Words: Jovana Joksimović
Coming from Vancouver, Youth Fountain has released their new EP and recently signed with Pure Noise Records. Probably better known as Bedroom Talk, this emo/ pop punk duo is getting ready for what’s coming for them in the future. We talked to Tyler Zanon about these and other things such as mental health, so check it out and we hope you enjoy it.
Coming from Canada, who influenced your music taste the most, was it local bands and artists, or maybe some worldwide known names?
Tyler: For me, there weren’t very many Canadian artists growing up that influenced my taste, aside from Sum 41 and Gob. (laughs) I grew up listening to a lot of bands off Fat Wreck Chords and Drive-Thru. I’ve always just been super into punk/emo music based around America, so I think that really shaped my taste in the early years. As I got older, I did start discovering great local bands that spoke to me, such as Living With Lions and Daggermouth. I’d say those bands were, and still are, a really big inspiration to me with getting into the local scene around Vancouver.
When were you first interested in pop punk and when did you realize that making music is what you want to do? Tyler: I was first interested in pop punk as a very young kid. I grew up with two older brothers, so I’d always find them listening to blink-182, Goldfinger, The Offspring, etc. It was pretty much just the one genre that made me genuinely excited. As I got older, becoming a teenager, I think I realized that making music was something that I really wanted to do. I felt how much music could move me emotionally growing up – so if I could do the same to someone else, then that’s really all I’d want my calling to be in life.
How did you first start your music careers and when did you decide that you two should start a band? Tyler: I started playing guitar and bass around twelve years old, went through a handful of high school bands and random projects, just kinda playing for fun and writing because it was pretty therapeutic for myself. I never really foresaw it as a career per say. I knew of Cody just through the local Vancouver music scene, by going to and playing shows. Last year, I had the song ‘Grinding Teeth,’ musically recorded and composed, so we collaborated on writing lyrics together, and it turned out awesome. The chemistry was great, the people seemed to really like what we had going, so “why not start a band together and push it” was just the sort of mentality on our end.
How difficult is it for the two of you to do all the work by yourselves? What’s the writing and recording process like? Tyler: Haven’t really been difficult at all! Been pretty chill so far. Cody and I are both very efficient in handling what tasks we have to take on and distribute the work evenly. So, no complaints there. (laughs) As far as what writing is like, at least for the upcoming record and the recently released tracks, it’s been a process of me composing a lot of the music, tracking all the instruments, engineering, mixing and mastering, and Cody really helping with producing a lot of the material and pitching song structure to help improve what’s written. A lot of the times, I’ll have a song idea recorded, and be we’ll be off on our own, then meet up with some lyrics we wrote separately and piece things together nicely. That’s just kind of the way things have gone so far.
You have recently signed with Pure Noise Records, how does that affect your future now, including your other bands?
Tyler: With the signing, I feel like now the project has become something quite serious. Long-term goals, we want to try and make a career out of what we do, so we know it’s going to take up a good chunk of time, being on the road playing shows and writing. With that being said, I’m sure being away from home a lot of the time will affect everything we have built outside of music. But at the end of the day, this is what we love, so speaking on behalf of Cody and myself, I know we wouldn’t have it any other way. This is the only main project Cody and I have going on, so nothing will really come into effect for that.
You have some shows coming up in October in the States as well as Ontario, have you ever been outside the States and Canada and where would you want to play the most?
Tyler: We do! These dates coming up will actually be our very first time in the States, so we’re incredibly excited for October to roll around. Furthest we’ve toured is just Western Canada, so we honestly can’t wait! For where Cody and I would love to play the most, hands down Japan. Everything about playing over there would be incredible.
Your lyrics are very personal, I’d say. How much is mental health important to you and how do you take care of it and how do you deal with it?
Tyler: For sure, a very personal thing on my end. Mental health is extremely important to me, I’d say one of the most important things. I’ve been through countless rough stages in my life, I can’t say 100% it’s something that has really gone away or ever will, but I do have my ways of coping – be it through writing lyrics, counseling, being around the people I love who help maintain a positive outlook, exercise, and most recently medication. It’s a very serious thing, and I know Cody goes through the same stuff. There are always ways to get help though, no matter how tough.
Now that the EP has been released, what else can we expect from the album that everyone has been waiting for?
Tyler: We’re hoping early next year that the full length is to be released. We have some things in the works, getting everything aligned for the rest of 2018… I know it’s been a bummer for fans having to wait so long, but the rest of our tracks will be released soon enough. Stay tuned for more updates!
Follow Youth Fountain:
Website: youthfountainmusic.com
Facebook: facebook.com/youthfountainmusic
Instagram: instagram.com/youthfountainmusic
Twitter: twitter.com/youthfountain_