Getting Better Every Day: Kayak Jones on Life and Tour

Interview and portraits by Tanya Wright

Graphic: Emily Lantzy

Up-and-coming pop punk band Kayak Jones recently released their first full length album, You Swear It’s Getting Better Every Day. In typical Kayak Jones-fashion, these songs are full of raw emotion that are sure to make you feel something. We sat down outside the venue before they played their first ever California show and chatted about their new record and all things touring.

Am I correct in saying that this is your first full US tour?

Brandon Blakely: Yes!

How has it been so far, and what has it been like coming out specifically to the West Coast for the first time?

Tyler Zumhof: The shows so far have all been really cool. I think the thing that makes it the weirdest or most interesting is that there have been people at every show that have come out to see us. There was a person that— not last night but the night before— was like, “Yeah, I’ve been a fan of you guys for FOUR YEARS and I didn’t know if you guys would ever make it to the West Coast and it’s sick that you guys are now.” So I don’t know… it warms my heart, I guess, knowing that. But every show has been really cool. We’re definitely really excited to be doing it. I think most of us were nervous wrecks right before we went out on it for the most part, at least me.

Zach Keenum: Speak for yourself!

TZ: I definitely am glad to be here. I think all of us are!

BB: Yeah, so far so good.

What song is your personal favorite off the new album and why?

TZ: “Valediction.” It’s the most mature song we’ve written as a band, and lyrically, I think it hits perfectly for me, you know?

BB: I guess I don’t really have a song, but my favorite part would have to be the bridge in “Time and Place.” Nice leads there.

ZK: I also really like “Valediction.” I don’t know if that’s my favorite. I really like playing “The Mess I’ve Made” live, but we haven’t played “Valediction” live yet, so I don’t know.

BB: I picked one. “Rusted” is my favorite song.

TZ: Aw, fuck! Can I change mine?

BB: Mine is “Rusted.”

TZ: Damn it!

ZK: Well, “Rusted” is fun too, but I like “Valediction.”

Scott Miller: “Rusted” is definitely my favorite, ‘cause I think it’s the most experimental we got on the record. And it turned out pretty cool.

TZ: The live version of “Rusted” is a lot of fun to play.

You Swear It’s Getting Better Every Day is the first full-length album you guys have put out. How was the process of creating it different than, say, Sort Out Your Head or Flawed?

BB: It took a lot more work and planning just because it was our first full release, whereas Sort Out Your Head was kind of like a test run of the new studio we were going to, and just something to put out in the meantime. We had to figure out all the release dates for everything, and figure out how to press vinyl and just had to do it all by ourselves, so it was quite a learning experience.

TZ: I just wanna say that Brandon was like a goddamn champion when it came to putting the whole thing together. I mean, yeah, it’s tough having to do all this stuff without any kind of support or a label or anything like that, so definitely just like, good job. I wanted that to be on paper.

A few weeks ago, you tweeted that “Good Quality Work” was the first song you finished for the album. Do you think that song created a path for the rest of the album to follow?

BB: Yeah, kinda.

TZ: I would say it kind of did, yeah. I guess the main thing we wanted to do was we wanted to create a bunch of moments on this record, and we wanted to create the most sincere thing that we all could and have it be a big group effort. And I think it definitely set the pace for the rest of it.

SM: “Good Quality Work” definitely set the pace for the writing process, at least, because that was the first one we kinda cracked out, got it done and were like, “Oh cool, we have a song now, let’s make more.” It kind of snowballed from there.

TZ: I like that we didn’t change the title either.

BB: Yeah, that’s the only song that its working title made it all the way to the album. Oh yeah, and “Nose Blunt,” but that was just a riff called “Nose Blunt” and now it’s a song called “Nose Blunt.”

I think you know that You Swear It’s Getting Better Every Day has become a really emotional and personal album that your listeners can relate to. How does it feel to see people connecting to your music like they have been with this release?

SM: It warms my heart!

BB: Is that all you wanna say?

SM: That’s all I’ve got for that one.

ZK: None of us have ever done a full-length before, and obviously, logistically and time-wise and stuff, it’s just a lot bigger of an investment, so to see people resonating with it like they have been has been pretty cool cause it just reminds you that all the work and time you took, and the feelings that you put into it have just… they haven’t all been for not pretty much. It’s just cool to see people validate how we feel about it too, if that makes sense.

