Exclusive Interview With @DigitalSummer As New Acoustic Album After Hours Releases Today #Rock #Music

No compensation was received for this post. I did this interview because I felt it would be interesting, and out of love for the album, the music and the band.

If you’re a regular reader then you know that I love rock music. One of my most favorite bands is Digital Summer, a independent and unsigned rock band out of Phoenix, Arizona. They are one of very few bands (literally two) bands that puts out albums that I like from start to finish. And lyrically, at one point or another in time, I have been able to relate to what they’re saying. When I learned that their fourth album would be all acoustic, I wondered if I would enjoy it as much as it’s three predecessors. I preordered the album on iTunes a few weeks ago, just so that I could get a copy of a new song “This City” before the album actually dropped. As soon as I heard the song I fell in love with it, and was hopeful that the remainder of the album would make me just as happy.
After hearing “This City”, I asked the guys in Digital Summer if they’d be willing to interview them for an actual feature here on Mom Knows It All once the album dropped. I was curious to know some of their thoughts on family, their present and their future. The band was gracious enough to say yes, and Jon answered my questions.
And so, with Digital Summer’s new album “After Hours: Unplugged & Rewired” dropping today, here is my interview with them.

Digital Summer spends time performing with Austin Rios, an obviously talented young man.  How does spending time with him affect your vision of the future and the possibility of parenthood?

Editor’s note – Austin is a very talented 12 year old that really knows how to play the drums.
DS – “Austin has played a handful of shows with us, and is featured on four of the songs from the new acoustic album. His presence doesn’t really spark any kind of parenting scenario, but we are very proud to show him the “bright side” of rock musicians. We show them that you can succeed without being a druggy, asshole, or lazy person. It’s definitely a good foundation for him for wherever his music career takes him in the future!”

How do you juggle career (two of them), family and personal time?

Editor’s note – The members of Digital Summer also have typical “day” jobs outside of the music industry, as well as being in the band. They all work together to handle different aspects of the band, as they are independent and unsigned.
DS – We all juggle our career jobs with the band. It’s the toughest when we tour, but we somehow make it work! We are all fortunate enough to have significant others and friends who support and understand our hectic schedules. I guess the best answer is that we all just got lucky! 🙂

Is it difficult to maintain family traditions with a busy career?

DS – None of us have kids, but in terms of relationships, it can be difficult. Time apart is a big issue at times, but like I stated previously, we have an excellent support system. For me personally, It’s kind of tough to do “family things” with my family because all of them live in Louisiana. However, I had to spread my wings and fly, so it’s part of the sacrifice I’ve made to chase my dreams.

Did you always want to be a musician, and how did your parents feel about your decision to become a musician?

DS – Ever since I was about 7 or 8 years old. I remember seeing an Alan Jackson music video for Chatahoochie, and thinking to myself, I want to be able to play a guitar like him! My parents have always been supportive!

What’s your favorite home cooked meal?

DS – My mom’s chicken & wine sauce recipe!

What’s on your iPod that isn’t your music?

DS – There’s so much! I’d say my most played artists are Sevendust, Alter Bridge, Creed, Submersed, and Black Label Society

What was the most interesting city you have visited & why?

DS – My personal favorite was Chicago. There is so much cool stuff to do there that it’s overwhelming on trying to figure out how to make time to sight see everything!

How do you stay healthy when on the road so much? I imagine it is a lot of fast food and sitting on a bus!

DS – Our live shows are pretty intense, so we get a really good cardio work out from that. I guess it levels out our bad eating habits!
Digital Summer’s new acoustic album “After Hours: Unplugged & Rewired” dropped today. It is available for purchase on their website and on iTunes.
I don’t have acoustic or video from the album that I can share with you, but I do have something that I can let you hear that’s pretty close. Here’s an acoustic audio version of the Digital Summer song “Broken Halo”. Broken Halo is on the new album and it rather similar to this acoustic version that they did a while back. Broken Halo is a great song in and of itself, acoustically it’s kind of magical.

I had also ordered a physical copy of the new Digital Summer album, which arrived (signed and made out to me, LOVE!)  three days ago, on Saturday. The album has thirteen tracks, including two new tracks and eleven acoustic versions of previously released songs. The tracks on the album are:

• This City (new song)
• Forget You
• Shallow (Closer Than The Angels)
• Suffocate
• Closer to Me
• Dance In The Fire
• Morphine
• Use Me
• Whatever It Takes
• Demons (new song)
• Broken Halo
• Sweet Misery
• Worth The Pain

I have now listened to the album 11 times since I unwrapped it on Saturday. It is amazing. I love every single track on it. And incredibly, I had already loved eleven of the thirteen songs. The acoustic versions are incredible and made me fall in love with the songs all over again in a different way. The new songs are brilliant and I love them too. Digital Summer really knocked it out of the park with this album.
Digital Summer is:
Kyle Winterstein – Vocals
Ian Winterstein – Guitar
Anthony “Guido” Hernandez – Bass
Jon “Bubba” Stephenson – Guitar
A big thanks to Digital Summer for taking the time to answer my questions. Digital Summer isn’t on tour at the moment but does have a Scottsdale, AZ show scheduled for November 2, and in January will also be on the ShipRocked cruise (one of my dream vacations). I’m hoping that they are able to get to the Northeast sometime relatively soon, because I just need to see these guys live. Any shows that they do schedule will surely be on their website and on Facebook.
MORE INFO
Digital Summer website
Digital Summer on Facebook
Digital Summer on Twitter
Digital Summer on YouTube