Gamma People
- Awards and Nominations
- SAMMIES 2020 Nominee★ New Artist ★
- SAMMIES 2020 Nominee★ Punk/Post-punk ★
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Q & A
All-time favorite song?
02.12.20
"Seasons in the Abyss" by Slayer.
As a child growing up, music surrounds us. What type of music did you hear the most back then?
02.12.20
Yes, we play regularly around town and have played places like Press Club, Cafe Colonial and Harlow's. We have also played Chalk it Up and a local festival called DayDream Fest and we have a few house shows lined up, too! We love playing at any sort of venue from big to small!
How did it first start?
02.12.20
Amanda (lead singer) and I, Gabriel (drummer) had a band with my best friend called Krebtones. Me and Amanda wanted to play live a lot, and he wanted to focus more on recording and engineering rather than being in an active band, so we pretty much stopped playing after that. We had put out a music video and our guitarist/organist (Adam) saw it and emailed me, he was asking if we needed a fourth member, and sent me a file of him playing organ over the music video, and I was like, "This guy is so sick!"
Unfortunately when Krebtones ended, I had to take a step back from music. I had no desire to play whatsoever. So I denied him. I told him sorry, and that he was great but I can't. The next week I have a new email from him, asking if I was ready yet. I said no, but we would casually talk, and I kept denying him. This went on for a couple of MONTHS! Finally Amanda told me she had talked to him on the phone, and that if I wasn't going to start a band with them then she would and find another drummer. I gave in. We had two or three practices with Amanda on bass and vocals, Adam on guitar, and me on drums, when a promoter reached out to Krebtones to play a gig at Harlow's.
We explained our situation and told them to check out our new band Gamma People. We got onto the Harlows gig, then recruited Jono on guitar, and Dire on bass, written seven songs and perfected them to perform in only a month! It was like having a deadline and pushed us into the process of making music at an alarming rate!
How do you describe your interviews to people?
02.12.20
I describe our sound as being surf garage powerpop. It's really fun, danceable and has a vintage feeling to it.
Tell us about how you first started gigging.
02.12.20
We booked the Harlow's show, opening for The Buttertones. We also booked a show for a week later at Press Club with Captain Cutiepie and The Me Gustas. Then at our first show we were asked to play Chalk it Up, and soon after we were asked to open for Alice Bag at Cafe Colonial. So we were just thrust into playing shows really fast! Haha.
Tell us about your best gig in Sac.
02.12.20
Our best gig so far has been Harlow's, because it was to a sold-out crowd, and the amount of people we reached that night was crazy. It was an all ages show, so there were a lot of fans under 21, and the energy in the room was palpable. They were so enthusiastic and I probably found them as entertaining as they did us. I even saw one girl wiping tears from her eyes! The way they were looking at Amanda, interacting with her and hanging on her every word, it was just really moving. Shout out to all the fans that have supported us since day one!
Tell us about your worst gig.
02.12.20
The worst gig is a canceled gig. As long as we can get out and perform for someone, it's a success in my book.
What are your musical goals?
02.12.20
Right now, our goal is to get this record finished and released, while continuing to write new music progress and evolve and stay relevant in the local music scene. We don't have lavish, unrealistic goals, we just want to have fun and play, and meet new friends and bands!
What artist or band are you a little embarrassed to love, and why?
02.12.20
I am not embarrassed to like any music, because it has all formed me into being the person I am today, whether or not someone else considers it bad or good. It has helped me gain a diverse musical palette which has made me more tolerant, musically patient, and understanding. I have allowed music to help me grow, and not hinder me by feeling embarrassed by what I listen to. This way, I can always keep evolving musically, pull influence and forever be discovering through defamiliarization.
What did you want to be when you were 7?
02.12.20
When I was 7 years old I wanted to be a professional wrestler.
What drives you to keep interviewing even though the industry can be so harsh?
02.12.20
The thing that drives us to play is each other, the fans, and the music itself. Any other reason would be foolish.
What message do you hope to give with your music?
02.12.20
We want to inspire people to be the best they can be. We have a lot of lyrics about overcoming obstacles like heartbreak, relationships, and addiction and about making epiphanies about yourself. So we have a message of hope, but it's usually buried underneath a dancy rhythm and catchy melodies!
What was the first song you learned to play?
02.12.20
Probably "We Will Rock You" by Queen or a butchered version of Bill Ward's drum break from "Behind The Wall Of Sleep."
What's the story behind the band name?
02.12.20
We really wanted a name that would encapsulate the vintage vibe, and were having trouble thinking of one's that hadn't been taken. We threw out hundreds, and when we arrived to Gamma People, we were totally overloaded, thinking, "Is this even a good band name?" Our minds were so fried over thinking of names we couldn't even tell if it was good, but we all liked it. The whole time I just wanted to settle on something so we could focus on the music. People tend to put too much importance on band names I think, and they all sound a little funny or stupid at first.
The Gamma People is a movie from the 1950s and the name is kind of along the lines of our spooky, vintage, surf vibe. We are a lot more fun than the movie though!
What's your favorite jam from the '90s?
02.12.20
Probably "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJs, we have a surf version on Instagram!
What's your favorite local artist/group?
02.12.20
Phantom Jets, Pets, Mondo Deco, Celestions and the Bad Barnacles.
What’s your favorite song to perform live right now?
02.12.20
My favorite song to perform live is probably "Lizard Party," because it really gets a room shaking! It's usually our second song, so it gets people on board with what we are like and loosens them up. Another one I love to play is "Spacewinds," it's a little slower, later in the set and it's got these really beautiful guitar and vocal lines.
When did you play your first gig in Sac?
02.12.20
First Gamma People's first gig: June 12, 2019.
Who first inspired you to play music?
02.12.20
My brother inspired me to play music, we went in on our first guitar and amp together. In two weeks, he was holding it down and I could barely fret a chord. I always wanted to jam! A few years later I picked up drums and found my thing.
Who is your secret star crush?
02.12.20
Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres.
Words to live by?
02.12.20
Phone home.
Call your friends and family and make sure they're doing OK, tell them you love them.
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