A Conversation with Walden about Finding Their Sound, How They Got Their Name, and Dinner!

Cover photo from Bandsintown

Interviewed by Mischa White and Camilla Johnson. Transcribed by Grace Ellsworth.

Names Pronouns Ages Zodiacs

Richard he/him 25 Pisces

Jamie he/him 25 Capricorn

Eric he/him 24 Gemini (6/9/20)

Andrew he/him 25 Virgo (90% sure)

OFF THE RECORD - CAMILLA JOHNSON: Okay, so the first question, um, is kind of just super casual because we’re super interested to see what type of hobbies people have picked up during quarantine other than, like, their usual hobbies... So far, we’ve gotten birdhouse making, which was really cool. That was like the only kind of cool one. So, do y’all have any hobbies y’all have picked up during this time?

WALDEN - ANDREW MENDEL: We did an art night. Um. But in terms of hobbies, we’ve become game creators. So, for example, in our backyard, we have, like, a row of bricks, and we painted little, like, target-boxes on the bricks, and then, throw the ball from the roof ON to the bricks, and you score points, so?

CAMILLA: What do you call the game?

ANDREW: We call it top-flob. (Flob has a B at the end.) Yeah, so, that’s something we’ve kind of had fun with. Created some other games as well.

CAMILLA: Cool. So, we saw that you guys have recently moved to Nashville; was there anything, like, music-related that inspired the move? And also, how are you liking Nashville so far? We’re stationed out in Memphis, Tennessee, so that’s kind of close!

ANDREW: Oh, nice! We love Memphis!

WALDEN - ERIC HANGARTNER: Nice. We’ve played in Memphis several times? Railgarten…

WALDEN - RICHARD BECKER: Railgarten, we did the Levitt Shell over there, which was awesome, um…

ERIC: And we… didn’t we play a brewery there?

ANDREW: I think that was Knoxville?

ERIC: Oh, that was Knoxville.

ANDREW: Railgarten was—well, I guess Railgarten is not a brewery?

ERIC: Um, yeah, so the move was definitely music related, um, we had all been kinda living separately back in the Atlanta area in Georgia, where we’re all from, and as the pandemic was kinda getting crazier and crazier, um, we kind of had to figure out... we were already trying to plan on moving to Nashville just to kind of progress our careers forward, um, but in that moment it was kind of like, ‘Okay, we either wait this out or we do it now and just quarantine in our new city,’ um, and we were—we were living with our parents, so we didn’t want to infect them, and basically wanted to keep them as safe as possible. So between that and the idea of writing together, practicing together, just being in the same place, being in a new city… despite the quarantine craziness, uh, we thought it was the best move for us, so we did it, and we’re all super happy about it. I mean, as far as quarantining goes, we’re having a lot of fun and hanging in there.

CAMILLA: So we were also wondering, why the name Walden? Like, is there a specific reason behind that, or did y’all just do a band name generator? (Some people have done that.)

ERIC: We’ve tried plenty of band name generators, but the name Walden was actually, um, purposeful. We were throwing out a lot of names which we—they won’t be named. Um, some pretty awful band name ideas.

CAMILLA: Just one? Just—yeah? Can we hear it?

ERIC: What’s one? Shades of White? Cloud Kingdom?

WALDEN: <all laughing>

ERIC: Um, anyways, we were studying, uh—we were all in the same high school, you guys talked about it—and we were studying transcendentalism in our literature class at the time, so we—we had just been introduced to Emerson and, like, Thoreau, and we—actually, at the time, I don’t think any of us had read the book Walden, but we already knew about, um, transcendentalism and that movement, and we thought it was cool and very interesting. And, I know at least for me, it really kind of, like, shook up my attitude towards life and approach, in terms of like, what I could make of my life, and so I just tossed the name out there, and then it was the first one that we all didn’t hate? So we went with it?

