Things are looking great for Fremont-based band, Castle No Kings. With a brand new music video and a tour coming up, they are heading toward some amazing and fun adventures! If you haven't ever heard of them, you are missing out on an amazingly talented group of guys.

Castle No Kings is: Seth Bickel (Lead Vocalist), Tim Lawrence (Lead Guitarist), Sam Piccuto (Drummer), Jacob Flores (Bassist), and Ben Vasko (Guitarist, Backup Vocalist). Hit that play button and get a taste of what they sound like.

Q: Who are some artists or bands that inspire you?

Jacob:

I’m constantly inspired by bands like Ok Go, LAKE, and Grizzly Bear, as well as artists like Mac Demarco.

Seth:

Movements, Being As An Ocean, Counterparts, and Dance Gavin Dance.

Ben:

Anberlin, Underoath, and Silent Planet.

Sam:

Movements, Dance Gavin Dance, Silent Planet, Chon, and Polyphia.

Tim:

My biggest influences are bands like Being As An Ocean, Capsize, Movements, and recently Counterparts. Being As An Ocean was the band that got me into music, I learned how to play guitar by learning their first album.

Q: What made you decide to start a career in music?

Jacob:

I was tired of doing uninteresting and boring things in my life.

Ben:

When I was in high school, my dad gave me a guitar for my 16th birthday and I tried to learn how to play. I soon realized I loved songwriting and wanted to keep working at it.

Sam:

There is something about connecting to music that I can't quite explain.

Tim:

My band director in high school filled me with a passion for music, he was always extremely passionate about everything we did as a band. That really rubbed off on me and made me really want to put my life towards music.

Q: What brought you together as a band?

Jacob:

A yard sale.

Ben:

I personally wasn’t a founding member, but I was drawn to the unique sound and awesome performance. As soon as I found out they had an open position, I HAD to jump on it. They’ve turned out to be awesome people I love to be around.

Sam:

Seth, Tim, and I met at college, instantly became friends, and started writing music together. We had some lineup changes and finally met Jake and Ben who seemed to be exactly what we needed!

Tim:

Seth, Sam, and I met in college and started jamming on some stuff Seth and I wrote acoustically, and it took off from there.

Q: What is the basic timeline of Castle No Kings?

Tim:

Castle No Kings started as an acoustic group comprised of Seth and I, we called ourselves Sidewalk Outlines. From there, we went through quite a few members until Ben and Jacob came along, and we took off from there. Seth, Sam, and I wrote and recorded an album as Sidewalk Outline and changed our name when we released it. Since then, we have recorded and released an album and a music video. We’ve also done some touring with another one in November 2017.

Q: What genre is your music and why did you choose to make this type of music?

Jacob:

I like to consider ourselves as MoshN'Cry with a sprinkle of ambient funk.

Seth:

A mixture of post-hardcore and melodic hardcore. I feel an energy in that style that portrays our message clearly.

Ben:

I’d describe it as emotional post-hardcore. We chose it cause it’s the best of all of my favorite genres. It features emotionally-driven lyrics and instrumentals in a way that just makes me want to play my heart out.

Tim:

This is a hard one, it’s a mix of melodic hardcore, post-hardcore, spoken word, alternative, and emo. So basically we’re a post-melodic-emo-spoken-word-sadboy hardcore band.

Q: What is your favorite song to perform?

Jacob:

I really enjoy performing "Shattered" because it rips and gets everyone moving.

Ben:

"Skin Deep" cause the ending comes across so huge and I always lose myself in that moment.

Sam:

"Skin Deep."

Tim:

My personal favorite would have to be "Shattered." I get to let everything out during that song, and the crowd always loves it.

Q: What is the most influential lyric for you?

Seth:

I think our band's message can clearly be heard in "Skin Deep" when I scream, "Let my identity breathe."

Ben:

I’d say the chorus of "Valleys." Maybe even "Valleys" in general. Seth did a great job writing the piece and it comes across so powerfully and relatable, it has to be my favorite.

