Captiva

Captiva is an alternative rock band hailing from Kansas City, Missouri. They started gaining attention on college campuses before they even graduated high school and have slowly begun making their way in the world of indie alt rock. The band that’s been breaking through into college radio while opening for acts like Twenty One Pilots and Plain White T’s is about to release their debut EP next month. I got to have a chat with the guys from Captiva and get to know them a little bit better on the cusp of their EP release.

“It’s an album about figuring shit out and having a good time, because that’s life. You work, figure something out. whether it be about yourself or someone else, or about the world in general, then rage. Repeat”– Nick Riffle

For Fans Of: Franz Ferdinand, Isn’t It Always?, Young The Giant

By Carly Rios



Babetalk: What are your names and what do you do in the band?

Jackson: Jackson Ries, vocals , guitar, aux percussion.

Patrick: Patrick McQuaid, lead guitar, vocals.

Nick: Nick Riffle, bass.

Hank: Hank Wiedel, drums.

BT: Here’s an icebreaker: Are there any particular bands you guys are listening to right now?

Jackson: I just recently found my new favorite band: Snowmine. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Foxygen, Sol Cat, and The Lonely Biscuits.

Patrick: I’ve been listening to The Vaccines, Sol Cat, and Aer a lot recently.

Nick: Desert Noises, Gram Parsons, Grateful Dead, My Morning Jacket, Tame Impala.

Hank: Lately, I’ve been getting into bands like Desert Noises and Panama. Twenty One Pilots’ new album was rad, too. A lot of my interests stem from what these guys play.

BT: Can you tell me how you guys came together as a band?

Patrick: I met Hank in detention in high school and we decided to jam the next day with my buddy Jackson, who I’d been working with already. We met our bassist Nick Riffle a few months later and the rest is history.

Nick: I’ve known Hank for a few years and Hank asked me to open up for Captiva with my band at the time, Professor Salty and the Wallet. That was when I met Jackson and Pat and I was really blown away by their performance. One or two years later, they asked me to play with them at SXSW. After our performances in Austin, they asked me to join them permanently and I’ve been here ever since.

BT: Your fan base started growing while you were still students. How did you feel about such a strong immediate reaction?

Jackson: It was a very comforting feeling knowing that whatever we were doing right off the bat was unique enough to catch the attention of others, who were our age and older, despite how young and new we were.

Patrick: The fan base while in high school was awesome and we’re lucky to have it still growing as we carry on as college students.

Nick: It’s great that people dig our tunes. All of the positivity has helped us grow and keeps us motivated.

Hank: We were so happy with the response we got when the band first started. It was really cool being able to share in something that not only us, but also our friends/fans/family could be proud of.

BT: You guys have done so well as a DIY band. Would you ever sign to a label?

Jackson: Labels are always of interest, but if we can find a way to thrive and grow on our own standards and efforts, then that would be our best case scenario.

Patrick: We’ve been approached by minor independent labels before, but we have no problem with managing and booking ourselves. Plus, we’re broke college students, so avoiding labels has saved us money. If a serious label were to approach us though, we would give it consideration.

Nick: It depends for me. I’m down if the label respects the music and what we are trying to achieve. If it’s fishy and they just wanna make a buck, then those are the folks that I don’t wanna do business with.

Hank: Only if we got signed by Dr. Dre.

BT: What inspired your upcoming debut EP?

Jackson: For myself, the inspiration came from writing about important events in my life having to do with both my past relationships and social flaws.

Patrick: Our new EP is exciting for us because we’ll be releasing songs that have been works-in-progress for a few years now. However, it’ll also have brand new songs that have developed recently in a spontaneous fashion. Some songs derive from grand ideas such as the road to fame that all bands endure, while other songs refer to specific ideas like the harsh cold of the winter air. Our influences are sort of all over the place with this EP but we’re excited for people to get a chance to hear it.

Nick: Man… everything. Not just music but things going on in life. It’s an album about figuring shit out and having a good time, because that’s life. You work, figure something out, whether it be about yourself or someone else, or about the world in general, then rage. Repeat.

Hank: Well said, Nick. Rage and repeat.

BT: What do you want people to take away from the new EP after they hear it?

Jackson: I want people to take away this whole new sound that we’ve created. I feel that this band as a whole has grown tremendously in the past year in every way possible and we have slowly found a sound that fits our style perfectly. All I would ask is to enjoy the music and share with your friends!

Patrick: We want people to see our attention to details and experiences. We want people to relate to our own experiences that we’ve put into song.

Nick: At the end of the day, I just want the music to make people happy.

Hank: Hopefully, people will feel moved and inspired to create their own avenue of expression after hearing the new EP. We’ve put so much emotion, time, effort, and creativity into these songs, and we want everybody to experience the passion with us.

BT: When can we expect the EP to drop? The single is excellent.

Hank: The new EP is set to release on December 15th. We’re so glad you like the single, because we think the other songs on the EP are better *laughs*.

BT: Other than the record, are there any milestones that you guys are particularly proud of?

Jackson: We played at Backwoods Music Festival in Oklahoma where Pat and I got to give Washed Out, or Ernest Greene, a high five on stage during his set. Two days after, we played Fashion Meets Music Festival in Columbus, OH where I got to meet Lights, who is the artist that inspired me to get into music when I was a freshman in high school.

Patrick: We are playing Liberty Hall this month, so that will be a cool experience for us, with how big that venue is.

Nick: SXSW.

Hank: Playing at SXSW in Austin for the first time was magical. I’d also say our first performance at The Granada Theater back in 2014 was a big milestone for us. That entire summer really ignited our fire to make something of ourselves.

BT: What is next for Captiva?

Jackson: We are planning on going on tour this summer and playing some exciting new venues and festivals.

Patrick: We’re hoping that this EP opens some doors for us in the future and grants us with new and bigger opportunities as a band.