CAMILLA: That’s actually pretty cool. I was going to be a lil’ disappointed if y’all said it was just a random band name generator, cuz’ there was—um, a band we interviewed called Strawberry Milk Cult, and they just said it was a band name generator, but I just wanted to know if they actually liked strawberry milk. So I’m glad that actually has a story behind it.

CAMILLA: What music did your parents listen to when you were growing up? Did it influence your music?

ANDREW: Definitely for me—uh, I mean, I got into playing drums just cuz’ my dad and I listened to a lot of classic rock. So, like, that’s where I came from. We—yeah, I mean—that was almost exclusively what I played I think until like, this band started, honestly, so, for me, it was a huge influence. And then I guess, y’know, as an extension, to the band? Um, that’s—cuz’ that’s—y’know, who introduced me to that kinda music.

ERIC: Yeah, uh, same for me. My dad had a lot of classic rock CDs, and I think at the time actually he had kind of started listening to mostly country, so I didn’t even know about this music that existed. He had a huge collection of CDs that I—I didn’t even really know any of this music. But then he took me… Nah, dragged me to a concert at a nearby amphitheater. It was Boston and Styx playing together. And I was like, ‘Alright, I’ll go see your old guy band,’ and I was like super not excited for it. I wanted to hang out with my friends, I was in high school or middle school I guess, and uh, and I loved it. It blew my mind. Boston and Styx were both incredible, and like, totally inspired me to just start digging into, like, old 70s and 80s classic rock, um, and so, that’s when I kinda got into all this music and, uh, that was the first real music that I like, fell in love with. Before that, y’know, it had just kinda been whatever’s on the radio.

WALDEN - JAMIE DE LANGE: Yeah. Well, my parents were always just huge music people their whole lives. So they kind of exposed me to, like, all kinds of music throughout my whole life. There’s not one defining point where I found a love of music, it’s just always been a huge part of my life. My parents’...

ERIC: Jamie’s mom was at the, uh, Live Aid at Wembley when Queen did their performance. So cool.

CAMILLA: I’d brag that all the time.

RICHARD: Like, my parents played at, uh, Live Aid.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Sarcasm.)

ANDREW: What band?

RICHARD: The backyard band. No. I—I feel like I didn’t have that… the music I grew up on… didn’t… wasn’t that influential, from my parents, at least? My mom loves James Taylor, so I love James Taylor, but other than that? I mean, I remember the Beatles from everything. Camp and stuff. So, I don’t know. It wasn’t as impactful on me as everyone else.

CAMILLA: So, if we did our research correctly, y’all started in high school and then took a little break it seems like, and then started back in college? So, about six years as a band is what I’m getting, give or take? Um, how has that been? Like, did y’all think you’d be together this long?

ERIC: No.

RICHARD: It’s actually been... October will make it eight years? And we took a semester off… so, like, we went to college, them two went to UGA, us two went to Georgia Southern, and we like, after high school, kinda like, ended the band, but then like a semester in, in the spring, we kicked it back up. So like, it wasn’t much of a break. Um, but, yeah?

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Richard was referring to Eric and Andrew going to UGA, himself and Jamie going to Georgia Southern.)

ANDREW: I don’t think we thought it would be this long. I mean, I knew that if it would be this long, it would be the same four of us, but I didn’t know… I don’t know. I definitely did not think…

RICHARD: We always had really, really big aspirations as a band. Even from high school, we wanted to be where all our idols were, you know, playing stadiums, doing big things, so… We definitely always had really high aspirations, but yeah, I don’t think any of us…

JAMIE: We didn’t have any expectations for how long it would go.

ERIC: Yeah, I just knew I wanted that, but I had no concept of how long it would take, nor did I care.

RICHARD: Yeah, we were clueless.

CJ: So like, out of your song catalogue so far that’s been released, what song would you say best encompasses your band’s like, for lack of better words, vibe? Like if you had to choose one song you’ve released to introduce people to your band, but you could only use that song, what song would you choose?

