The Unlikely Candidates
By: Nicole Juliette Hetlyn
We caught up with Texas Alt-rock favorites, the Unlikely Candidates, at Exit/In.
Check out Nicole’s exclusive interview, discussing touring essentials, collaborations, and the Orphan the Poet.
Kyle Morris - Vocals
Cole Male - Guitar
Kevin Goddard-Drums
Brent Carney - Lead Guitar
Jared Hornbeek - Bass
Nicole Juliette Hetlyn - Interviewer
How would you describe your band using only three words?
KM: Hairy, sweaty, and loud.
KG: That’s just Jared.
(everyone laughs)
You have been on tour all January - alternating with Welshly Arms and the Orphan the Poet. How has tour been?
It’s been fun. We’ve mostly been on the road with our buddies in the Orphan the Poet, and they are so much fun. We always have a blast with them. Half the time it doesn’t even feel like you are on tour because we are just hanging out with them, those crazy kids. The shows have been great. This is one of the first big ones that we have done since the song [“Novacaine”] has really taken off. It’s been crazy to see what the reaction is like on a headlining show for ourselves.
What has been your favorite city to either play a show in or to venture through on tour?
KG: We all like Denver a lot [band agrees].
You posted online about trying to do 365 shows this year. Is that still your plan or…?
KG: (laughs) Yeah, that was a joke, but that would be awesome!
NJH: I was a little confused on timing.. but you have been consistent with playing back to back tours, so it’s not completely unrealistic.
CM: It’s also a leap year, so we get one day off!
KM: We would have to pull a “Weekend at Bernie’s” with me, I would definitely be dead. We do have another tour coming up in February though!
Can you tell us more about your tour in February?
KM: Yeah, we will be out for three months with Castle Comer. A few other bands that haven’t been announced yet.. Swimming with Bears. Potentially the Orphan the Poet - we are seeing what we can do with that! Official announcement will be out soon.
“Celebrate” (with the Dirty Heads) is one of my personal favorites of yours. Do you see any other collaborations in the future, or any that you would like to do?
CM: Beyonce hit us up, we’ve just been pretty busy..
KM: We don’t have any planned, but maybe some co-writes. Max Frost is a maybe. We’ve been talking and trying to work something out. It would be dope if he mastered a track. I’ve been a fan for a long time. If he’s interesting in writing with us, I would be down. If anyone is interested, let us know!
Over the course of your 10 years as a band, what has been the biggest lesson you have learned?
KG: Don’t forget a phone charger! Keep up with your laundry.
KM: Practice makes perfect.
KG: Every day is a learning process.
KM: Kevin is like a fortune cookie over there. different advice for every day!
Speaking of tour, what are your three must have items on tour?
KG: …a phone charger!
KM: A toothbrush
JH: Earbuds, a Bluetooth speaker, sunglasses. We’ve been using the Bluetooth speaker when we are all sitting on our phones and trying to be productive.
KM: I like to have at least one book for when the WiFi cuts out. A fan gave me a creative ink book.
KG: Spotify playlists
KM: Also the charger block for your phone
K: Weed… Who said that??
When can we expect some new music?
KG: Very soon…
JH: and tonight at our show!
KM: Every night at our shows.
KG: Spring, maybe.
Do you do most of your recording on the road or back home?
KM: Brent does the producing, so the recording has to be somewhere structional - either NY or LA.
Last question; Nashville is music city. People are either trying to make it as an artist or in the music industry. What advice do you have for them?
KM: Play every show you can and write every single day. Put yourself out there and something will come your way. If you don’t put yourself out there, no one will know.
KG: Talk to people. Don’t sign your life away!
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