Nick: Other music stuff.

Hank: Touring, more new tracks, and a music video, which will be out shortly after the EP release.

BT: Are there any last words you want to leave us with?

Patrick: We really want our music to give people an idea of who we are as individuals and we’re betting that most people will relate. Life is full of frightening and epic experiences and we aim to put those experiences into music that people can listen and relate to.

Nick: Life’s a garden. Dig it.

Hank: Stay buzzed. - Babetalk

By Tim Dickinson

We’re excited to be able to share with you the premiere of Road to Ruin from Kansas City’s Captiva.

JJ Ries (vocals, guitar), Pat McQuaid (guitar, vocals), Nick Riffle (bass), and Hank Wiedel (drums) first bonded while holed up in school detention, and now free of the restraints of education, the youthful band have already started making waves stateside.

Captiva are due to release their debut self-titled EP next month, and Road to Ruin gives us a great introduction into their energetic and infectious brand of rock’n’roll that is made for the volume turned up load.

For those of you stateside, Captiva have a number of shows coming up in the next couple of months.
Dec. 10 – Live session on 90.1 FM KKFI (Kansas City, MO)
Dec. 11 – KU Campus Release Party at The Bull (Lawrence, KS)
Dec. 12 – Barleycorn’s (Wichita, KS)
Jan. 10-15 – SnoDaze (Steamboat Springs, CO) - The Blue Walrus

By James Fratzke

We recently caught up with Kansas City, MO rockers Captiva! The four piece indie/beach rock group consists of four college students from ages 18-20. Recently, they performed to a sold out Starlight Theatre with Twenty One Pilots. We're excited to help premier their new single Road To Ruin below. We also asked the guys to answer five of our favorite question. Check out the new track and our Q&A below:

1) What story are you trying to tell as a band?
Captiva - The Hobbit (just kidding). But seriously, we want to convey the message of "life is a garden...dig it." Love what you do, and do what you love.

2) Who, if anyone, has been your biggest supporter/ mentor.
Captiva -Tim Gutschenritter (partner of The Riot Room / lead vocalist of rock band National Fire Theory) has played a major role in the development of both the music and the relationship within the band. He stepped into a leadership role for us back in 2014 when we were recording 'Illusions' and 'Smooth Interrogation'. During this time, we felt that he really helped us find our new sound, and guided us more into the "pocket" of our groove.

3) Why did you decide to start a band together?
Captiva - Honestly, we formed from the pure enjoyment of writing and performing music.

4) How do you plan to grow your popularity?
Captiva - Our goal is to grow our fan-base organically and honestly. We want to form a bond with our audience that allows them to feel as though they are part of the group...because they really are. Each and every audience member plays a major role in the success of our music and our statement.

5) if you could have a billboard anywhere on the planet where would it be and what would it say?
Captiva - Hmm... Highway 75-North, mile-marker 286, just outside of Atlanta, GA. It would read: "Captiva: It's Like EDM For Your Dad." - F&F Presents

[Noise Hunters]

Hoy Sábado nuestra recomendación es esta banda de Kansas City, ellos son Captiva (@CaptivaMusic) y esto llamado "Road To Ruin" pertenece a un EP que lanzaran en Diciembre.

https://soundcloud.com/captiva-music/road-to-ruin - Stage TV

By Josh Pineda

Alternative Rising Acts CAPTIVA have just released a new single ahead of the release of their debut EP next month. Road To Ruin brings a more mature sound to the Kansas City group, with quasi-shoegaze vocal reverb rocking against a fervent underlayer of mid 2000s alt-rock angst. Reminiscent of The Caesers and early indie-cuts of Walk The Moon (circa the La La Metropolitan days), this track carries a ruminating honesty with its captivating guitar riffs full of winding and warm sonic nostalgia. The soothing and carefree breakdown rounds out the track with an incredible sense of intimate directness juxtaposing the more edgier elements in the driving rock-funk tune. This is a song that will truly be resonating with you for the rest of the day. If this is any indication of what's to come on the EP, we are sure in for a profound year's end treat. - IndieBeat

By Nico

Ich hätte jetzt fast einen Körperteil darauf verwettet, dass Captiva aus Großbritannien kommen. Zum Glück habe ich das nicht gemacht, denn die vier jungen Musiker stammen aus Kansas City in den USA.

Captiva is an alternative rock band hailing from Kansas City, Missouri. The band is comprised of JJ Ries (vocals, guitar), Pat McQuaid (guitar, vocals), Nick Riffle (bass), and Hank Wiedel (drums). Captiva formed in October 2013, during a high school detention sentence.

Die Band wird im Dezember ihre Debüt EP veröffentlichen, und „Road To Ruin“ bietet uns einen wundervollen Vorgeschmack. Also, Kopfhörer aufsetzten, aufdrehen und ab dafür! - Nicorola

By Kris Perez

They’re finally here with some new music. That’s right, the band from Kansas City who blew us away at FMMF with sublime-esque sounds returns with the first single off of their debut EP due out December 15th.

“Road To Ruin” is a track that can be used as the perfect introduction into who Captiva really are. The upbeat sound is infectious and grabs you almost instantly, lead vocalist Jackson Reis uses his powerful vocals to accompany the catchy, ska-like guitar lick. Captiva wowed me once, but I can’t wait to see what they pull out on their debut EP in December.

Along with a kick ass new single, I had the opportunity to once again talk to the band about their new EP, what music means to them, and what it was like opening for twenty one pilots.

The Indie Sound: Can you tell me how this upcoming release compares to the other material you guys have already put out? Did you guys try to do something different on the EP than before?

Captiva: Looking back on all of our old releases, we feel that this new EP is such a major step up from what we’ve been doing as a band. We spent a lot of time on the structure and character behind this record, and really pushed ourselves to give as much as we possibly could into this music. We definitely approached the writing/recording process in an entirely new way with this EP; goals were set, met, and surpassed, and we couldn’t be happier with what we’ve done.