RICHARD: That’s incredibly difficult…

ERIC: Um, I’d probably say… I mean—I think—I’m just speaking for myself… I know we all really love our newest single, “Changing”, um, which is good, cuz’ you want your most recent thing to be something you’re excited about? And we do really love that, but I—at the same time, our song “Green Light” is probably our best representation, cuz’ I think it does a good job of like of paying homage to some influences we have, but also feels very much like something, uh, we—that hasn’t been done before. Um, so, it’s nice in that way. Feels like us, doesn’t feel like anyone else.

CAMILLA: I’m guessing everyone else agrees?

WALDEN: <all agreeing>

ANDREW: It’s interesting timing to answer that question, because we’re, along with the quarantine going on, we’re like, in a state of like, really trying to experiment with like, really honing into like, what are we? What’s unique? What are we best at? Kind of stuff. We’re currently like, after this call, we’re going to be in our studio experimenting with ideas we’ve had. So we’re still in this state where we’re not even super sure what exactly is us, but I agree with them that “Green Light” is, like, the best representation of where we may be going, for sure.

CAMILLA: So your most recent single, “Changing”—we saw on your website that you kind of described the meaning of it, um, but we were also wondering if there are like any—not—I guess, yes, personal life inspirations? You don’t have to share the personal life inspirations because they’re personal, but we were wondering if it was like, also like… super personal as well. Cuz’ I feel like everyone understands what the song means, cuz’ it kinda reflects… everyone can relate to that song at some point in their life, so we were wondering, like, was there a point where that song was not… I wouldn’t say your theme song, but you needed it? I wrote this song, and I needed to hear it at this point in my life.

RICHARD: It’s definitely a personal song to me. Yeah.

ERIC: Songs get written in a lot of different ways in this band, but that was one where Richard kind of brought the initial idea to us. So, yeah, he definitely has the most personal connection to it… Although I think we’ve all found our personal connections to it… Want to take this one?

RICHARD: I guess for me, it’s more about like, struggling with just, like… negativity or stress or when you feel like your emotions are kind of out of control, and you just like, want to have control over it, you know? And not let anything spiral, you know. It’s like… It just encompasses frustration, and also hope that, as life goes on, you can… gain better control over… like… your mental health, and negativity. Being able to conquer that stuff so you’re not dealing with it your entire life, cuz’ that’s not what life’s about, you know?

CAMILLA: Um, so, if you could tour with any band, like, disbanded or still together, who’d you choose to tour with

ANDREW: Wow. That’d probably vary from person to person, for sure.

JAMIE: Pink Floyd.

ERIC: Pink Floyd?

JAMIE: Pink Floyd.

ERIC: I’ve always been a huge fan of Coldplay, so I would… I think I’d love to do that. That’d be especially kind of… back in the day, when they were making music we were really interested in…

ANDREW: I—personally, right now, I’d love to be in Tame Impala and tour with them literally cuz’ that just sounds incredible.

RICHARD: As an opening act or in the band?

CAMILLA: Well, I mean, if you want to look at it as in the band? I was just thinking like, you could be opening, or you could play after them, but if you wanted to be in the other band—what band would you want to be in?

ANDREW: That would apply—my answer would apply to both. Yeah.

RICHARD: I’d be with Tame as well.

ANDREW: Just right now. If you open it up to like, bands dead and alive and everything like that, I don’t know if I could give you a good answer.

CAMILLA: What would you say is your typical songwriting process? Do y’all come together or do people usually bring their own, like, song pieces and you build off that together?

