Local Artist Spotlight w/ 9th Planet Out
This Friday, August 20th, Rochester’s own 9th Planet Out is playing a show with Saliva at Majestic Events. We sat down with lead guitarist Josh to discuss 9PO’s background, new music, and what we can expect from the show.
How would you describe 9PO’s sound? Who were some of your biggest influences?
9PO: We always try to keep it fresh with each new song we do and try not to tie ourselves down to one sound. Some of this new stuff coming out in the near future has a wide range of influence–EDM influenced, lots of synths, and high production value, while still keeping it 9PO with the heavy riffs and screaming vocals.
Since you’ve started, 9PO has continued to gain a following in Rochester and beyond. How have you been able to get this kind of exposure?
9PO: You just have to keep pushing. It’s a hard world for new original bands. You really have to know where to put your energy. Lots of it is being smart with running ad campaigns on new music and finding the right shows/tours to play without draining yourself or your crew.
Photo by Kate Klaus Photography
Who were some of your biggest supporters when you were first starting out?
9P0: We’ve had quite a few people who we are very grateful to have jump on board with us.
Mason Sanders, who is now our TM, has been friends with us from the start. He’s at every show making sure everything lines up for the better of the band.
Kate Klaus would shoot our shows fairly often, and we became great friends fairly quickly. We owe a lot to her! She now comes with us on the road and shoots shows and creates our social media content.
Our long-time friend Travis Allen (from the F-Ups) recently jumped on board as our studio engineer. This dude has an insane ear and a great heart. We’re pumped to get his mixes out to the world.
What’s it like going on tour around the country with some of these national acts?
9P0: To say it’s great is an understatement. We get to travel in a bus with our best friends and play our music. It’s the greatest feeling in the world.
Any interesting or entertaining stories from the road?
9P0: We were driving through Chicago and there was a full-on sectional couch in the middle of the freeway. Almost obliterated that bad boy with the bus.
What can people expect if they come out to the show with Saliva on August 20th?
9P0: Rock and roll and f#%&ing laser beams.
You also recently released a new music video covering Chandelier – what was filming that like?
9P0: Tiring, but fun as every shoot is. We got to the shoot location at 10pm and shot until about 4am.
We had our buddies Austin Sherzberg and Cody Hoffman do the video. I remember this was the first time we saw the gold stage shoes James wears every night. Hilariously flashy. The white jacket came in the same day as well. We love that thing and would all take turns wearing it and going up to strangers acting like nothing was up. Later on, the cops showed up near the trailer. I drunkenly walked up to them asking why they were here for us. They were just getting donuts at Kwik Trip across the street.
As a rising group from Rochester, what advice would you give to other local artists and bands looking for similar success?
9P0: I think the biggest thing that I see local artists having trouble with is not playing shows outside of Rochester. You’re not going to grow your fan base playing to the same 12 people in town every single week. Play out of town, come back for a hometown show once a year or so and sell that thing out. It’s supply and demand. If you play the same place 12 times in 4 months, people aren’t going to show up cause they can just catch you next month. If you’re releasing music, have a release plan! Put some money into it, and get it to the masses! You can do a lot for very little!
Anything else you’d like the Rochester music community to know about 9PO or any future plans?
9P0: We’ve got some cool tour announcements and music releases coming up. Just stay tuned and support your favorite bands, they need it more than ever right now!
Catch 9th Planet Out this Friday, August 20th with Saliva at Majestic Events. Get tickets here and follow along with 9PO and the Rochester music scene at mytownmymusic.com.