TIS: How was opening for twenty one pilots? I know Jackson mentioned it’s his favorite band. What was it like playing a sold out hometown show like that?

C: Watching them perform was truthfully more astonishing than performing. We always love hometown appearances, and really enjoy testing out new material and live antics with the KC crowds, but we take so much influence from Twenty One Pilots that we were more focused on what we could learn from that show than anything else. Kansas City showed up in a huge way that night, and that was a moment of pride for everyone.

TIS: What are driving the lyrics on this EP? Is there a theme or idea listeners should pick up on?

C: Each song has a different message, both internally and externally. We’re trying to paint a picture for our listeners, not a puzzle (in the lyrical sense). Some of the tracks pertain to some harsh life situations that we’ve been through, while others lend themselves to creating a party atmosphere for the audience. This EP is really a testament to the many sides of Captiva, and we are looking forward to seeing how fans perceive the messages.

TIS: How long has the EP been in the works? What do you want listeners to take away from it?

C: This EP has been in the works for years, but only became a physical project this past summer, when we really started pushing each other musically to create the best music that we can. Some of the tracks were written while we were in high school (and not yet even a band), and a few were written this year as various events took place in our lives. Hopefully our listeners become inspired to create something that they can call theirs, and proudly share with the world. Also, this is our invitation to listeners to join the party, and “stay buzzed”.

TIS: Why is music important to you guys? What does it mean to you?

C: Music is everything to us. Each one of us has a completely different reason for appreciating music: its therapeutic comfort, the excitement of performing, and (if we’re being honest) to attract the attention of our female counterparts. Creatively, music allows us to explore our emotions in the most natural and mentally soothing way possible, and to share our life experiences with others in a language that everyone can understand. The possibilities are endless.

Make sure to grab “Road To Ruin” on SoundCloud. You can also expect it on Spotify and iTunes later this week. For a look at our first interview with Captiva, check out our FMMF coverage!

You can also catch Captiva on Twitter and Facebook!

‘Stay Buzzed’ - The Indie Sound

Written by Will Harrison

Captiva is an up and coming Indie/Beach Rock band from Kansas City, MO. Just four college guys ready to rock the nation and beyond. They start their mini-tour in December and will release their new single Road To Ruin this week. Here is our sit-down interview with the guys.

Will: What do you have planned for upcoming shows?

Captiva: 12/11 – The Bull (Lawrence, KS)
12/12 – Barleycorn’s (Wichita, KS)
12/22 – Great Day KCWI 23 (Des Moines, IA)
1/10-15 – SnoDaze College Ski Trip (Steamboat Springs, CO)

​Will: What drives you as musicians?

Captiva: Our biggest motivating factor as musicians is our hunger to surpass our creative limits. We constantly push one another to become better performers and songwriters, which has become more apparent over the years.

Will: Please, tell us about your newest album.

Captiva: Our debut EP is a culmination of songs, both old and new, derived from many different inspirations. We’ve been working on this record since the spring of 2015, and each song is a story of the many troubles and successes of life. When the recording process began back in September, we set out to capture all of the raw emotion within each song, because we feel that it is important for our listeners to not just hear our message, but to experience it as well. This EP is our first release in nearly 7 months, so we are extremely excited for our fans to hear it.

Will: What is your creative process when working on projects?




​Captiva: There is no definitive “beginning-middle-end” to our creative process, especially in regards to songwriting. A lot of our ideas are old melodies or half-written tracks that we finally decided to complete, and others are sporadic ambiences that occur during jam sessions at rehearsal.​ We truly only pursue the songs that we feel are emotionally attractive and relevant to our lives. That is how we capture the raw sound of our music, and hopefully it is noticed by listeners.

Will: What are your hobbies?

Captiva: We love to eat. Anywhere, anything, anytime. One of our favorite things to do while traveling is to find really cool restaurants in each city and experience the local culture through food. We also love to go thrift shopping. That’s where we find half of our wardrobe.

Will: What do you think is missing in the music scene?

Captiva: Organic support. With such an emphasis on technology, and maintaining a certain appearance on social media, both fans and artists have forgotten the importance of growing an honest fan-base. In order for anything to grow in this world, its soil must be rich and pure. In the case of the music industry, the fans are the soil of an artists’ brand, and you spend too much time and energy trying to force the growth of your following, you will eventually become irrelevant. Longevity is rare nowadays, and we want to change that.

Will: Where would like readers to follow you online?

Captiva: You can find us on Facebook, Twitter (@CaptivaMusic), Instagram (CaptivaMusic), Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud, and even Snapchat (Snap-tiva).

We are definitely #teamfollowback. Also, feel free to reach out to us at any time. We love hearing from you. - The OKC Edge

By Andrew Burns

Captiva is funk/indie rock band hailing from Kansas City, Missouri. Their goal is to leave the audience buzzed on the high of their music. The Indie Sound had the pleasure of interviewing them on Day 2 of Columbus, Ohio’s Fashion Meets Music Festival.

From left to right, Jackson, Nick, Patrick, and Hank.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, JACKSON, NICK, PATRICK, AND HANK.
How do you guys think you and your sound have matured since the release of your first EP?

Hank: I think musically we started to understand each other a lot better, like with practices and playing a lot of shows

Patrick: Our chemistry has gotten a lot better.

Hank: Extensive performing has really brought our music to a different level.

Nick: We also broadened our musical horizons, we listen to a lot more now and we draw from everything.



What artists would you say you’ve been really impressed with recently?

Jackson: Twenty One Pilots, obviously. They’re like my favorite band of a couple years.

Nick: Tame Impala, I’m a long time dead fan too so The Grateful Dead. Also, Mac DeMarco, things like that.