ERIC: That’s exactly what we’re trying to change right now. Not change, necessarily, but what we’re trying to do is get way more creative about how we write songs, because what it used to be is like—Richard or I would write something, typically, and then we’d bring it and kind of flesh it out. Or, maybe it would be like, we’re in a practice, just jamming, and someone would kind of play a riff or something, and then we’d kind of group jam and flesh it out that way. But now, we’re trying to switch it up and do all sorts of different ways. So, like, maybe start a song on the computer, you know? Just with, like, a drum line? Or start it by, like yesterday… um, I don’t know if you guys know who Brian Eno is, but he came up with this concept of oblique strategies, which means like there are basically short prompts that you can then follow, kind of influences your decision making? We sat down yesterday without like any ideas about what we were gonna try to write, and we ended up using one of those oblique strategy cards, and it said “mute and continue”, which, like, obviously, all of us are like, “I don’t really know what that means,” but then we muffled the crap out of Andrew’s drums and we made musical decisions based off that and came up with this cool idea that sounds like nothing we’ve ever done before. It was very trance-y, kind of like hypnotic. It’s cool. So these days, we’re trying to build in more time for songs to be written in different ways. Because, like, when you think about—we want to be an innovative band. We’re really trying to push, going forward, to be on the forefront of creativity, which we don’t feel like we have been. Not that we’re not proud of our other music, but we’re really trying now to do stuff that’s never been done. And to do that, you kind of have to push the limits of what’s just becoming available to musicians, right? So if you think, like, the middle of the 20th century, electric guitars were just becoming a thing, right? Those weren’t around forever, so that was a lot of the new sound: electric guitars. They didn’t exist before that, so it was impossible to write music with electric guitars before that. So now we kind of feel like the computer is the electric guitar of the 21st century, and we want to become well-versed in using digital technology to come up with stuff that still feels genuine and authentic, but does it in a way that simply wasn’t possible fifty years ago.

CAMILLA: That kind of touched on another question we have about being an artist now, cuz’ kind of everyone has, like, this kind of social media push, and you hear things that sound very similar. So, like, how is it grappling trying to set yourself apart from everyone else? Because I feel like that’s what a lot of people are trying to do? But, I mean, I don’t know. It just seems very difficult to set yourself apart during these times, but you kind of just answered that question, so that’s great!

RICHARD: I think a lot just has to do with the sounds you’re using. Like, you can write a song—it all forms around the song. How is the song set up? Y’know, structure of the song, the melody... I mean, the vocal melody is the most important thing, you know… And that’s gotta be good at the core, but then you have the software nowadays. Everyone can have the same software nowadays, but it’s all about how creative are you using that software? And who can make the most unique sounding… you know, you can have the same song and give it to all these artists, and it’s probably not going to sound the same. I just think we are focusing more on how we can make the most unique sounding records using modern technology.

ERIC: I think the process is like, so important, you know? What we were kind of touching on… you can lay out a piece of blank paper in front of like ten different people and say make some art, and probably nine out of ten of them are gonna take a pencil… no, or like, maybe seven out of ten of them are gonna take a pencil and start drawing something, maybe two out of ten of them will take some paint and start painting, but maybe like one out of ten completely rips up the paper and turns it into this paper mache sort of work. It’s all about how creative you can get with the tools you’re using? Pushing the limits of what’s been done. Because that’s just the artists we admire. There’s nothing wrong with a good ol’ acoustic guitar. I mean, I love Bob Dylan as much as anyone else, or any of those just like classic songwriters with a guitar, but um, I think that the bands we look up to as a band are the ones who just kept pushing the envelope. And I think we’re a little bit tired of feeling like we’re trying to hold onto this era of music that we really enjoyed, and instead trying to now define what the next one is going to be.

CAMILLA: So if you could describe the sound, other than like, unique, that you’re going for, with three words, what would you say the sound you’re going for is? If that makes sense.

RICHARD: Definitely organic.

