Interview with Incase We Crash: Simon & Alex

Incase We Crash is an independent band that hails from Toronto, Canada.  Comprised of Simon Austin (Vocals/ Guitar/ Bass), Tyler Twigger (Drums), and Alex Koval (Guitar) the band has recently released their new song, “Garden.”  The trio releases passionate, intimate and energetic songs that focus on growth.  You might have heard the band when they opened for bands like Waterparks and Creeper—they have made a name for themselves in the pop-punk scene.  We spoke with Simon & Alex about the band’s plans for 2020 and so much more!

WCBG: Introduce yourselves for us and tell us a fun fact about you.
Simon: Hi, I’m Simon, I sing and play guitar.  A fun fact about me…I’m obsessed with Ramen, not the store-bought stuff, the really good stuff.  I like to go to nice restaurants to get some quality ramen.
Alex: Hi, I’m Alex, I play guitar.  I was born in Europe and I am obsessed with different types of tea.
 
WCBG: If you could be any utensil in the kitchen, what would you be?
Simon: A spork, it’s multi-purpose
Alex: A tablespoon
 
WCBG: What music have you been listening to lately?
Alex: Four Year Strong, I’ve always been into their music and their new releases are really good.  I’m looking forward to their album drop.
Simon: I listen to a lot of older stuff from like the past ten years.  I’m kind of bad at keeping up to date with music.  I’ve been listening to The 1975 and the Neighborhood, and some more poppy stuff.
 
WCBG: If you could collaborate with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
Simon: I have a personal bias; I idolize Matt Healy from The 1975
Alex: Mark Hoppus from Blink-182

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WCBG: How did you guys pick your respective instruments?
Simon: I came up with this concept when I was in high school.  I wanted to play guitar, so I learned that, and I wanted to sing so I did that as well.
Alex: My dad had an old acoustic guitar and he would play songs.  I got into rock music as well as alt and I asked my dad to teach me.
 
Music genres hold hands across oceans, it’s more clustered than the decade prior

WCBG: What is your opinion of streaming services like Spotify?
Simon: It’s opened up a world of opportunity.  There aren’t a lot of superstars or money in album making anymore.  It allows smaller acts to have moderate success since they can put something into the world.
Alex: Before you had to get on the radio or MTV.  Spotify allows for no gatekeeping.
 
WCBG: What is one thing you would change about the music industry as it is today?
Incase We Crash: I would say to increase the support systems for independent artists, being on a label is outdated.  You’re better off with more creative control yourself.
 
WCBG: What is your favorite concert that you’ve been to?
Simon: The 1875 at Budweiser Gardens in Toronto.  That was a top tier performance.
Alex: The Wonder Years, Greatest Generation Tour.  It was when Modern Baseball and Real Friends were just coming up.
 
WCBG: What’s the music scene like in Toronto?
Simon: It is always shifting, there are so many young locals coming up.  There is a high volumes of talents bands.  I’m biased but I don’t think a lot of other places have this high concentration of bands who are this motivated.
Alex: The west coast of Canada is a lot less saturated than here.
 
WCBG: What is your favorite album in your personal collection?
Simon: Billy Talent II.  The theme artwork is crazy, and the songs are so well detailed.
Alex: Chuck by Sum 41.  It was the first real concert I went to when they came to my hometown.
 
WCBG: Top 3 Albums for a road trip?
Alex: Southern Air by Yellowcard, Homesick by A Day to Remember, and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket by Blink-128.
Simon: Cartel’s self-titled, The 1975’ self-titled, and something by tricot.
 
WCBG: What’s your writing process like?
Simon: It’s shifted over the years.  I start with a demo template or sometimes a guitar riff and then I build it up.  Sometimes it’s a vocal/melody idea or a phone demo.
Alex: I bounce back to Simon with feedback.
Simon: We do a lot of reusing, readjusting, and rejigging.
 
WCBG: What’s your favorite part of a song that you’ve written?
Simon: It’s definitely not out yet.  Out of the stuff that’s released, I’m most proud of the 2nd verse of “Garden.”
 
And if love is like a rose, then I’m still bleeding
From every single thorn left in my heart
 
WCBG:  What was the story behind “Garden”?
Incase We Crash: It was written in September of 2017 and recorded in May 2018.  We wanted to write a song where the melody ascends at the end of the line and that’s what we did with “Garden.”
 
WCBG: What was your favorite music video concept that you did?
Incase We Crash: The most fun to shoot was for our song “12 Degrees.”  We went to a carnival in Toronto, set a budget, and played a bunch of games.  Simon was the only one who won anything.  For our new song we want to envision things and definitely produce more music videos in the future.

WCBG: We have some spitfire questions, so say the first thing that comes to mind. Favorite color?
Alex & Simon: Green
WCBG: Favorite movie?
Simon: School of Rock
Alex: Harry Potter
WCBG: Favorite book?
Alex: Lord of the Rings
Simon: I don’t read…
WCBG: If you could visit anyplace in the world where would you go?
Simon: Australia
Alex: Japan
 
WCBG: Our last question for you is, what are your goals for 2020?
Incase We Crash: Theoretically, we want to release a new EP, a bunch of music videos, tour Canada & the US and grow our following!

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Check out their music here