Jackson: We just got into Foxygen.



How would you describe your band in three words?

Jackson: Let’s get funky.

Hank: That was stupid.

Jackson: Eff you, Hank.



You guys are a relatively new band, were you expecting to make it to the likes of SXSW?

Hank: No, not really our first show was in an Irish pub to like fifteen people. To be doing this stuff is a huge step up.

Patrick: We’re super excited to just be traveling, we never really thought we would be able to travel.



We know you guys are from Kansas City, is there a big music scene there?

Patrick: It’s growing.

Jackson: We’re pretty big fans of the local music scene around there. There’s like two or three bands I would put in my top fifteen that are in Kansas City or were from and branched out.

Nick: We’re also into a lot of local Nashville bands like Sol Cat and The Lonely Biscuits. Those guys are cool dudes.



Where do you find the inspiration for your lyrics?

Patrick: Experiences, relationships with people, stress. That’s where the most passion comes from. Our songs aren’t so much story telling songs, they’re more like personal journal entry songs.

Jackson: It’s pretty much just me and him, we’ll switch off.



We read that you guys met in detention, would you care to elaborate on that?

Jackson: He (Hank) got me into detention!

Patrick: And me and Jackson had already started working on stuff a little bit and we needed a drummer so we started talking about it and next thing you know he came over one night and now we’re here.

Jackson: That’s where our song “Buzzed Like Bees” got mapped out for the first time, at that first practice. And then we found Nick.

Nick: I was in a cover band that opened for them and I saw these guys and I was just blown away. Their stage presence, the charisma of their songs and then last year, they asked me to join.



Your slogan is “Stay Buzzed”, is there a deeper meaning or is this self-explanatory?

Hank: It plays off the whole “Buzzed Like Bees” thing.

Jackson: It’s not so much like some people think it’s a drug reference it’s more about like staying buzzed about whatever is around you.

Hank: Music is a natural high and we want to give that to you.



What do you guys want the audience to take away from your performance?

Patrick: I want people to dance, that’s always the best.

Jackson: We really want to get them involved.

Hank: I want them to take our music back to wherever they’re from and spread it around.



What are your long-term goals as a band?

Jackson: First and foremost, get this new EP out.

Patrick: We have to get in the studio soon.

Nick: Bonnaroo. I mean eventually that would be cool.



As a fairly new band what tips would you give to other bands just starting out?

Patrick: Take any show you get, it might be a small show but like Hank is always saying, every show matters.

Jackson: Every show is a stepping stone, no matter how many people are there, it is always at least practice.

Hank: Be patient and humble. A lot of bands, especially younger kids, think that this isn’t really working out for them but that’s not really the case like it’s taken us a year and a half to get here. You really got to put in the work and it has to be something that’s more than a hobby if you’re really serious about it.

Nick: Find your sound, don’t try to sound like someone else. Find your sound and just let it out and work with it.



What tools do you guys plan to use to reach a wider audience?

Hank: Power tools.

Patrick: Obviously the internet is a pretty big tool for us with streaming sites.

Nick: Word of mouth is always great too. If your friends recommend a band to you, you’re more likely to check it out.

Jackson Ries plays guitar and provides lead vocals, Nick Riffle plays bass, Patrick McQuaid provides back up vocals and plays lead guitar, and Hank Wiedel plays drums.

CHECK THEM OUT

Captiva’s website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Soundcloud. - The Indie Sound

By Ella Z.

Hips were already swaying to the beachy tunes of up and coming band, Captiva, from Kansas City, Missouri, as we made our way through the streets of the Fashion Meets Music Festival.

After busting a move and snatching a few shots, we sat down with the band members for a quick chat about everything from their music and fashion inspirations to playing at local summer festivals.

Captiva, being a band for little over a year, has already been booking gigs such as Backwoods fest in Oklahoma to now, FMMF. Even opening up for Echo Smith and 21 Pilots at the VIP stage in the upcoming month. What blew our minds was the Rage Against The Machine cover, that Captiva threw in amongst Mac Demarco and Tame Impala inspired songs.

A band with endless potential, which us Ellas deem as "A Band You Better Freakin' Tune Into!" Don't worry, there's no doubt we'll pumpin' it in the studio this semester.

As for fashion, the only quote you need to know is, "we thrift so hard."

If you want to listen to The Ellas do their thing and catch Captiva's favorite movies/dog inspired songs and or their most prized vinyl, then by all means, click Play. - Ella-Mode Mag

By Ria Greiff

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Captiva


1. They’re from Kansas City, MO!

2. They met in high school!

Captiva started after Patrick McQuaid, Jackson Ries and Hank Wiedel met in high school.

3. Their band name, Captiva, was inspired by an island!

“Captiva was born from the idea of ‘staying buzzed’ and enjoying the good in the world around you. There is an island in Florida called Captiva, a destination for many when they are looking to get away. We liked the concept of living life without worry, so we decided that Captiva is a great fit for our music and us.”

4. They’ve never been to Columbus! (FMMF will be sure to leave a lasting impression!)

“Our favorite part of performing in Columbus is definitely being able to share our music with an entirely new audience. FMMF is our first show in Ohio, and we can’t wait to show Columbus what we’ve got in store for them.”

5. They hope to leave the same lasting impression on Columbus.

“First and foremost, we are looking forward to seeing all of the new faces at the festival. The best feeling in the world is when we walk off stage knowing that someone has become a fan. That is what we strive for, and hope to accomplish that in Columbus.

Also, JJ has a huge crush on Lights, so he can’t wait to finally meet her!” - FMMF Magazine

By Josh Pineda

Unlike many other genres and music communities, the indie/alt culture appreciates new and rising artists that create diversity and new insights within the genre.

