Interviews: Undesirable People

Undesirable People caught a lot of people by surprise in 2012. With word spreading on the band's sound and illustrious efforts in the Detroit local scene, they began to chalk up quite a following, building on the small fanbase they had previously. Gaining notoriety as one of the most underrated bands in the area, as well as some of the coolest and most down-to-earth guys plying their trade on the scene, their self-titled EP gained some acclaim in 2011.
That paved the way for more tours but more specifically, a bit more trudging on in the studio to churn out Eugenics in the latter half of 2012, which was even better received. They caught up with Punknews staff writer Renaldo Matadeen to chat about how this heightened success goes a long way to getting their name out a bit more, and exactly how music ties into the lives of a couple of guys actually meting out a living the conventional way.

How would you guys describe the 2012 EP?

Transition…progress…evolution, for sure. We picked up a few new members before
Eugenics
and with a solidified lineup, we were able to grow as a band and write a much different EP than our debut. I think the direction we’re heading for is something that’s very exciting and refreshing for all. "Basement Talk" was actually the first song we wrote for Eugenics. In a way, it kind of set the mood for us writing the remainder of the EP. Lyrically, it is a song about coming to terms with the inevitable. It’s about the pains of deciding whether to break away or keep pushing on. "Animals" was the last track we wrote before we hit the studio. It’s a little different from the rest of the album, but it’s a lot of fun to play. It’s about doing things not exactly by the book. Doing what feels right no matter what people expect.

What influences your sound?

We come from a wide range of musical backgrounds. Some members are trained in theory and grew up listening to jazz/classical and the like, while others grew up on punk rock or hip-hop. We never try to completely emulate our influences, but in some way or another they do come into play. Really, we don’t think into it all that much when we write. We just sit down in a basement and play loud. All of us have been in different bands in the Detroit scene for over six years now. We’ve been very lucky and privileged to meet a lot of awesome bands and people that are always willing to help and show support. I can’t say the scene is as amazing as it was years ago, but there is always a sense of companionship that we all truly love about the Michigan music scene. Getting out of Michigan really hasn’t been much of a problem for us. Of course, the wonderful internet has helped us network with tons of bands out of state.

What record are you listening to these days and which band would you advise folks to check out?

Really wish we could only name one! Collectively, we have been listening to a lot of new releases. Check out Mumford & Sons, Title Fight, Bad Books, Hot Water Music & Hostage Calm’s newest albums. Our dream tour would be…Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Hot Water Music, Saves The Day and Bayside.

How has this year been with South Division Records?

South Division has been a great help to us. Do whatever you can do to get your music to as many people as possible. We never worry about making a ton of money. There’s a certain dedication between bands and labels that’s very hard to find. If you happen to find that and it sounds like the best idea for your band, go for it! Thanks for an amazing year, and that's to all our fans also…here’s to another!

What's next in store?

Unfortunately, we are at home right now. Most of us work jobs in the wonderful field of retail. That makes touring around the holiday season a little difficult. Hopefully one day soon we’ll be able to survive off of music alone, until then we’ll be selling cameras to old people on weekdays. We do have some great local shows lined up in the next few months. We’ll be joining the Swellers and Diamond Youth at the Magic Stick for local shows. Pretty excited for that one. We’ll continue touring early in 2013, so keep an eye out for that. We’re coming to make snow angels with you.