Go Periscope

This two-piece band from Seattle, Washington can certainly get you up and dance to their smooth tunes with their electronic beats and power-pop lyrics.

Ok, take a plastic toy that you used to look through to see above fences and around corners, then add the word ‘GO’ in front of it. What do you get? GO PERISCOPE of course. This two-piece band from Seattle, Washington can certainly get you up and dance to their smooth tunes with their electronic beats and power-pop lyrics, this is most definitely for the dance-down-the-street-iPod-listening people. And through the power of Myspace, I got to have a little one on one time with Joshua from GO PERISCOPE. The interview-type questionnaire took 16 days to process and finish, so it took a while to put this all together.

Neville: First up, How’s the weather?
Joshua: Well, rainy as usual. But we’re pretty used to it, in fact I would say that I like the rain, it’s a part of what makes Seattle alluring.

Neville: So, Go Periscope! I used to have a periscope when I was a kid. What is behind the name of Go Periscope?
Joshua: Well, the official definition of periscope is: an optical instrument for viewing objects that are above the level of direct sight or in an otherwise obstructed field of vision, consisting essentially of a tube with an arrangement of prisms or mirrors and, usually, lenses … but our name is more derived from looking to what is beyond your direct sight, and also to look at things from a new perspective. It’s kind of a general outlook on life, as well as the way we try to approach music in general. Look to what we like, and try to put it through a different lens and create a unique sound … and plus it saves people the energy of adding go to our name, when they shout it at concerts … instead of having to say Go, PlayradioPlay! Or Go, Anberlin! with our name we have conveniently added the go, to save our fans the trouble of adding that two letter word themselves GO PERISCOPE!

Neville: What music did you listen to when you were younger?
Joshua: I would say that I have had a very diverse musical upbringing, both my mother and father sung in choir when they were in high school, and my dad played in a band for a few years. But I definitely loved Elton John and The Beatles growing up. But then once I started really getting into shows and stuff I loved (and still love): Rufio, Hellogoodbye, Anberlin, Underoath, Relient K, All-American Rejects and Daft Punk, just to name a few.

Neville: Name some of your instruments that you use to create your music?
Joshua: Both of us are self-taught in the piano, and guitar (although we did take one guitar class together a couple years ago.) We start out usually with an acoustic version of a song that is really simple, and then we try to build it turning it into more of a electronica/dance melody. The process is really fun, when you go from a simple chord progression on an acoustic guitar, and turn it into a fast paced pop song that makes you want to do the robot.

Neville: You guys have an awesome voice, has Florin or you had any lessons?
Joshua: No formal lessons, however Florin did find this cool video on youtube that goes over the correct mechanics to singing in the correct pitch that he made me watch a good 7 times. But overall we just try to improve our harmonizing every time we practice together. And personally, I just love belting our Whitney Houston’s rendition of ‘I will Always Love You’ whenever I’m in the shower. Perhaps that’ll be our next cover [laughs]

Neville: How did you guys meet? What’s the story?
Joshua: We met in High School, and we both ran cross-country together, and we ended up becoming best friends over the years. The whole music thing didn’t start until we had been best friends for about 3 years and realized that we were both writing songs, so maybe we should try to do it together.

You can check out GO PERISCOPE on their Myspace at myspace.com/goperiscope

Neville: You guys haven’t done a show yet! 
If you guys got the opportunity to do a show with any band/artist out there famous or not famous, who would it be and why?
Joshua: We haven’t, but we have plans to do our first show this summer.  [Takes a big gulp] It’s nerve-racking but really exciting at the same time. Any artist? Well, collectively we have seen Hellogoodbye in concert 7 times, and every one of their shows have been absolutely amazing. So I think I would have to say Hellogoodbye, just because it would be so fun. Or perhaps if we could open for Journey, and then help them perform ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ I’m pretty sure that would be the most fun we could ever have as a band.

Neville: Is there a secret obsession with kittens with you guys? You’ve mentioned the word 3 times in your profile, and also a picture!
Joshua: Kittens are quite possibly the cutest things on the planet. And we basically aim our music to pleasing them. I hope to someday go to a pet store and see kittens dancing to one of our songs, that’s when I’ll know we’ve done our jobs.

Neville: Describe to me a regular Saturday?
Joshua: Well, ideally we would be doing some stage of the recording process. Either, vocals, or writing lyrics, or maybe working on a new beat. But sometimes we get stuck just having to do homework, which is pretty lame. Saturday nights though we usually have plans to meet up with friends and kick it. We are also both huge fans of playing any sports. So if it’s nice out, or sometimes even if it’s raining like crazy, we get everybody together to play football or soccer or something. But yeah, like I said, ideally we would be working on music.

Neville: So, whats next for Go Periscope? 
What are we expected to get from you guys?
Joshua: Well, we are in the middle of recording for our E.P. that should be wrapped up by the end of this Spring, and then we will transition into the performing stage of our music. It will be really exciting to start to do some local shows and start spreading our music into the indy music scene. So keep a look out for us, and if you have a kitten, play them one of our songs.

You can check out GO PERISCOPE on their Myspace.
 http://myspace.com/goperiscope

Once you have, give them a little shout out that you read the GRIND article. I’m pretty sure they’ll know what you’re talking about!!