TZ: Lyrically, it means a lot to me because I feel like when I do write lyrics for the record, or whether or not Zach and I are just spitting lines back at each other, I try and be as upfront with how I feel a lot of the time as possible, and it makes me feel not as alone as I normally would, you know? Just like that stuff… so I guess that’s my answer.

Where is your favorite place to play on tour?

TZ: That we’ve played so far on the tour?

Not on this tour specifically!

BB: Like, in general?

Yes, in general.

BB: I would say Chicago is my favorite ‘cause it’s like almost a hometown.

ZK: I also really enjoy Chicago. I’m from Illinois, and I have a lot of memories and cool feelings associated with hanging out in Chicago and stuff, so to have a scene of our own there— not being from there is really cool— so yeah, I’d say Chicago.

SM: I, in the past, probably would’ve agreed with Chicago, but I think Denver gave it a run for its money.

TZ: Yeah, we’ve never played west of…

BB: Iowa.

TZ: We’ve never played west of Iowa before, so there's something really special about going someplace you’ve never been before and people coming up and talking to you and just like… wanting that. You know what I mean?

SM: It’ll make Brandon cry.

TZ: Yeah, I definitely like teared up on stage too. Like, I try not to cry because I’m, like, really thug, you know?

TZ: But it was definitely an emotional experience, and it's crazy to me that anyone came out for us like that there, because we’ve never been there before.

BB: I’d also like to throw in that we haven’t played in California before, but it is my favorite place to tour. Like, shows aside, it’s my favorite place to just come and be for a couple days.

And why is that?

BB: Just… uh…

SM: Tacos, probably.

BB: Tacos, yeah. I think it just has to do with being so much different than where we’re from. I don’t know, I just think the air is so fresh, it’s always nice out, people are nice… for the most part. Plus Chain Reaction is fucking awesome!

TZ: Dude! I am so excited to play Chain Reaction.

Who or what inspires you?

ZK: That would be an everybody question.

BB: I would say the fine people of the world inspire me to do something better with me life than sit on a couch.

ZK: So we’re just talking generally? Like, music or not?

Yeah, just anything!

ZK: I guess just seeing other people at our level— our age group and stuff— just kinda going for it and doing it the right way and stuff. It's just, seeing people do that makes me say, “Why could I not do it as well?,” so it’s kind of like the kick in the pants I need.

SM: So this is gonna sound cliche as fuck, but everyone in my hometown inspires me to not exist there longer than I have to, you know what I mean?

Oh yeah, absolutely.

SM: So… I’m gonna stick with that one.

BB: Nice shoutout.

TZ: Yeah, dude.

SM: Y’all suck.

TZ: Jeez! I think my friends and my loved ones and the stuff that they’ve been through, you know, stuff like that always is a place where I draw a lot of inspiration from. They always know how to ground me and keep me going forward, so I appreciate that, more than they probably know.

What are you guys currently listening to?

TZ: Oh baby! I have been listening to that Pale Waves record all the time. That’s one of the main things.

ZK: Don’t leave out Foxing, dude.

TZ: Oh! And Foxing, Nearer My God. Best record by the best band ever.

BB: This band Series from Australia just dropped their first full-length, and that’s what I’ve been on lately. It’s really good; really sad. Check it out if you like nostalgic-sounding alt-rock.

ZK: I’ll second that the Series record is really good. I’ve just been listening to that Sanction record a lot— really gets me going, you know? And that Foxing, too. Tyler and I just saw Foxing in Madison before we left, and he had never seen them live before, and it was just a very cerebral and real experience; it was sick. So yeah, Foxing can just do no wrong, I think.

SM: Um… I’ve been really into Delta Sleep lately, which was kind of a new artist for me to get into. And pretty much anything else that they play in the van. We’ve got pretty good aux cord DJ’s.

So I know you guys are only on your second week of this tour, but is there talk of another tour for you this year?

BB: We’re working on it.

TZ: We’ll definitely be doing something!

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you? Just generally speaking.

BB: I might need a minute to think about that.

TZ: Yeah, that’s a tough one.

ZK: I guess I can break the shell on it, get it going.

TZ: Give it a good cracking.

