An Interview with Shehehe

A new release from Shehehe delivers a wild, rambunctious, and colorfully addicting pop punk approach with elements of thrashy guitars, vivacious vocals, and a personality attached to it that you just can't look away from.

"All Cut Up" wastes very little time getting right up in your face with addictive riffs and sonically driving guitar tone, but it's also the attitude that reaches out and grabs you.

This track touches on garage punk, pop-punk, alt-rock, indie rock, and plenty more, all rolled into one fat single that really makes you want to jump around the living room, so I suggest moving that couch back so you can get down.

This is a single that speaks volumes for the band as it has that bright power-pop overtone, and that aspect of it is so incredibly addictive that you just want more.

Luckily, this single comes from a full album release called Namedroppers, which gives off even more of that bright and vibrant pop-rock and punk style and does so with such a robust soundscape that this is the kind of record you listen to all the way through.

This is certainly for fans of pop-punk, but also brings those indie rock, alternative rock, and crazy energy to the table as well.

This is important because this album is bursting and oozing at the seams, not only with personality, but with that energy.

This record almost feels like it was recorded live on the floor to an extent, and everyone was feeding off each other the entire time, giving the whole record this electric feel.

The whole thing is super driving and a lot of songs are fist-in-the-air sing-alongs, which you might find yourself doing by that second or third chorus around.

Now, "All Cut Up" is a pretty perfect example of what you can expect to hear a lot of for the remainder of the album; however, listening to only one or two tracks simply will not do.

There are surprises around the corners, different approaches, and that endless energy that reaches out and wraps its arms around you.

You don't want to miss too much of this record, so if you like that main single, you're going to love everything. That's a promise.

Let's start with the intro track to the record called "Elton John".

The track comes in with a bopping approach and crew punk vocals, which together, make it feel almost like that classic late 70s early '80s Ramones style punk.

Throughout the course of the album, you get all kinds of different influences, but it's always bright, colorful, and has that righteous and powerful pop tonality that makes the entire thing endlessly fun.

When you dive into this album, listen to it nice and loud.

There's really no other way to do it because this is a punk-rock record that dishes out juicy hooks, sing-along sections, and headbanging fun for everybody.

After listening to the album, I immediately wanted to go see them live simply because if they can capture this kind of energy and aesthetic on record this way, then seeing them live must be completely awesome.

I love hearing a band on record and almost immediately realizing that they would be outstanding to see in a live performance setting.

It doesn't happen all the time, but when you listen to this record, you'll know it.

The record boasts 18 tracks and, in true punk rock form, some of them are only around 2 minutes or even 1 minute long.

With all 18 songs together, it spans 35 minutes.

The vocals are right up there with the band in terms of that energy; everyone plays a hand in singing, yelling, doing those crew vocals, and everyone together has this power pop punk punch.

You'll have to listen to the record to see exactly what I mean.

I would certainly start with "All Cut Up" as, again, this is a perfect intro to the band.

But the entire album is more than worth your time.

Upon listening to the single at first, I had to reach out to the band to see if we could talk to them about it, and that's exactly what happened.

Here's what went down.

Buzz Slayers: Welcome all and thanks for taking some time with us! Let's start with the "All Cut Up! This track had a bright pop-rock and punk feel to it with endless energy! Where did this track come from?

This song is the result of an injury suffered on a very inebriated walk home from a great rock n roll performance by The Descendents at the Georgia Theatre in Athens.  Sometimes good scars and slight nerve damage turn into great songs🤪

Buzz Slayers: The track is one of many on the Namedroppers album! This was a huge record! Did it take long to put together?

We usually go into the studio pretty well practiced and prepared so we can knock out the actual recording in a few days.  We are always writing new songs and when we have enough new material together we just go for it while its still fresh.  Couple more days for mixin and hangin with engineer, then a couple more days for mastering and hangin with another cool ass engineer and voila, a record and some new friends :)  Or sometimes just an excuse to hang with old ones ;)

We recorded it in 2022 at Kingdom Hell in Decatur with Steve Johnson. It was such a fun couple of days and I think the record reflects that spirit. Then hangs with David Barbe and Jason NeSmith at Chase Park Transduction for mixin and mastering.  Good times all around = pretty good album!

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing some great styles here! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

All three of us love different chapters of punk rock so most anything from that style of music is influential. I can’t speak for everyone but I like to think of each song as a dedication to a certain style or band that I love. For instance I might be like oh this has a real Laura Jane Grace vibe here i’m going to think of her or oh this feels like a Clash or the specials here and i’m going to think of how they move when they perform. I’m not saying we are replicating what those bands have done but enjoying the vibe within the song can help me find the best groove. I also draw so much inspiration from local bands from the Athens and Atlanta area, including Spray tan, Naw, Vincus, Mean Queen, Turf War and Mercyland. This can go on and on, our friends in the music scene (across genres) are a huge inspiration. 

Buzz Slayers: Are you guys performing live right now?

Yes! We are always going, we are prepping for a tour in Germany for this June and more US east coast dates in the fall including The Fest in Gainesville, FL (our favorite music festival) in October. 

Buzz Slayers: Excellent quality! Did you record this yourselves or did you do it in a big studio? 

This was recorded at Kingdom Hell Studio by Steve (he likes to just use his first name). We went in for demos and loved it so much we decided that this was the record! We then had it mixed by David Barbe and mastered by Jason NeSmith at Chase Park Transduction in Athens, Ga

Buzz Slayers: Do you guys write songs together in a rehearsal space, or is there one songwriter in the group that writes most of it?

I, Jason Fusco, drummer, usually, but not always, start the process by bringing some lyrics and a song to the band, then we try it out and make it cooler.  It's all liquid and never unable to grow or change from the original idea.  We all put our stamp on it and then it becomes a Shehehe song.  It's wonderful to have two other folks willing to indulge in any idea anyone brings to the table, keeps things fun and exciting!  

Buzz Slayers: Who's in all your headphones right now?  

Nicole - I have been rotating Operation Ivy, Kendrick Lamar, Tom Petty, The Selector, La Tigre, The Breeders, War on Women, Dead Bars, Totally Slow, ABBA and Laura Jane Grace. 

Jason - Shehehe, yes i listen to my own band all the time, i just like it.

Lots of classical music and jazz, Bach, Sibelius, DeBussy, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, etc…

I actually listen to the radio a lot. Every Sunday my friend Dave has a radio show I religiously catch.  The song “Local & Beyond” on the new record is about it.

Noelle - Chimes, Propagandhi, Nirvana, Thin Lizzy, The Muffs and Big Drill Car

Buzz Slayers: Now that the record is out there, what's next for the band?

We are writing and touring and generally being creative. I am personally being a little hermit-like as I prepare for a lot of summer touring. I have to charge my mental and physical battery before traveling and playing every night. 

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, is there anything you'd like to express to fans of the music?

I hope our music taps into a feeling that brings hope and love your way.  They are songs about feelings, good and bad, life, and totally appropriate for singin’ and dancin’ along with, so please go for it, that is the best compliment really!

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