Behind the Music with Stay Outside: An Inside Look at the Band's Creative Process and Inspirations

Stay Outside is an indie rock band consisting of Aaron Becker, Garrett Johnston, and Noah Mitchener. Stay Outside has been making waves in the indie music scene with their unique blend of catchy melodies, introspective lyrics, and high-energy performances. In this interview, we sat down with the band to discuss their creative process, inspirations, and future plans. Join us as we delve into the world of Stay Outside and learn what makes this band stand out from the crowd.

UC: Throughout your music videos, there is a theme of water (Cutting My Teeth, No Tie, and Overboard) I have noticed, and I wondered what role water plays in your life and the influence it has when it comes to making music.

SO: Water is definitely something we’ve always been drawn to. We’re pretty far from any ocean, but we’re lucky to live close to some beautiful lake areas that have always been a place where we go to reset and recharge. I think that feelings are just something we’re always chasing.

UC: Your 2021 EP “If All Goes Well” touches on a lot of heavy topics and seems to have a more melancholy sound than your 2019 EP “Bottle Rocket.” With it coming out a year after Covid-19, how did the pandemic affect your sound and writing process?

SO: Like a lot of artists, we decided to write as much as possible during the quarantine period. We probably made close to 30 demos in that time, but more than half of the songs on IAGW were written in the period before Covid-19. We were already in writing mode at the end of 2019 and decided we should just keep creating! We ended up going to a cabin in the middle of nowhere in Kentucky with our producer, Jake to make that album. It was a much-needed escape from the outside world that I think you can hear in the songs.

UC: On your Instagram, you mentioned spending this past winter writing and creating more. Are you able to let us know a bit about what we can expect when it comes to your debut record?

SO: We have a ton of new music written that’s our best stuff yet. Working on a timeline, but definitely new music this year!

UC: You guys played Middle Waves festival last year and are playing Wonder Road later this summer with some great bands such as Weezer, Local Natives, and Coin. What is your favorite thing about playing at a festival and what other bands are you most excited to see?

SO: Festivals, especially in our hometown are fun because we get to bring out all of our families and partners! It feels like a big family reunion inside a summer camp. We are so excited to be sharing the stage with Local Natives. They’ve been a huge influence on us since before Stay Outside!

UC: Your music seems to be very reminiscent of some early 2000s bands alike while still finding some sort of modernity within the sound. Who inspired you growing up to make music and currently inspires you to keep doing so?

SO: We definitely grew up on the 90s and 2000s rock stuff like Foo Fighters or The Killers and still love that stuff! We’re constantly finding new music that inspires us. Some of our modern favorites right now are The National, Father John Misty, and Andy Shauf, but there’s too many to count. I’ve also really fallen in love with 60s/70s music from Carole King, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and obviously, The Beatles!

UC: On your website, you have previously called outside “uncontrolled and free place that invokes inspiration.” Where outside do you find the most inspiration, and how does it influence your creative process?

SO: I’ve been reading the new Rick Rubin book lately, and he talks about how important it is for artists to spend time connecting with nature and being present. We’re always going on hikes and kayaking when we can. It’s always been a great reset from the constant media overload from our phones and screens.

UC: Aaron and Garrett, you met in childhood and are now in a band together. Did you always know that you wanted to make music together or was it something you discovered later?

SO: We’ve actually all been friends since we were in Junior High! Garrett and I met through a mutual friend and decided right away we had to try to make music together. We grew up in a very small community where there were very little people interested in music. We heard that Noah played drums and invited him to come “jam” in Garrett’s attic-turned rehearsal space and I just worked. We loved how hard he played! Creating has been an integral part of all of our friendships since the beginning!

UC: In 2019 your self-directed music video for “All The Way Down” made the front page of Reddit. Can you tell me about the moment you realized just how many people were listening to your music?

SO: Yeah, that was wild. I don’t know anything about Reddit, but it’s always cool when people connect to what we’re doing!

UC: You guys just came out with your single “Afterthought” which is probably my favorite song you’ve come out with. There’s a line in there that says “I found out I'm the one I have to love in order to move on.” I think many people can relate to the self-love journey and would love to know your thoughts when you were writing this song.

SO: I think I spent most of my life trying to find happiness in other people, but never really considered that I didn’t really know how to love myself. Self-love is a journey and some days it’s easier than others, but it’s worth it. We always try to leave our live show with that message, and it just felt right to put it in a song.

UC: You guys have a great future ahead of you guys and (Under)Current appreciates you taking the time to talk with us. What else do you have planned for the future?

SO: Absolutely, thanks for having us. Hopefully playing as many shows and make as much art as possible!

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