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Interview with Propel
By: Caz* Bevan
 Where are you from?
Berkeley, California by way of Miami, Florida.
What is your story?
After attending music school, being in two big local bands, and having tastes of indie labels coming at us - I eventually took all my learnings and applied them to what is now today known as Propel. I began singing, changed my writing style through discourse and melody. I found a bigger sound with bigger melodies, and thus the origin of Propel was born long ago but not realized to very recently.
Why do you want to record and release your own music?
To express myself for the rest of my life.
Who is your fan/customer?
Those who enjoy songwriters; who speak from the heart in their music. Age range is unlimited ideally, from say 16-40: indie/emo listeners would be quite fond of Propel.
What are your songs about?
Heartbreak, chaos, despair, changing your situation to improve upon the mistakes of the past, reflection, and deep seeded family issues.
Who are your musical influences?
Smashing Pumpkins, Sunny Day Real Estate, Bright Eyes, I can make a mess, Death Cab for Cutie, Elliott Smith, Sebadoh, Nirvana, Slint, Fugazi and Failure.
How do you describe your music to people?
A cross between Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana - getting into a brawl in an alleyway, yet no winner is found.
What image do you think your music conveys?
Hope and change!
What are your immediate music career goals?
To sign with a recognized bigger indie label with national distribution, and hopefully some tour support.
What are your long-term career goals?
"Never-ending." A Major label down the line when the time is right, honestly the sky is the limit with where Propel can go inevitably.
How would you define the word "success"?
Doing your passion for the rest of your life, and financially being ok with that choice.
What live performance experience have you had?
Well over 100 plus performances to date, throughout my previous bands, and with Propel I have booked a three state tour, and played 15 shows within three months time of beginning Propel.
How do you rate your live performance ability?
Honest and poignant.
How do your parents feel about you being rock stars?
Next question (laughs).
When did you first start playing?
16 years old.
Did you ever think you'd be here today?
Not as a singer songwriter I didn't. As a guitarist, band leader - I did, but I am much happier this way now, and it has become much more of a personal thing now to me, and shaped my songwriting in kind.
What's the best show you've played so far?
On the Interstate 5 Tour, I felt on fire and alive, plus my brick house show in San Francisco in June was amazing also.
Do you have any particular horrific memories from tour?
Yes, running out of gas in Oregon and sleeping in my car at two different rest stops, back to back, cause pay was off at the venue.
What's it like being in a van with others 24/7?
You learn to live with specific behaviors of the others, and you bond, it's amazing and I love it.
Why music?
It's everything to me. It's my soul. It's the reason I awake in the morning. It's in my veins. I would never do anything else with my life period.
Do you consider yourselves original?
Yes, I think there is not one band/songwriter out there today, who sounds anything like Propel does. Not at all.
What's the best aspect of your band?
The range of dynamics and control as musicians we have in changing directions at any moment. Plus feeding off the high and lows of life, through the songwriting is what showcases Propel.
If you were to start your own reality TV show what would you do?
Life on tour, Propel yourself across America!
How hard is it to break through in your local scene?
I am finding it's breaking in for me, no really, it's been pretty simple. I let the music do the talking, and the shows have come in droves. The only thing with the bay area is the lack of pay the clubs are willing to part with. In the beginning before you establish yourselves as a band, as long as you can draw, (which I can) you're fine.
What are the highlights of your career?
Playing at CBGB's in New York in my previous band for labels. Playing the Interstate 5 Tour and being on the road for eight days, across three states, and I booked it on my own. The release of Propel A Year Worth Forgetting in May 5th, 2005: Being offered The Viper Room show in Los Angeles, Blake's in Berkeley, picked for two compilations in four months with Propel, and "Collapse and Fade" will be in a movie as the featured song on the soundtrack. Attaining my booking agency, and best of all being contacted by a big indie label, and several smaller indie labels already in the short time that Propel has been in existence.
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