We constantly feature notable indie and alternative artists on the verge of success. Meet this week’s featured artist in an exclusive interview, Captiva:
Formed in 2013, the Kansas City group's funk/indie rock sound, mixed with their grasping stage performance, makes for an incredible live show that captures both musical ingenuity and visual spectacle. Captiva produces positive vibes and phunky sounds that are sure to leave every fan feeling buzzed. Having recently performed at SXSW, Captiva will be showcasing their talent nationwide throughout 2015.

We recently talked in-depth with Pat McQuaid, JJ Ries, Nick Riffle, and Hank Wiedel to find out more about the group's influences, creative process, and of course their take on all things alternative culture. Read on to find out more about how this amazing group creates such infectious sounds.

What are your fondest musical memories?

As a band, some of our fondest memories include our very first show at Czar Bar in Kansas City, MO. The entire club was packed, which was so motivating for us at the time. We didn't realize, until then, that we had an opportunity to connect with others through our music. We also really loved playing at SXSW in Austin, TX this past year. There is nothing more exciting (or intimidating) than performing for a new audience every night. We've also shared some of the same wonderful experiences as listeners and fans, including watching The Lonely Biscuits perform at Crossroads in Kansas City three years ago. That show inspired Jackson to learn guitar, which led to him being able to perform on that same stage about a week ago. Seeing The Lumineers was pretty awesome, too.

Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener?

Recently, Pat's been getting into Robin Pecknold's solo material, like 'White Antelope'. His acoustic/folk songs really inspire Pat's writing. Hank has been listening to Northern Faces and some more alternative/indie artists. He enjoys dissecting the structure of their songs, which helps him apply newer techniques to our own tracks. Nick really loves rock and roll, especially Southern folk/rock acts like Sturgill Simpson. He also finds a lot of musical inspiration from jam bands like Papadosio and My Morning Jacket. Jackson listens to absolutely everything, especially Twenty One Pilots.

How did you all meet and decide to collaborate into forming Captiva? What were your musical backgrounds before working together? How is this different from any previous projects?

Captiva began with Pat and JJ, who were neighbors during high school. They would walk to each others' houses and write music together. Then, Hank and Pat met in detention and began discussing recording, which is when we started performing. Nick was added a few months later, and has been a huge blessing to us. Next thing we knew, we had started a God-damned musical expedition together.

Something we find interesting here at IndieBeat is how the base city of artists impacts their creative process and sound formation. Hank, being a talent buyer for the Riot Room, running WKC Management and being an alumni of the Grammy Museum how would you describe the Kansas City music scene? How has the city inspired Captiva into developing your sound?

The Kansas City music scene is full of amazing, unrecognized talent. I get the pleasure of seeing all different styles of music in the community, yet each one plays a major role in the structure of the scene in KC. Captiva has found a lot of motivation within KC, after seeing hard-working musicians give everything they have to pursue their dreams. We have really tried to branch out to other markets as well, and explore what is available to us.

What is your creative process like? How do you approach the writing process?

Pat begins his writing process by recording a 10-second clip of a guitar riff on his iPhone voice memos. Then he proceeds to evolve the riff into the song. Jackson is constantly experimenting with new chord progressions, and enjoys writing the chorus first before anything else. Nick is always practicing, so his creative mindset comes within his musical improvement. Hank usually finds inspiration through playing piano and constructing chord progressions that way.

You mention your focus on stage performances and creating a visual spectacle at your live show. How would you describe those visual elements? How do you approach this aspect of your artistry? When writing music, are you conscious of what you want to be visually displayed?

Stage presence is the name of the game for us. Putting all of our energy into each performance will reward us with an even more energetic crowd. We always toss up ideas of how we will perform each song while we are writing it. This is one of the most important parts of the writing process for us.

You guys have been touring the festival circuit this summer. Can you tell us about your experiences on this tour, especially playing the renowned SXSW. How has it been different from playing local and small-room shows?

Well, festivals are like our bread and butter. Everything that we do during a live show is amplified during festival gigs. There is always a different aura within festivals that is not so apparent during club shows. We love performing, regardless of the venue or location. But we have definitely learned a lot from festival performances, and these shows have helped shape our relationship with the fans. SXSW was a dream, and some amazing memories were created there. Can't wait for next year!

As an indie artist in the digital age, social media and streaming are essential tools for marketing and promotion. What do you think about online music sharing, both as a music fan and as a musician? How do you think social media/music streaming services impacts the rising musician?

Online streaming is something that benefits both the fan and the creator, yet harms the artist's revenue. Today, you can put a song on the internet and be heard by millions within hours, which is incredible. However, with the rise in streaming and illegal downloading, the artist loses a lot of income due to higher accessibility. As a fan, the benefits completely outweigh the negative side of this issue. But as musicians, we are forced to trade revenue for track plays. It all depends on how you look at it, and we believe that the music itself should be top priority over the money. We don't do this for dollars, we do it for the fans.

What is your dream collaboration and why?

Pat: My dream collaboration would be with Mac DeMarco. His style is something I dig very much, and I think I could match his style with my guitar playing if I put enough work into it.

JJ: Twenty One Pilots

Hank: Hot Hot Heat

Nick: The Grateful Dead

What are you currently working on? Any new projects?

We have a new EP coming out in the fall. We've spent a lot of time writing new music, which has helped our style progress a lot more. The tracks on the upcoming EP are very "pop/alternative", but with the same funky flair as our other music. Hopefully the listeners love it. In addition to this, Pat and JJ write their own material during their free time to stay exercised, both mentally and musically.

After your latest two singles releases, what can fans expect in your upcoming EP?

Fans can expect an entirely different sound, but the same energy. We've progressed and matured as artists, and it has shown through our more recent recordings. After we started creating new music, we became very comfortable during the recording process. Each studio session is entirely different from the last, which keeps us on our toes. It's really exciting stuff.