ERIC: I feel like that’s the big key for us. We don’t want the digitalness of the 21st century to take away from the authenticity of what music is supposed to be, which is like human expression, you know what I mean? And that’s why a lot of electronic based music can feel, you know, it makes you long for the old days when it was a lot more like ‘a guy and a guitar’, but that’s only when people aren’t really using the tools in a way that reflects human expression, right? Cuz’ you can create—you can make anything perfect using a computer, whereas like, if you play it by hand, then it’s going to sound a little different. So I think, y’know, just figuring out ways for us to have cool, interesting sounds and songs but also not lose sight of the fact that we’re like, trying to like, express important and like genuine things.

RICHARD: Say it in three words…

ERIC: Organic…

ANDREW: Organic…

RICHARD: Colorful!

ERIC: I would say… something… something like… probably genuine? I’d say genuine is a word.

RICHARD: Something along the lines of like, hybrid. Like… digital. Like… revolutionary…

ERIC: I mean, yeah, that’s really the thought process… Like, no revolutionary is going to call themselves a revolutionary in the moment, but that is—we are aiming to be revolutionary. I don’t think any of us would claim to be right now, but that is the point. So I would say, like, organic, meaning let’s make this still feel like for-humans playing, even if we’re playing a computer, right? And then, genuine, meaning like, the songs still need to matter, like we’re not going to lose part of the most important part of song-writing, which is like the message and meaning. And then, um, revolutionary, like doing things that haven’t been done, or like, doing things that have been done in a fresh new way that kind of reimagines how it’s been done in the past.

CAMILLA: Um, these are more of the personality questions we’re getting into now, um, so we were also wondering, what’s for dinner tonight? Like are you eating out, dining in? If you’re dining in, what are you cooking?

ERIC: I’m glad you asked, and I’m not getting paid for this, but I—I’m eating Cava tonight, which is—I don’t know if you have a Cava in Memphis, but—

CAMILLA: We don’t have a Cava in Memphis, but it’s still very good.

ERIC: So you know them! It’s delicious!

RICHARD: I think I might make a curry noodle soup. I eat vegan, so I am—it is a… a challenge to, like… it takes some work to make, like, really good meals, but you’ve got to plan it out, so curry noodle soup for me.

ANDREW: Lettuce wraps for me tonight.

JAMIE: I’m having chickpea chicken masala.

ERIC: Oh! Dang. We’re like. Eating well tonight. The answer tonight would be pizza in any other interview. Chicken fingers...

ANDREW: Dinosaur nuggets.

CAMILLA: So you all have to agree on this question. Y’all can’t have different answers. What is your band’s spirit animal?

ANDREW: Have we thought about this before?

ERIC: A… flying creature… like, a flying bison?

JAMIE: Appa!

CAMILLA: Appa!

ERIC: Definitely Appa. Shoutout to Last Airbender on Netflix. Sponsor us.

UNCLEAR: Maybe a flying bison.

CAMILLA: Specifically Appa though?

ERIC: There is no other big specific. Definitely Appa.

CAMILLA: Okay, um, so let’s imagine a fun scenario. I mean, you might not find this fun, but I think it’s interesting. So, you’re in a plane, and somehow you crash. But everyone’s okay. But, like, you have to choose someone from your band who you want to be stranded on the island with and everyone else disappears. Who would you choose?

RICHARD: Someone from the band?

ERIC: Wait, okay, so wait…

RICHARD: So we have to pick one person from the band?

ANDREW: Okay, so this is easy for me. Rhythm section will always stick together. So Jamie and I—I would pick Jamie because we would still be holding down the low end and the rhythm section and grooving on the beach.

JAMIE: Yeah.

ANDREW: Yeah, with a cold one in our hands.

ERIC: So this is who you’d want to be stranded on an island with?

CAMILLA: Yes.

ERIC: Okay. I’d also have to go with Jamie. He just—he knows—Jamie’s like, a really interesting guy. He’s—he’s—he’s very much an onion, he’s like, got three layers to him, but at his core he like—he just knows all sorts of things that we don’t really know how he knows them, but like, if you’re tired, if you have a flat tire, or you like need to install a new door in your house, or you need to build a... like a stage, he just knows how to do stuff? So I think he would be the most resourceful.

