy extended edition. And then music rec, I'd say, learn drums.

Respect that. And then lastly, want to end on anything you guys want to share.

Chase Perkins: I think while going on tour, especially if it's your first tour, trying to maintain some sort of physical exercise is really good for your mental health. 

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