Finally, a question we ask all of artists: which songs are you currently obsessed with? What new acts do you recommend to our listeners? What bands do you believe are your best kept secret in the indie community?

1. "Let Her Go" by Mac DeMarco

2. Anything off of Tame Impala's newest album, "Currents"

3. "Hometown" by Twenty One Pilots

New acts? Definitely Northern Faces. They rule. Best kept secret? New Madrid and Sol Cat. Those dudes are cool.

Thanks once again to Captiva for talking with us. You can stay up to date with them via the social links below. If you like what you hear, you're in luck! The group has two upcoming festival dates to finish off their summer tour, one at Backwoods Music Festival on September 4th and another at the Fashion Meets Music Festival on September 5th. They're also supporting Twenty One Pilots and Echosmith on September 22! For more information visit: www.captivamusic.com/ - IndieBeat

By Hannah Pierangelo

“Someone described it to me as Bro Funk,” Hank Wiedel says of his band’s unique sound. He’s the drummer for Captiva, a young band based out of Kansas City. Jackson Ries, guitarist and one of the vocalists, calls it indie alt-pop for now, but admits he still doesn’t know what category his music falls into.

Though Captiva may not have its genre figured out, the band certainly knows what sound they create. Wiedel and Ries tell me they draw their influences from indie-rock chart-toppers Young the Giant and another genre defying rising to fame—Twenty One Pilots.

“They’re like my favorite band ever,” Ries says. “I get a lot of my inspiration from them.”

Captiva will be opening for Twenty One Pilots at Starlight Theater in September. Wiedel says he simply reached out to the Starlight staff and managed to land the gig. Ries says playing in front of his idols will be a dream come true.

Captiva will play a handful of music festivals in the midwest this summer. Catch a show and add some “bro-funk” tunes to your playlists!

I heard you met in detention?

Jackson: “Well, [Hank] and Pat MCQuaid, the guitar player, met in detention. He got me into detention when it was all happening. We were at Rockhurst high school, and I had been talking to [Hank] about jamming. We weren’t really a band yet. He never texted me back and I guess he got his phone taken away at school and they saw that I texted him, so he got me three detentions.”

Hank: “Me and McQuaid, we both got detention for something stupid like being late or something, so we were taking out trash together after school. We had just been featured in the school newspaper on the same page, so that’s how we recognized each other. Then we just started talking music and he wanted me to play on their [Captiva’s] record. It kinda blossomed from there, into a beautiful flower.”

Jackson: “It eventually became Buzz Like Bees.”

Does Captiva have plans for an EP or an album coming up?

Jackson: “Yeah. We have like a five-song EP. We’re starting on it later this month and we have pretty much the whole summer with the studio. Not sure what it’s going to be called yet.”

Hank: “It was going be one theme, but we changed it up and started writing more progressive music.”

Jackson: “We have a lot of old songs in our arsenal, but ended up writing these brand new songs that we’re super excited about. So we’re kinda changing up the vibe.”

Hank: “It’s kind of a whole different Captiva, really.”

Jackson: “Yeah, it’s us evolving for sure.”

What would you say makes it different?

Hank: “It’s a little bit more poppy, almost, more up tempo, more dance-y. It’s got the same funk and Captiva charm, but it’s a little more mainstream honestly.”

The band has a pretty impressive lineup scheduled. Is there anything special you do to get your name out there?

Hank: “Really, it’s just like being as unique as possible. And being ourselves. A lot of bands, a lot of people in general, try to put on a façade of something that they want to be. If you just go out and be yourself, it’s easier to be charismatic about what you do if you’re not faking it.”

Jackson: “When you go out there and people see that you’re not pretending—that it’s all real, it’s all you—that’s what I think is the main instigator to get our name out there. Just staying true to ourselves. And sweet Instagram pics.”

On your social media, you tag a lot of posts with “Stay Buzzed.” Is there any meaning behind that?

Jackson: “Our song Buzz Like Bees is the song that got us the most hype. We just kinda like to promote the “stay buzzed” because we’re Captiva, we’ve kinda got that island feel and we want to bring people on vacation. And you’re buzzed on just whatever’s around you.”

Hank: “High on life. “Stay buzzed” is kind of a statement like “keep digging it.” If it’s not us, then dig whatever you surround yourself with. Enjoy life.”

Captiva will play Field Day Fest in Lawrence this weekend. Catch their 9 p.m. set at The Bottleneck on Friday, June 26th. The band will also perform at Audiofeed in Urbana, Illinois, Backwoods Music Festival, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fashion Meets Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio.

Check out the band on Facebook and Instagram, and hear their latest music on iTunes, Spotify, and Soundcloud. - Style On The Hill

In the middle of winter in the Midwest, summer festivals seem like they’re an eternity away. But before you know it, we’ll be shopping for sunscreen and bug spray instead of windshield scrapers and space heaters. And Now It’s Dark’s has the skinny on one of the bands that will be playing the 2015 Fashion Meets Music Festival, Captiva.

Captiva, an indie-funk trio from Kansas City, MO, is a relatively new band but they are set to make waves this year with performances scheduled at a number of major music festivals, including SXSW and FMMF. Now It’s Dark magazine asked Hank Wiedel, one of the band’s members, a few questions about Captiva, their music and what they are looking forward to in the upcoming year.



Captiva FMMF
Captiva


Now It’s Dark: You are a young band, but you come out swinging, booking a fair number of large festivals this year. How do you feel about playing to such enormous audiences amongst greats without having years of road experience?

Hank Wiedel: Blessed. This past year has just paved such a great road for us, and we couldn’t be happier with all of the blessings and lessons we have received along the way. We’re definitely looking forward to meeting, working with and performing alongside some amazing acts. We set out in 2013 with one goal, and it was to reach as many people as we can with our music, and we have no intention of slowing down.

