Interview Upbringing: Into It. Over It.

Indie-rock stalwart Evan Weiss takes DIY through his myriad of influences and inspirations.

29th February 2016

Evan Weiss is fast approaching legendary status. With fingers in the pies of every influential band in midwestern emo and indie-rock, he’s a stalwart of scenes across the globe.

With Weiss’ solo project Into It. Over It. fast approaching the release of album three and sitting atop a pile of compilation and split releases that’d make even the most seasoned record collector blush, we thought it was high time we got the man himself to reflect on the long and winding road that got him here.

‘Standards’, that aforementioned third full-length, is set for release on April 29th in the UK and Europe, and March 11th in the U.S., with a co-headline UK tour alongside The Hotelier set for May.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

Gig like a show? Or a concert? (Don’t get picky now, Evan - Ed) If we are talking concert it was Soul Coughing, Soul Asylum and The Spin Doctors at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia, PA. I must have been about 7 years old. My parents took me. I remember them being freaked out because someone was smoking pot near where we were sitting on the lawn. As far as shows go, I think my first might have been seeing Nora at the Ashland Church in Cherry Hill, NJ. Probably was 1996 or 1997.

Were there a good supply of venues in your hometown?

Not really in Cherry Hill, but in the surrounding areas there was an abundance of VFW and American Legion halls that would have shows almost weekly. Everything was within a 15 to 45 minute drive. A bunch of my friends and I would pile into a car and find a show almost every night of the week. This was how I spent most of my years in high school.

Can you remember the first song you ever developed an obsession over?

‘Enjoy The Silence’ by Depeche Mode. I used to wait hours to see that video replay on MTV. I had to be about 4 years old. What 4 year old likes Depeche Mode? This fuckin’ guy.

‘Enjoy The Silence’ - Depeche Mode

"What 4 year old likes Depeche Mode? This fuckin' guy."

What was the first song you purchased with your own money, and why did you choose it at the time?

Like off of iTunes or something? I have actually never purchased an individual song, ever. I’ve always bought full records. And always the physical versions.

What’s the story behind you getting your first instrument?

Both of my parents were musicians. It was always a thing that existed in my house, so it never seemed strange or unusual to me. I think it was the same for my mom and dad. I don’t think they were very surprised when I asked them if I could start learning the guitar. They got me a $75 Peavey Predator Strat copy when I was in the 4th grade. I covered it in stickers and played it constantly.

What’s your worst musical habit?

Always expecting perfection. To a fault.

‘Undone - The Sweater Song’ - Weezer

"Practice. Practice, practice, practice."

What was the first album you ever bought with your own money, and why?

Weezer’s ‘Blue Album’. We had a local radio station that would always play the newest and coolest bands. They were the first station around that I ever heard play ‘The Sweater Song’. I bought that record right away. Before that I had always just borrowed CD’s from my family or friends and made cassette copies using my old boom box. I remember saving up for a couple weeks to buy that Weezer CD.