Gabe Simon and Kelsey Joy started The Kopecky Family Band in 2007 after several successful writing sessions. Eventually joined by Steven, Benjamin, Markus, Corey, and Davey, Kopecky would release their debut album, Embraces EP. The Kopecky Family Band will be heading into the studio this October to record their follow-up album, Disaster EP.
The Kopecky Family Band are:
Gabe - Guitar, Lead Vocals, Trombone
Kelsey Joy - Keys, Glock, Lead Vocals
Steven- Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals
Benjamin- Violin, Guitar, Glock, BGV’s
Markus- Cello, BGV’s, Percussion, Glock
Corey- Bass, BGV’s
Davey- Drums, Programming
Nashville, TN
United States
Genre: Indie / Classical / Folk Rock
Album(s): Embraces EP
Website: http://www.myspace.com/kopeckyfamilyband
MATTHEW: It has been stated that the Kopecky Family Band started in a Belmont University practice room. How long have you known each other? How did you meet?
GABE SIMON: We were all good friends before we started the band which could either be a good thing or a bad thing. In our situation it worked out well since we were and still are striving to be exactly what our name entails, a family band. But to narrow it down to specifics, Kelsey Joy Kopecky and I started writing together in the fall of 2007, after we meeting at a clothing store. I jokingly pushed the idea of starting a group called the Kopecky Family Band, but I guess we took that joke to seriously. Within a matter of two or three practice room writing sessions we had come up with a lot of the key songs that would make up the Embraces EP, which we would release almost a year later. Steven came along quickly after, he and I had been wanting to work on a project for awhile so we thought this could be a good outlet. Markus kind of slid his way into the band, being that he was good friends with Steven and played the most beautiful instrument. We played are first few shows with just the four of us and then decided we wanted to include the rest of our friends. Davey and Bennett joined after the Christmas holidays and Ben came along just before our first full show at Nettwerk MGMT.
MATTHEW: What inspired you to write music together? What is the typical songwriting process for the Kopecky Family Band?
GABE SIMON: Well the inspiration part kind of just came by chance. Kelsey had her own music career she was working for and I was insecure about my songs, so me writing with someone like Kelsey seemed to be the logical response. Kelsey is amazing, she writes beautiful words and creates the most unbelievable harmonies. I was so excited when I first heard what we were creating together. We did not know what we were writing about but it all made sense. Some how we connected in a way that was spiritual at heart, and still is. Whether its talking about the destruction of all the things we hold dear or the hope that comes from just the faintest turn of the weather, we were conveying emotions that we had pinned up for who knows how long.
So that was the way we first started writing. Now with seven members we try to include everyone in that same experience that her and i first encountered almost two years ago this fall. It is a vast array of creative processes. With seven members, you cannot alienate yourself to one opinion, there are 7 different directions you can look. Understanding this, our music has continued to grow and mature into something that we are truly proud of.
MATTHEW: Is there a common theme to your songs?
GABE SIMON: Hmm…Not really. Well most of our songs are fairly sarcastic comprised of a lot of metaphors and similes and the occasional allusion to such books as the Great Divorce and various classic war films. Kelsey thinks with a very naturalistic sense, talking about birds, animals and the way things grow, but she has a strange wit and humor that makes each song extremely interesting and quirky. She could tell you more about that. In all, we tend to ask ourselves a lot questions through our words.
MATTHEW: Are there any new releases in the works for the Kopecky Family Band?
GABE SIMON: Well, in addition to the many shows that we have this fall, we will be heading back into the studio for the production of our second EP in early October. This EP, entitled the Disaster EP, will feature another five songs with diversity similar to the first EP but with an entirely different feel. It will be produced and engineered by both Chris Grainger and Russ Long whom we feel will bring a nice, new approach to our music. We hope things go well.