NID: One of your hallmarks is your ability to captivate an audience. Is that how you got the name Captiva? What is the story behind that and how you got together?

HW: We always get this question, and it’s a compliment. In actuality, we got our name from the island Captiva in Florida. Although our live performances are known to be very exciting, charismatic, and well… crazy, our first intention is to introduce each audience member to a vacation, our vacation. We love taking people to a different place, and letting them feel the enthusiasm that we share on stage as a band. We don’t just perform for you, we perform with you.

NID: Kansas City seems to have a penchant for procuring some influential acts. What is the music scene like in KC and who were your influences?

HW: The music scene in KC is absolutely filled with amazing talent. Seeing bands work hard, play great shows and interact with fans has inspired us to do the same. We are influenced by many bands in the scene, especially Not A Planet, Radkey, Cowboy Indian Bear, and She’s A Keeper. All of these bands are killer!

NID: What are Captiva’s plans in the future for some recording projects, if any?

HW: We hope to release a number of singles before we head out on tour in May, like “Floatin’ on Sound” and “Smooth Interrogation.” During the winter, we plan to spend a lot of time writing, recording and getting ready for the busy spring ahead! Our fans can definitely expect a lot of changes in both our studio productions and our live shows in January.

NID: How does a band get the attention of large festivals like FMMF and SXSW?

HW: Well, it is definitely wild, having gone from small, intimate shows to being able to perform for large crowds of music-lovers. We’ve done our best to put our name and our music out there, and we’re so grateful to get the feedback that we’ve received. The world is filled with opportunity. Hopefully, we can gain experience from these blessings and really push ourselves further.

NID: Is there something about your image that you would wish you could let your fans know about?

HW: We’re here because you’re here. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to share our passion for music and live performance with the people we love.

NID: Describe your favorite moment playing in Captiva.

HW: There are definitely a lot of great moments to choose from, but perhaps once of the coolest experiences was traveling to Des Moines, IA over the summer and performing on television for the first time. What a thrill that was! If we had to pick a recent experience, it would undoubtedly be our set at The Granada Theater in September with Matt Easton and Brian Lockwood. Playing for hundreds of awesome fans, hanging out with some members of the KU basketball team backstage and crowd-surfing at the end of our performance. Those are all great memories. We can’t wait to see what memories we make in 2015, and the years ahead! - Now It's Dark Magazine

Artists on Trial: Captiva

Though they’ve only been a band for under a year, Captiva is already playing shows at larger venues and getting attention for its cool indie funk/folk approach. We talk with the guys to find out more about them and what they have in the works.

The Deli: Down and dirty: 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it?

Captiva: Our music is phunky fresh yet lavish indie rock.

The Deli: Give us some background on the band.

Captiva: Captiva has been together for about 9 months now. Pat McQuaid and Jackson Ries met while in high school, and began writing some soft, "poppy" kind of tunes. Once we had begun the process of producing our first album, we discovered Hank Wiedel, who brought us into the music scene and has been booking/co-managing the band ever since.

The Deli: What have been your biggest accomplishments as a band?

Captiva: Our greatest accomplishments so far include landing a show with co-headlining The Granada, performing on live TV/radio, releasing our first album, planning our first tour, and finding what exactly makes us who we are as musicians and friends. We've experienced a lot of success since our arrival in the music scene, and it's all been pretty quick, but we're most pleased with how true we have stayed to ourselves. Through all of the traveling, performing, recording, and promotion, Captiva has managed to stay a strong family.

The Deli: You recently released your debut album. What can people expect from it?

Captiva: We just released Basement Creations this summer. We are back in the studio, and plan on releasing a series of singles, including “Floatin' on Sound,” “Mid-Wild West.”

The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?

Captiva: Supporting local music is everything to us. It's a blessing to be surrounded by a music scene that is so talented and professional. It's not hard to find an act that is, first and foremost, true to their music, unlike half of the top artists today.

The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?

Captiva: Our favorite local musicians right now include La Guerre, She's A Keeper, Katy Guillen & The Girls, Rev Gusto, and Not A Planet. All of these bands are so kick-ass. We've gotten to perform with La Guerre recently, and she completely blew us away.

The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now?

Captiva: We truly love The Lonely Biscuits, AER, New Madrid, and Twenty One Pilots. We really dig Dirty Heads... They've got a unique sound that is super easy to listen to.

The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?

Captiva: Twenty One Pilots, AER, The Lonely Biscuits, and us.

The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?

Captiva: Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots is a huge influence on our live performance. Gene Simmons... I mean he's from KISS. Shouldn't that be enough? Jimmy Page is without a doubt one of the best names to ever be associated with the word guitar, and Grady Wenrich of The Lonely Biscuits knows how to keep it gravy. We like that. We like that a lot.

The Deli: What other goals does Captiva have for 2014?

Captiva: Our main focus is to establish a strong, diverse fan base in Kansas City and in Lawrence. Also, we're hoping to release a new EP sometime before the new year!

The Deli: Where can we find you on the web?

Captiva: You can find us literally everywhere.
www.captivamusic.com
www.facebook.com/experience.the.buzz
Twitter: @CaptivaTweets
Instagram: Captivamusic
Snapchat (Why not?): Snap-tiva

The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?