ZK: I guess it’s not… I don’t know. No one ever really comes up to me goes, “Son, here’s a piece.” But my dad has always been a role model as far as work ethic goes, and when I was growing up, I would always see him just busting his ass. There wouldn’t even be stuff to do outside, he would just be like, “Oh yeah, I gotta do this. I gotta fix it,” and just nonstop, and still maintaining a kind heart and a sense of composure and stuff, so that’s just something that I took from him as like, life advice in a way? Yeah, I don’t know. I’m the oldest brother, so no one ever really was around to give me advice, I just kind of observed.

BB: My friend Cory— he dated my mom when I was a young age. He was pretty much the only adult figure in my life that told me, “You don’t have to do the 9-5, you should get out and do something and live your life while you’re still young.” That’s always kind of stuck with me.

SM: No one has ever given me advice…

TZ: Hold on, I have one… I need to make sure I get it correctly.

ZK: Are you looking up a quote?

TZ: No, I remember it from the back of my head.

Go straight to the pages of Pinterest.

TZ: Hold on, I have it right here. So in Pokemon: The Movie, Mewtwo says, “I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are,” and I totally remembered that off the top of my head so….

ZK: Let it be known that he did NOT use his phone.

TZ: Not a bit, please scratch the record…. Strike the record! Is it scratch?

We’re going to move onto a round of rapid fire now! Okay, so I thought I had finished writing these in my journal but I got a hand cramp so I didn’t… so we’re going to read them off my phone! I’m the slowest writer in the whole entire world, and people tell me I write really weird, so…

SM: Everyone is mean about my handwriting too.

People tell me I hold a pen really weird! I don’t know.

SM: I go like that. *gesturing how he holds a pen*

Yeah! That’s exactly what I do!

SM: Yeah, they’ve made fun of me my entire life.

Yeah, me too. Okay…

SM: End the stigma.

If you weren’t pursuing music, what would you want to be doing instead?

TZ: Chef.

BB: I would like to help people, probably children.

Like doing what?

BB: I guess like a counselor, but probably not in a school. Probably just some sort of figure that helps children.

Anyone else wanna answer that one?

ZK: I would be working in the beer industry.

The beer industry? Okay, interesting!

ZK: Yeah, I’m a total dork, and that's just the thing I know the most about except for music, so… I could, like, give beer to children. Like as a counselor.

Just, like, partner together.

BB: “You know kid, life’s rough. Here, have a cold one.”

ZK: Scratch that from the record!

TZ: Yeah, strike that from it please.

SM: Um, I don’t really know. I just like to think it wouldn’t be in an office or something like that. But I don’t really know for certain what I would be doing. Probably something involving music, like a studio. I’ve always been interested in the audio side of things.

Alright, next question. What is your must-have snack while on the road?

BB: Smokehouse almonds.

Smokehouse almonds! Those are really good!

BB: The Habanero BBQ ones.

Okay, I don’t like spicy. Can’t relate.

TZ: Pistachios.

Wow, I haven’t had a pistachio in, like, 7 years.

TZ: Dude, they’re super food, you gotta get on it.

SM: So, you know those Trolli gummy worms?

Yes.

SM: Have you ever had the Trolli eggs?

YES! They’re so much better than the gummy worms!

SM: Yeah, the little coated thingy—

I get those every time I go to the movie theatre, but I have to eat the shell off first.

SM: Yeah, totally! It’s like— part of it.

It’s like a whole experience.

SM: So yeah, I’d say Trolli eggs or sour patch watermelon.

Oh my God, taste! I love that.

ZK: That’s such a Scott answer! Yeah, almonds or Clif bars or something.

BB: Oh, c’mon.

SM: Let it be known that I have never seen Zach ever eat a Clif bar!

TZ: Yeah, hold on you poser! I watch you eat…

ZK: You don’t wanna watch me eat, man. I only eat fruit, nuts and Clif bars. No, I did this thing on the last tour we went on where I tried to get a strange snack at every gas station we went to.

Oh man, that’s just a stomachache waiting to happen.

ZK: Yeah, I just ended up with a ton of really weird stuff, so I’m always on the lookout for weird ones but I haven’t really done any yet this tour.

SM: We once saw the man eat a slice of turkey.

TZ: Yeah! He was weird.

Just a slice of turkey?

SM: Yeah it was just like, packaged, sliced—

BB: It smelled like Thanksgiving came early.

