“Maple Blue" by the Honeyboys Is so Sweet

There’s nothing sweeter than the Honeyboys’ newest single, “Maple Blue.” The California-based band’s latest release draws inspiration from a variety of different genres, so that no matter what type of music you prefer, there is something in the song for you. I got the chance to ask the Honeyboys a few questions about the release, and you can read our interview below. 

HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW THAT “MAPLE BLUE” IS OUT?

 We are feeling excited to share a song that showcases the indie rock side of Honeyboys and hope our audience shares this same excitement. We are also interested to hear how people respond to the different direction we are going with “Maple Blue.” 

HOW DID THIS SONG COME TOGETHER?

It all started when guitarist Reese Gardner developed a rough instrumental with lyrics based on an ear-catching riff he created during the thick of quarantine. As soon as Reese made that first beat, he sent it over to vocalist Ari Eisenberg since he knew the vocalist would sound great over it and transform it into something else. From there, Ari added lyrics and over 50 vocal tracks to the song. 

WHAT DOES THE WRITING PROCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU GUYS? HOW DO YOU BALANCE DIFFERENT IDEAS FROM DIFFERENT BAND MEMBERS?

 For “Maple Blue,” Reese drafted a melody on guitar and a simple beat that became the finished song. For a lot of the songs we’ve released, he creates a melody with guitar and then builds lyrics in conjunction with Ari and the rest of the band. Grady comes to the band with fully formed songs, so the lyrical process is more collaborative with Reese’s songs. Grady has a different, more old-school jazz vibe that contrasts with Reese’s more indie pop songs and lyrics. Ari also has a lot of written material that is more alternative rock, but have since been injected with the signature jazz pop sound of the band. 

THERE ARE A LOT OF JAZZ/ROCK/INDIE ELEMENTS IN THIS SONG. DO DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE HONEYBOYS BRING DIFFERENT THINGS INTO YOUR MUSIC?

 Each member of the band brings different attributes to the overall sound of “Maple Blue.” Ari was inspired by 90’s emo rock and brought to the table the idea of adding driving guitars to the verse that give it a more grungy feel during that section.  Reese was inspired by the driving indie rock of the Strokes, and the melodic guitar lines of bands like the Cure and the Smiths. Grady took influences from the vocal styles of Jacob Collier. He recorded stacks and stacks of vocal harmonies and added piano and keyboard sounds as well. Matt was inspired to use a bossa nova beat halfway through the music making process because he believed it brought a little flair to an already imaginative song. 

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND?

Initially inspired by the rich chords and catchy melodies of bedroom pop, we have since added elements of indie rock, jazz and r&b to create a diverse sound. We enjoy the music of many bedroom pop artists, but aspire to take it to larger places with dynamic basslines and drums that are not usually heard in the genre. Furthermore, we also try to fuse the improvisational freedom of live performance with the track layering in the studio to create a textured atmosphere while still sounding like a live band jamming. 

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF ABOUT “MAPLE BLUE?”

 We are most proud of the bridge of “Maple Blue” because it shows off our musicianship and adds a new dimension to the overall sound. Keyboardist and vocalist Grady added in a Jacob Collier inspired vocal harmonies at the end of the bridge which transitions into the chorus seamlessly. 

WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THE SONG?

I hope people takeaway that Honeyboys don’t focus on a single genre, but rather on making songs that make our listeners feel something. With Yoyo being more Hip-hop oriented, and grapevine fitting the Pop genre well, “Maple Blue” is the perfect song to play on a fall day.  

IF YOU COULD PLAY THE SONG FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD YOU PLAY IT FOR?

 I would play it for my high school teacher who thought I would work at McDonalds. Who’s laughing now Mr. Kennedy? 

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PART OF THE SONG? 

 Our favorite section of “Maple Blue” is the outro because it completely diverts from the original production and ventures into a different genre of music while still maintaining similar chords. The outro also sounds like a beginning to a sitcom which is really fun.

WHAT DID I MISS? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE SONG OR YOU GUYS AS A BAND? 

Reese is from Boxford, Massachusetts, a suburb outside Boston. Ari is from Napa, California and loves Pad Thai. Grady Gallagher is from Munich, Germany and loves to surf. Matt Sato is from San Carlos, California.

“MAPLE BLUE” IS OUT NOW. YOU CAN FIND THE SONG ON STREAMING SERVICES LIKE SPOTIFY AND APPLE MUSIC. GO STREAM “MAPLE BLUE” AND MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW @twentyminuteslater ON INSTAGRAM TO STAY UPDATED ON FUTURE INTERVIEWS.