Captiva: Make sure to see us at The Granada with Matt Easton on September 10! It's our biggest show yet, we'll be playing a lot of new music and making some pretty big announcements, and the tickets are going fast! And, lastly, ~Stay Buzzed~

Captiva is:
Pat McQuaid: guitar
Jackson Ries: vocals
Hank Wiedel: drums - Deli Magazine

Local band Captiva has a few words for its audience: Stay buzzed. This motto comes from the band’s song “Buzzed Like Bees,” in which they encourage listeners to live in the present and not be worried about the past or the future, said Patrick McQuaid, a member of Captiva.
Captiva is made up of KU freshmen McQuaid and Jackson Ries, along with Hank Wiedel, a student at Johnson County Community College, all from Kansas City, Mo. McQuaid and Ries met a year and a half ago when they started hanging out and creating music together. They wrote their own songs and performed them at local church and high school events. Later, they met Wiedel in detention, who was serving time for being late to class, and the three became a band.
Captiva describes its style of music as “funky-folk-meets-indie-rap.” The band’s lyrics are inspired by past relationships and other life experiences. Their musical inspirations include Twenty-One Pilots, because of their stage presence and energy, as well as Fleet Foxes, Young the Giant and Dirty Heads.
Captiva released its debut album “Basement Creations” three months ago on BandCamp and Soundcloud. They are an independent band; however they are in conjunction with WKC Music, an independent label based out of Kansas City that helped get the band where they are today.
The members said that living in Lawrence has helped them a lot due to the town’s welcoming music scene. Wiedel said Lawrence is reliable with solid shows and brings in good acts.
Captiva will be playing at Jackpot Music Hall on Sunday, Nov. 8. On Nov. 12 at Abe and Jake’s Landing the band will perform at a Kappa Kappa Gamma benefit show that supports a former sorority sister who suffered a brain injury.
“You can expect a lot of energy from our shows and to go away feeling buzzed,” McQuaid said. “We put a lot of effort into each of our performances.”
The band has enjoyed getting the opportunity to play in front of friends, both from high school and now at the University, and being able to prove themselves as a band.
“We have become best friends,” McQuaid said. “We have bumps in the road. There is definitely tension sometimes, but we all care so much about the band. It makes us very thankful for each other and for having such great musicians and friends to play with.”
“We are definitely trying to venture out and to become recognized on a more regional and national level,” Wiedel said.
They are booking their first tour for next spring, and will be playing SXSW in March.
The band is currently in the writing process for its next album, and plans to draw on the members’ more recent experiences since they have started college and joined fraternities. McQuaid and Ries write all of Captiva’s songs.
“This whole year has really been a blessing for us,” Wiedel said. “It is amazing to see the things that we create come to life.” - University Daily Kansan

Captiva is a young indie-funk band (or "funky shiz" band, as they call it) out of KC. You probably don't know them yet. But they'll be popping up at several Lawrence shows in the coming months. Find them at the Bottleneck on Wed. Apr. 2 (along with King Dong Variety Hour!) and this summer at the Granada on June 28th. We decided to find out just how funky this shiz really is, so we sat down for a nice chat about their upcoming debut record and the KC music scene.

Check out a Captiva jam called "Buzzed Like Bees" over here via Soundcloud, give them a "like" on FB here, and follow them on Twitter @CaptivaTweets.

Now enjoy this Captiva-ting interview!


Chip: Tell us about the band name. To me, "Captiva" sounds like a perfume that should have one of those vaguely kinky and bewildering black and white ads. Or maybe it sounds like a French torture-porn film. But I'm guessing that's not what you were going for?

No, Captiva isn't a perfume or an exotic porno. But, if the listeners demand it, then we'll do what we have to do. "Captiva" is a reference to our captivating tunes with enveloping lyrics that really capture our listeners in a cage of song and storytelling. Captiva is also an island off the coast off Florida, a popular vacation destination. This symbolizes our music as being a sort of vacation or fresh breath of air from a routine stress-filled day.

Richard: So your debut record is being produced by The Elders, who are legends within the KC scene. Tell us about working with them. Will you be bringing some of their Irish sounds into the mix at all??

We mainly work with the fiddle and guitar player Brent Hoad. Brent is a funny guy and has the same goony personality as we do, which makes it easy to connect and have a good time when we're in the studio. Our music does have a sort of folk sound to it due to some of our acoustic, finger-picking tracks, but most all of those tracks were created long before we came into the influence of The Elders.

Chip: Your FB page describes your genre as "funky shiz," which is certainly one of my top three genres (along with "twee" and "crunk"). Describe the Captiva sound for us in a little more detail? Is it easy to shake my ass to it?

Our genre is something more like "indie funk meets rappy folk." We have certain tunes that will most definitely get a crowd pumped. Our album holds a couple of songs that will no doubt get some heads bobbing and booties shaking due to the songs' rap/funk influence. On the other hand, we also have certain tunes that will give a listener some time to chill out and enjoy some good vibes.

Richard: Tell us a little more about the KC music scene in general, since many of our lazy Lawrence readers rarely make it over there for shows. What do you think are the best-kept secrets in KC in terms of cool venues and cool bands our readers should look into?

The Kansas City music scene is a growing community that incorporates a heavy folk/blues background with a newer, more modern pop sound. Over only a small number of years, the music scene has developed rapidly, and we have seen the growth of many wonderful bands, some of whom we have had or will have the pleasure of working with such as New Madrid, AY-MusiK, and countless others. The always-expanding variety and size of the music community in KC truly represents the strength of our city. In our personal opinions, the KCMO scene is one of the best nationwide. Hands down. Captiva has grown so rapidly and heavily within such a short time, and we owe it all to our city. Our loyal fans and strong support system really pushes us to represent our town as best as possible. We do produce dope music, and good looks, but KC is what makes our dope shiz look so damn good.

Richard: Leave us with a blurb that convinces our readers that they absolutely MUST attend your Apr. 2 show at the Bottleneck.

Everyone should be at the Bottleneck April 2nd, especially college kids, as this is one of our last shows in Lawrence before we start touring the college market. We'll be playing some house parties over the summer, and the Granada June 28th, but this is one show you won't want to miss. Get your buds (take "buds" in whatever form you please) and come chill with us. We love L-Town, and we know you love us, so let's get down in college town like you know best and make a party that'll end your year feeling #buzzed. - The Larryville Chronicles