Interview & Video Performance: Companion

by Erin Rice

Call it an identity crisis or simply growing up, but change is the name of the game of late for Dallas band, Companion. Formerly Hey Hollywood, the indie-pop quartet released their self-titled EP on Friday at Club Dada.

Though not entirely abandoning what made them successful before (Hey Hollywood was nominated for a Dallas Observer Best Act award in 2007), the group professes to have made a conscious decision to mature over the last year.

"We lost three or four different band members last year and through that had some new influences in our writing style," said lead singer and guitarist Alex Dean in a recent interview. "We decided to change our name to something more mature to reach a broader fan base."

The Companion EP delves into some deeper themes than previous efforts, but still has much of that pop feel. According to Dean, "It's a lot more focused. It's still indie-pop rock, but it's less bubble gum."

Another contributing factor to the new EP's more mature feel has been the collaboration between the members and a desire to move forward with their music. While working in everyone's varied interests (you'll probably never guess what album Dean admits to loving at the moment...) can be difficult, Companion recognizes it as a necessary process in their songwriting.

"The best part of our band is collaboration. That's also what made this record hard to write. A few of us were used to playing a certain type of music, but we were [also] trying to branch out. So we butted heads and there were a few arguments, but it turned out for the best."

The Companion EP was recorded over a span of two weeks at First Street Studio with Cody Bonnette (As Cities Burn) and Matt Lucas (Terminal). Having released the album, the group looks forward to promoting and pushing forward with the newer sound. Guitarist Chase Studdard, a more recent addition to Companion, summed up the band's mentality from this point on: "I have actually given up a lot to pursue this... I've devoted everything to going down this path because I think it's going to work."

Grab Bag

Pegasus News: What other bands influence you or are you listening to at the moment?

Shawn Spurrier (bassist): Man, it's really broad. Each member in this band has a totally different view on music. I'm into some indie stuff, folk, Fionn Regan. I mean, all kinds of people like that. And Alex has got his influences and he (points to Chase) likes hip-hop.

Chase: I mean, hip-hop's not my favorite, just to point that out. I just have to balance them out (points to Alex and Shawn).

Alex: Actually, my favorite album right now is Taylor Swift's, her new album. It's phenomenal. I've never been a fan of country music, but I love it.

Shawn: Can we make sure to cut that from the interview?

Alex: No! That's legit. But I'm pretty easy to please music-wise. I love Coldplay, Augustana, and Copeland.

Chase: Oh, we get to say that? Just for the record, my favorite band is The Early November. Not Kanye West. I just had to put that in there.

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Pegasus News: If you could tour with any band at any point in time, who would it be?

Shawn: I would play with The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds era.

Chase: I really like Jimmy Eat World. I would go on tour with them when they were still playing houses. That seems fun.

Shawn: Can we make it right after the house era?

Alex: I would probably just play with The Beatles. Just at some crappy bar, or at like the Casbah. Anywhere. That would be ridiculous.

Mike Bullock contributed to this story.