ZK: We just played with Tiny Moving Parts last month and I went and got some snacks on the way there and I found just a slice, just like vacuum-packed into plastic— like, it wasn’t jerky.

That sounds pretty gross.

TZ: That’s REALLY gross!

SM: HE BOUGHT TWO OF THEM.

Oh, you know… as one does.

SM: HE BOUGHT TWO!

Okay… how big was this piece of turkey?!

ZK: It was jerky-size.

That’s definitely weird.

SM: There were three slices in the package and he bought two of them…

Oh man, you have questionable taste, Zach.

ZK: Who’s gonna do the dirty work for all the gas station snacks if I don’t?

In your opinion, who is the most underrated or the next up-and-coming band in this scene?

BB: Future Teens.

TZ: Yeah, I would have to say Future Teens as well.

BB: Not Hot Mulligan.

ZK: I’ll say Future Teens too, man. I feel like they’re really underrated and in terms of live sound, they’ve been spot on every day so far.

Yeah, I just heard them in soundcheck, and wow!

ZK: Yeah… also Series. Back to that band.

SM: I’ll round it out with Future Teens.

Four out of four for Future Teens! Who is most likely to be late to their own set?

*everybody looks at Brandon*

BB: Yeah…

TZ: Oh wait, to their own set?

Yes.

TZ: Brandon is really punctual at being… to playing.

SM: Also Brandon— his shit is already on stage so… all he has to do is, like, appear.

BB: I would say Sniff, but he’s not in this band.

ZK: I don’t know…

BB: Scott might get too high one time… I would say probably myself, most likely, but we’re a pretty punctual bunch.

TZ: Yeah, we’re not bad about it. I think outside of doing band stuff, it would 100% be Brandon, but other than that, I have no idea. And even then, he’s like really not that bad… sometimes…

BB: I’m late to work at least 10 minutes every day so… they should just schedule me 10 minutes later.

They should just expect it by now.

BB: “He comes in at 10:42…”

Okay, last one. If you could get a tattoo right now, what would it be?

BB: I don’t know, maybe I will. There’s a place right there. Yeah, actually I’m supposed to get Chris here’s initials on my ass at some point, so…

Oh, okay.

BB: Yeah, that’s like… in writing that I’m supposed to do that.

Okay, well… you know. We’ll check in later and see if it’s happened.

ZK: I have a friend who has a sworn in tattoo that he just got covered up. It was, like, the death card.

TZ: Okay so what would you get then? Right now?

Yeah, we need to know.

ZK: I don’t know, it would have to be—

BB: Like a tribal tat, right?

ZK: Yeah, definitely. Full sleeve. I have always wanted that lyric from “Big Casino” by Jimmy Eat World— the “Rock on young savior, don’t give up your hopes.” I don’t know. That’s one that I’ve always wanted to get, but haven’t gone to a shop in forever. But if someone just tossed me in the door, that’s what I’d get.

SM: I’d probably do “I heart mom” because she says that that’s the only one she’ll accept as not looking shitty, so gotta do that at some point. May as well knock that one out.

TZ: Uh, so I actually have my next tattoo planned and it’s kind of in-depth. It’s super nerdy— I’m SUPER READY to unload this. Okay, so I really like Nearer My God by Foxing, so I wanted to get something by them, but I also really like Pokemon, so I wanted to get a crossover. I was sitting there brainstorming in my room one night and I was like, “What could it be?” and I was like— dude, so there’s unknown in Pokemon and then it’s like the alphabet, so I’m just gonna get that album title in unknown on my leg.

ZK: Can I get in on that too?

TZ: Sure.

ZK: That’s everything I’ve ever cared about. What if you did the horses from Nearer My God but they were Rapidash?

TZ: Fuck! That’s a great idea! So it might be that, but either one of those two, that would be it for me.

Kayak Jones shows a clear love and dedication to their music, in conversation and on stage. It was such an honor to hear from them how this beautifully heart-wrenching album came to be. It was incredible to see them finally make it out to the West Coast and play songs I’ve loved for years now. This band is doing big things, and it’s easy to see them growing and making their way to the top very soon. Make sure to catch them on their remaining tour dates with Hot Mulligan and stream You Swear It’s Getting Better Every Day, available on all streaming services!