Responders blend groovy sounds with self-titled EP

A great way to figure out if a band is genuinely good or not is from how they make the listener feel.

Sometimes a band can capture a sound that makes people feel cool and want to bust a move. The Responders from Rochester convey that feeling with music that’s as timeless as it is modern.

A harmonious fusion of blues, soul and jazz make them stand out. Recently they put out a debut self-titled EP and they have a couple shows coming up at Alchemy in Providence on Nov. 1 and at the Midway Café in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston on Nov. 25.

Drummer Eli Kovacevich, guitarists Michael Benjamin and Shane Fitzgerald, bassist Damon Ivester and lead singer Kelly Bruce talked recently about the origins of the band, making the EP at one of the biggest recording studios in New England, influences and goals for next year.

Rob Duguay: How did the Responders come to be?

Eli Kovacevich: The original concept for a band came when Shane and I created our own band while we were in middle school called Tuna Inequality. We made our own basement recordings and posted them online in hopes of getting people to give them a listen.

In high school, we met other students heavily involved in the music department and created Skinny Moth and the Prospect. Together we wrote our own music as well, recording it and putting it on Bandcamp. After graduating, the group split up and then Kelly Bruce joined as a vocalist.

We then went through two different lineups with high school students and then a brother-sister duo. After these lineups fell through, we came upon our current lineup with our long-time friend Damon joining on bass. Mike, who was introduced through a musical mentor and acquaintance Louis Cero, then joined on rhythm guitar.

RD: Which bands and musicians do you guys consider to be your main influences?

Eli Kovacevich: I’m a big fan of drummers like Buddy Rich, Mitch Mitchell, Art Blakey, Keith Moon and Ginger Baker.

Shane Fitzgerald: Blues is definitely my thing when it comes to guitar. I love guys like Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield and B.B. King.

Mike Benjamin: Same here. I like Albert King, Jeff Beck, Freddie Hubbard and James Brown a whole lot too.

Kelly Bruce: A lot of soul and jazz singers have had a big influence on me. Artists like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye and Billie Holiday are my faves.

Damon Ivester: Jack Bruce, Duck Dunn, Flea, Jaco Pastorious and John Paul Jones have all had a great effect on the way I play bass.

RD: Back in August, the Responders put out their debut EP which was recorded at Machines With Magnets in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The studio has garnered reputable acclaim for their work with bands from various genres. What was the experience like making the EP there?

Shane Fitzgerald: Overall, we went in with a general idea of what we wanted. Seth Manchester and Machines with Magnets had to offer just what we needed, which was someone who knew what they were doing but who was not overbearing in the creative process of shaping the songs.

Eli Kovacevich: The experience was like no other I’ve had in previous studios. I was used to engineers claiming a lot and taking too much liberty in the creative process. This can make or break relationships between the artist and the engineer, and previously made me walk away feeling like we didn’t accomplish anything. … Machines with Magnets had a reputable name among the community of musicians in Providence, with notable artists tied to it such as Deer Tick. This was somewhat an immediate sell for us, so we gave it a shot.

It wasn’t a surprise that so many bands went to Seth. The first day that we worked with him, we explained everything we wanted to accomplish in the 10 hours that we had. He said it was possible, and while we got the actual songs recorded, we didn’t get to all the overdubs we wanted to do in the first session. We did have to go back, which wasn’t anticipated but, this taught us a lot about the process of being in a studio. I would also say we took away a lot from this experience that we will use when we go back to Seth.

Damon Ivester: We went into the studio well prepared and were able to take advantage of Seth’s expertise to help us deliver the debut EP we envisioned.

Mike Benjamin: Seth seemed to be a genuinely good person who takes pride in what he does. It’s an important factor to us as musicians working with him because it seemed he was able to envision the sound and direction that we wanted to take the EP while helping us to get there.

Kelly Bruce: We were able to record tracks in the way we hoped for and the recording quality was great. Even with a limited amount of studio time we were able accomplish everything we planned for, all the essential parts of the tracks down to vocal harmonies and hand percussion.

RD: Being a band from the South Coast, do you find it difficult to gain a steady following in cities like Providence and Boston?

Kelly Bruce: It can be challenging to make an impact in a music scene that is well-established and full of talented artists. However, up until now we have had only videos on Facebook and other social media platforms. Prior, there wasn’t anywhere for people to actually listen to our music. So now, having an EP will help us out tremendously in gathering a following.

Damon Ivester: I feel like a big part of developing an impact in a music scene is to network with the other bands and try to support each other. It’s something that as a band full of people who are passionate about music we aim to do.

Eli Kovacevich: Travelling to Providence and Boston isn’t the hard part but rather, getting people who have never heard us before to come out to our shows is what seems impossible.

We’re working on creative ways to further intrigue people to follow our band and keep up with what we’re doing. It also seems this industry goes beyond just releasing great music. However, I think the most important thing to understand is that the artistry of a band has to be there to resonate with people.

Mike Benjamin: I believe that as long as we stay true to ourselves, and continue to make music that expresses who we are, while pushing our musical boundaries, our music will resonate in the ears and hearts of listeners wherever we go. We naturally have a long road ahead and work to do every step of the way.

Shane Fitzgerald: Along with everything Kelly, Damon, Mike and Eli have already said, all our friends and family have been extremely supportive with the release of our EP and have been sharing it wherever they can.

RD: What are some of the band's goals for 2019?

Mike Benjamin: To release a full length album full of music that speaks to who we are as a band, as people, and to the world at large. I wish to write music that touches the souls of people all over the globe, and inspires people to love and to work towards a better tomorrow, rather than to revel in the cynicism that seems to be more pervasive than ever these days.

Kelly Bruce: We also want to reach a wider audience and one that we connect closely with. We strive to be a band that people can authentically relate to and want to spread a message of positivity.

Eli Kovacevich: I also would like to work closer with everyone in the band and collect ideas from them and share some of mine to write better music.

Shane Fitzgerald: I want to make something real that can connect with people on a high level and open their mind. With all these fake interactions and the creation of these facades, and such rising with the prominence of social media, it can be difficult to really find something that is truthful and real. Too often people are living inside of a bubble that doesn’t challenge their ideas of viewpoints or how they may think about themselves. I’d say 2019 would be a great year if we as a band could create something that could break that cycle.

Check out the full EP at http://respondersmusic.bandcamp.com

Learn more at http://respondersmusic.bandcamp.com