Interview: Foxtide
BY SARA WELDEN
Meet Foxtide, a SoCal supergroup that is taking the music scene by storm with their addictive Surf Jazz rockers. From childhood School of Rock attendees (minus Jack Black) to grown up bandmates, Elijah Gibbins-Croft (vocals and guitar), Dom Friedly (guitar), Oey James (bass), and Ian Robles (drums) sound like they were born to create music together. Quiet Down got the chance to chat with Foxtide’s lead singer, Elijah, about all things music and so much more. Check out our interview with him below!
Photo By James Varela
Could you walk us through how Foxtide was formed and how you guys came to be?
We all went to a music school called School of Rock when we were young. We all became friends and liked the same music like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. We would all just kinda jam in the garage and we had a great time with it and thought that we might as well make a band.
How did you guys come up with your name?
I came up with the name because I’m a big fan of 60s psychedelic rock and it kinda just popped into my head one day. I liked it and it went well with the sound we were going for so it just stuck.
What’s your creative process like? Do music or lyrics come first?
Definitely music. I usually will simultaneously do the melody and chords, oftentimes they’ll coincide for me. Usually, if I’m writing on guitar I’ll just strum something out and the lyrics flow from there.
You released your debut album “Visions” in April of 2021, what was the experience like of releasing your first official album into the world?
It was crazy! Even just making it was so much work. Making sure all of those songs were ready by a certain date was insane. It was difficult but the moment it was released, I was stoked. It still baffles me that it’s out there now.
You guys explored a lot of different musical variations on the album, and each song is really unique and adds something different to the project as a whole. Was exploring your sound something that was important to you guys while creating this album?
Definitely! I like to change sounds all the time. If I’m listening to an artist and something catches my ear then that will inspire me to try out new things. It’s constantly changing, but I think that’s what makes a good artist. People who can witness the art around them and adapt to it.
Photo By James Varela
Did you guys know from the start what you wanted your music to sound like, even if you knew that you’d end up exploring down the road?
I’d say we definitely did not. I think it started in a totally different place than it’s at right now. The music has just changed and evolved so much whether it’s adding more jazz influence or rock influence, it’s constantly changing.
Your most recent single ‘Already Gone’ is really great! Does it foreshadow the music that we can expect next from Foxtide?
Yeah I think it definitely expresses the new wave that we’ve been on, but it also sounds kind of different from the rest of the stuff we’ve been working on.
Stylistically, the two singles, Shinju and Okashi, flow really well into each other. How did you decide to pair the two singles together in this release?
I decided to release the two songs together because they represent the same period of time in my life. Writing, recording, and releasing these songs felt like a way of moving forward. I also think that the songs make sense together because there are similar themes in the lyrics. Stylistically, I like how both of the songs blend jazz influences with more indie rock/indie folk sounds in the more intense parts of the song.
Are there any artists that you guys listen or look to for inspiration?
Yeah totally. I personally am a big fan of The Beatles, Tame Impala (I think Kevin Parker’s a genius), The Beach Boys, and Jimi Hendrix. I like finding new artists too like The Garden, but I’m all over the place! The other guys are inspired by a bunch of stuff as well. They like some country like Tyler Childers, he’s sick. They also look to Turnstile, but again, kind of all over the place! In the past, we’d all look toward Sublime and The Police.
Photo By James Varela
You guys played a number of gigs in 2022, is there a favorite memory that comes to mind from playing any of these shows?
I think overall, hearing people sing along to our music is insane. We just played The Echo in L.A and some of the crowd was singing the songs! We were over 100 miles away from our home and they knew the words. It completely baffled us.
Live music is a huge part of a lot of people’s lives, and the pandemic definitely took a toll on people in that aspect. How special has it felt to actually be able to see the live reactions the crowd has to your music while also being able to make real, live connections with them?
It’s amazing! It has got to be the best part about it. Witnessing how other people experience your music is crazy. People will tell us what certain songs mean to them or that a song helped them through a certain situation. It’s super special and we’re so glad people are enjoying the music.
Do you have a dream gig/venue that you would like to play?
I love the super personal and intimate venues, but at the same time it would be a dream to play Red Rocks and Madison Square Garden. These kinds of milestone venues would be sick!
I love hearing about people’s different tastes in music, so what were your top or most listened to artists from 2022?
I think I had The Beach Boys, Tame Impala, The Beatles, The Strokes, and Anderson Paak was in there too. I love him, he's great.
What are some of the goals or hopes for the future that you guys have as a band?
I just want to get the best that we can at writing. I’m always trying to be better and accurately portray the ideas in my head. The goal is always to be able to take the truest form of the idea that we’ve got and make it the best we can.
What’s next for Foxtide?
We’re trying to play a lot more shows in L.A and want to book our first tour somewhere down the line. There are definitely more singles on the way as well, we’re on the brink of some great new things!
Be sure to keep up with Foxtide, they’re a band you won’t want to miss!