ANDREW: I would argue that Richard, though, would be another answer for me because I feel like I would survive longest on a deserted island with Richard, for sure.

ERIC: Cuz’ he’s vegan?

ANDREW: No, no, just because he’s—he’s been on—he’s done camping, solo hiking, been on roadtrips, has all the gear, knows how to—

<audio chaos>

ERIC: I’ll tell you, you don’t wanna be stuck with me. I’m—I’m the least DIY, least manly man. I have none of these skills. I wouldn’t last a day on an island.

CAMILLA: Um, what are your opinions on Friends, the TV show?

RICHARD: <losing it>

ERIC: Thank you for asking this! We’ve been dying to talk about this! No one’s ever given us the opportunity. I think it’s a fantastic show.

RICHARD: Oh, wow.

JAMIE: I’ve seen a couple of episodes…

ERIC: I think if you watch in order, you’ll realize it’s a fantastic show.

ANDREW: I saw like, I think, four or five seasons in order… and I really liked it. I never finished it though. I never finished it. But it was good. I’m a fan.

JAMIE: Richard?

RICHARD: <quietly and unenthusiastically> It… it was good…

ERIC: You don’t have to sugarcoat it, Rich.

RICHARD: <deflecting to Camilla> What’s your opinion on Friends?

CAMILLA: Mischa, do you wanna take this one? Cuz’ I, personally…

OFF THE RECORD - MISCHA WHITE : It’s, uh, I grew up on it. It is a show I watched, like, a lot when I was a kid, but reflecting? Season one to the very last episode? I think it’s a little overhyped. And I hate Ross. I HATE Ross. I can’t—I can’t—

CAMILLA: Yeah, Ross is just a pain.

ERIC: I think we’ll have to agree on Friends the TV show.

RICHARD: I think if I watched it now I definitely wouldn’t like it.

ERIC: Yeah.

MISCHA: That’s what it is. The older you get, the worse it is.

ERIC: We only watch super dark, depressing things like Black Mirror these days. We’re not really into that feel-good stuff anymore.

MISCHA: Yeah.

CAMILLA: I feel like kind of the whole pandemic thing would make a good Black Mirror episode. I’m sort of expecting it, except I’m pretty sure they’ve already done like a pandemic type episode? I don’t know. I might be wrong.

ERIC: I don’t know if you saw, but there was some sort of article about how the creators of Black Mirror—they said they were postponing the release or something?

CAMILLA: They were like times are dark or something?

ERIC: Yeah. They’re afraid it’s too relevant to what’s happening so they’re postponing the season.

CAMILLA: So, um, I think this might be our last question? Yeah. What are your favorite colors?

JAMIE: Green.

ANDREW: Green has also been mine since I was a little kid.

RICHARD: Nice.

ANDREW: I’m a blue guy.

ERIC: I like gray I guess. It’s like, I wear pretty much all gray t-shirts all the time, so I guess it’s a really sad answer, but I think my closet speaks for itself… I… Gray, I guess gray? Maybe silver. Silver’s like a better way to say gray. It’s like a more positive gray.

ANDREW: It’s just shiny gray.

JAMIE: It’s shiny gray bro.

RICHARD: Flashy gray.

ERIC: I’m gonna go with silver. What are your guys’ favorite colors?

MISCHA: Uh, I like purple and gray. Those are my two favorite colors.

ERIC: That’s a good combo too.

CAMILLA: I like pink. I like yellow and pink.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Camilla was wearing a purple sweater during the interview, but it looked pink on camera. Eric briefly asked her about it.)

CAMILLA: Um, I think that’s all the questions we have for you guys currently, but if we have anymore, we’ll definitely email you. And we just want to say thanks for talking to us! It’s been pretty amazing!

Thanks again, Walden, for chatting with us! Make sure to check out their Spotify below!