From Joke to Journey: Identity Crisis on Growth, ‘Starve,’ and Staying Grounded
Identity Crisis started as a joke but grew into something that actually matters. From tiny hometown stages to touring across the country, they’ve been shaping their sound and themselves along the way. Their music comes out raw and unforced, a reflection of who they are right now. In this interview we dig into the meaning behind their name, the story of their latest single “Starve,” and how they stay grounded while everything around them changes.
Your name started off as kind of a joke, but now it actually feels like it means something. At what point did it stop being funny and start feeling real to you?
The name “Identity Crisis” started off as a joke as we didn’t have a band name when we played for the first time. Over the course of the next year the name developed a more serious meaning as our fans made their own interpretation of it. Now, the name “Identity Crisis” is a staple of our brand as we hope that our listeners discover their truest self through our art.
You’re going from open mics to now about to start to tour across the country. What parts of yourselves do you feel are changing, and what do you want to make sure you don’t lose along the way personally and or musically?
It’s definitely surreal going from playing small bars in our hometown to now touring the nation. Over the years we have grown into our own skin as songwriters, performers, and just people in general. We need to make sure that throughout this journey we stay grounded, level headed and make sure that we are there for each other throughout the extreme highs and lows that come with being a musician.
You pull from a mix of influences, from ‘90s grunge to artists like Lil Peep and Waylon Jennings. Do those sounds come together naturally when you’re writing, or do you ever push yourselves to step outside of what people expect from a rock band?
During the writing process we would say that things flow pretty naturally. We try not to focus on or chase a certain sound. By writing music this way, we create the purest most authentic version of our art without the stress of having to meet certain standards within a genre.
You’ve already been compared to some really iconic bands, like Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam. Do those comparisons feel motivating, or do they ever add pressure to carve out your own lane?
We are super grateful that our fans appreciate our music so much that we are being compared to such legendary bands. However, while being compared to these bands is great, we are focused on creating our own signature sound and path with our music.
Your new single “Starve” touches on feeling stuck and being held back by someone or something. Was that song coming from a personal place, or more inspired by watching someone else go through that? And as we are on the topic of the newest single, What do you hope someone going through that kind of situation takes away from ‘Starve’ when they hear it?
“Starve” was definitely coming from a very personal place. From a listener's perspective, we hope that anyone that listens to “Starve” can relate to it and apply the message to their own personal hardships. The beautiful thing about music is that everyone is going to interpret it differently. Through that, the song can speak to all sorts of people in multiple, unique ways.
Do you see your newest work, (released or still in the process of) as a reflection of where you are right now as a band, or more like something you’ve already pushed through?
We currently have an EP releasing later this year and are also in the recording process of our debut album. These two projects were recorded at different points in our career and they serve as time capsules showcasing who we were in those moments. As things in your life change and you evolve as a human being, so does the music.
Each of you seems to bring a really different energy to the band. How do those different personalities show up when you’re writing or building songs together?
Each band member successfully delivers their own unique energy that is needed to create while building songs. We all have different influences outside of just rock music and it brings a collaborative energy to the songwriting space for sure.
You’re heading out on tour with Return to Dust this April. What are you most excited to experience or take away from that run, beyond just playing the shows?
Beyond just playing shows, we are excited to visit cities we have never been to and meet our fans face to face. We love our fans and building a lifetime connection with them is something extremely valuable to us.
You’ve built a strong following pretty quickly recently signed to a label. How do you stay grounded and honest in your music while everything around you is growing so fast?
Staying grounded can get tricky when things feel like they are growing very quickly. We’re able to stay grounded by staying in touch with family and ourselves. We also hold each other accountable and make sure we are always working hard to get to the next level.
With your debut EP on the way, what do you want people to walk away with after listening to it front to back?
We want to give listeners an experience they can’t get anywhere else. The EP represents and taps into all different types of emotions and feelings. Most importantly, after listening to our EP we want our fans eager to come hear the songs live.
If you could drop Identity Crisis into any ‘90s alt rock era lineup for one night, who are you opening for and what does that show look like?
Even though Guns N’ Roses came out in 87’, we still would like to include them since the “Use Your Illusion" tours were so iconic. So we’d have to say Guns N’ Roses, Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots would be some bands we’d love to share the stage with.
What’s one song from your influences that you wish you had written yourselves?
Mayonnaise by The Smashing Pumpkins is a band favorite. The songwriting on that track is incredible.
If someone had never heard your band before, what’s one non-rock artist you’d tell them to listen to first to weirdly understand your sound? And if you could be honest, what’s a song or artist you love that people wouldn’t expect from you at all?
That’s a tough one. Everyone in the band has different influences from artists like Lil Uzi Vert, to guys like Waylon Jennings. Even though those mentioned have a very different sound than us, while listening to them you might catch a few influences here and there.
If your band had to cover a completely non-rock song and make it your own, what would you pick?
“Congratulations” by Post Malone and Quavo would be a great song to cover and make it our own.
Who’s most likely in the band to sneak a random influence into a song that makes everyone else go, “wait… why does that actually work?
Our singer Reece has created songs in all different genres throughout his life. That experience definitely shows up in our current music.
If Identity Crisis had a “soundtrack song” that describes the band right now (not your own music), what would it be?
“Time of Our Lives” by Pitbull and Ne-Yo
If your sound had a physical setting, like a place or environment, what would it look like?
A live concert!!!
There’s been a noticeable return of that raw, grunge-inspired sound lately, and it feels like bands are bringing it back in a new way. Going on tour with Return to Dust, how do you see Identity Crisis fitting into that space?
We get along with the Return to Dust guys really well. They’re great dudes and we love their music. We see ourselves fitting into that space because like them, we are also a young and hungry band who are just grateful to be in the position we are in.
Identity Crisis’ music captures the band at this moment, full of energy, emotion, and growth. With a debut EP coming and a tour with Return to Dust on the horizon, each song carries a piece of what they’ve lived and who they are becoming. It’s music that connects, lingers, and makes you feel like you’re part of the journey.