Sam:

The end of "Skin Deep" when Seth screams, "Save Me," is my favorite because it is such a powerful lyric.

Q: Is there a venue that you would like to play?

Jacob:

I think playing a show in The Cavern Club would be cool or maybe playing a show in Central Park would be neato.

Ben:

I’d love to play the main stage at St. Andrew’s Hall. It was a stellar and unreal experience seeing Anberlin there on their final tour, so I want to experience what they did.

Tim:

I would love to play at The Grog Shop in Cleveland. That was the first venue I saw Being As An Ocean and Capsize in.

Q: What is your craziest memory together?

Jacob:

The time where most of our gear simultaneously fell apart during a set in Lansing, Illinois was pretty interesting. I felt like Tom Hanks storming the beaches of Normandy as I watched the mayhem unfold around me in slow motion.

Ben:

It had to be our CD release show 'cause the crowd was packed and people were singing along to our music. It was nuts.

Tim:

The first night Ben got with the band. He spit beer all over Sam, it was awesome.

Q: What makes you passionate about making music?

Seth:

Music is like any other art, you can't explain why a certain style of art speaks to you the way it does, it just does. That's how music is with me.

Ben:

I just love the creation of art in general, but what I especially love about music is how easily it can touch a person. I’m constantly craving affecting people with my music.

Sam:

What makes me most passionate about music is seeing other people connect to our music and connecting to others music myself.

Tim:

The ability to use what we have created to help someone else. If my music helped even just one person, then it’s all worth it to me. I never really fit in, so this is the first time I’ve been able to put everything that I’m feeling down and present it without being judged.

Q: What does the writing process look like for you?

Ben:

Sometimes we have jams, but honestly, most of the writing takes place in my head randomly at work or home or something and then I try and hash it out on guitar. Then I’ll bring it forward at practice and have everyone else offer input and fill in the gaps.

Tim:

The band usually jams on a song, and it never fits into place. I get frustrated and write the leads on the spot and everyone loves it.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration for your music/lyrics?

Jacob:

I'm inspired by bassists such as Thundercat and Paul McCartney by their style and flow of rhythm.

Ben:

Basically everywhere. Any artist could suddenly inspire me to write a riff. For lyrics, it comes from the day to day. The real struggles of others and myself that I can just sort of channel until I get the lines I need.

Tim:

My inspiration for the instrumentals have to come from my dad and Tyler Ross (Being As An Ocean's guitarist). My dad has made music his entire life, so a lot of times when I write something, I ask myself, “What would my dad think of this riff?”

Q: What is your main goal with music?

Jacob:

My main goal is to help people through the music I create whilst managing to make a living playing shows.

Ben:

I’m hoping to tour this country and possibly the world playing in front of crowds like my favorite artists have done.

Sam:

My main goal is to become a professional musician.

Tim:

Long term, sign and tour the world like madmen and have the time of my life with my best friends and all of our friends we meet on the road.

Q: Do you have anything in store for the future?

Seth:

We always have something in the works.

Ben:

Maybe some new music or something…

Tim:

We have TONS of stuff coming in the future, I'd love to tell you exact details, but what kind of fun would that be? We have some cool stuff coming next month (November 2017), just keep an eye out.

Q: Do you have any tips for aspiring musicians?

Jacob:

Do what feels right and makes you happy. Don't let others attempt to tell you how to create your music.

Seth:

Don't try to cut corners and just push through with purpose.

Ben:

Don’t expect it to happen overnight. Also, when you get discouraged, keep pushing through 'cause you never know when you’re going to get to where you want, but you will get there with effort, time, and a willingness to humble yourself.

Sam:

Practice, practice, practice, and don't be afraid to try new ideas!

Tim:

DON’T GIVE UP! It isn’t easy, but it’s always worth it. A lot of people think that it’s all fun and no work, but it’s a full-time job, and the payout isn’t big. If you love making music, just keep working hard, play every show that you can, and take every opportunity you can. There’s tons of fun to be had and opportunities ahead.

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* Answers have been edited.