“What keeps me going? The mystery of this strange place. When we don’t know about things it keeps us going, enthralls and entices us, and keeps us working towards the impossible.”

The Midnight Hollow is composed of singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist Spencer Draeger, Andrew Segreti on drums, Matt Leibowitz on bass and Vahak “V” Janbazian on percussion. And their sound makes me feel kind of nostalgic. The talented psychedelic moody rock band from New York City writes music that carries you along on a wave of eclectic complexity. We talked to Spencer Draeger about the bands future, meaning of songs and todays society.

What´s the inspiration behind the name “The Midnight Hollow”

It’s only a name and our parents usually pick those for us. I’m Poppa (and Momma) and I had this kid pop out that just had a dumb blank look on his face. At the time, I was frustrated with my life so I said you’re going to be dark and I’m sure everyone’s going to confuse you with “Sleepy Hollow,” the story about the headless horse man, and for that careless mistake you will sever and melt their faces! Kids just never behave the way the parents intended though, so sometimes The Midnight Hollow can have a melodic, dreamy sound that just chills you. I kind of fall in love when the songs soothe that way. It’s all unpredictable and you can’t really control it. But I let The Midnight Hollow kind of live it’s life and try not to judge it. You just need to let those reigns loose to see where it takes you.

And what is a typical day in the life of you all?

Hot tubbing in our penthouse suites while listening to Steely Dan laughing at how easy and care free our lives have become in New York. There’s just too much time and we just like to spend it in our ivory towers away from humanity. Check our instagram for more updates on how amazing our lives are!

“Forward” – a song about?

I never like to pigeonhole the meanings of my songs but since this track was a bit ambiguous I’ll try to decode it a little. Lyrically “Forward” is a satirical approach to how often we sit in front of each other and how we just try to get to the bottom line instead of hearing the whole story. We live in such extremes and can get a little neurotic and self-conscious when we live in the gray between what society values as black and white. The meaning is pretty broad but it encompasses the identity of the EP and contains the the lyric which titles the album “For The People Inside.” We live in a place where saying less is much more and I think the central theme is how we are all so influenced by the quotas and standards of information allowed. Don’t be too much of anything at all, but to be heard you have to be “extremely” sure of yourself and I think society tends to favor the polarized. I feel “Forward” was just a reaction to those around me and myself feeling honestly insecure competing in a world that’s built on extremes and confidence.

And what keeps you going?

The mystery of this strange place. I think we’re all in love with a fantasy of some kind and living in mystery is the only way to maintain the day to day reality. When we don’t know about things it keeps us going, enthralls and entices us, and keeps us working towards the impossible. The less I focus on others, the easier it gets to contribute to my own voice. When people take the time to support it, well that’s a huge achievement and that’s what keeps everything going.

You are happiest when:

I get to touch people. (No not like that).

And besides music, what makes you feel good?

I think when you get a moment with someone outside of the daily grind that you can share, like going upstate or going to a small town, it can freeze time. When I’m passing through or getting a drink at the local bar I like to pretend I’m someone else and wonder if I’d end up where I currently am sometimes. When I think of the past it’s often riddled with memories of traveling and places I went to with someone. Going to new places with those I love makes me feel like I’m making the most of time.

New York on a rainy day?

Singing in the rain

Do you have any tatoos?

Yes, I think I saw somewhere that kids are coming out of the womb with tattoos now. I have a woman holding a picture frame around herself. She’s like the artist and the art at the same time. In a way that’s how we are in what we create, naked and vulnerable.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Reading about the greatest bands in the world that I’ve never heard of, and trying to explain to my family why I’m not on American Idol.

The most important thing in life?

Giving a fuck / Creating a memory every day.