Vices Inc are a Female fronted Pop Punk/Alternative/Dance band based out of Portland, Maine.
They have been continuously releasing full length albums, multiple singles, and e.p.'s on Southie Heights Records since 2019. Join us as we speak the band's lead vocalist Eleanor Langthorne!
1) So firstly, how would you describe your sound?
Wow, starting off with a tough question right away! One of the things I love about being part of Vices Inc is we don’t have just one sound. If you listen through our first album An Everyday Hero, then move over to our latest single “(Hold On) Gravitron,” you get two totally different sounds. Even within An Everyday Hero there’s a lot of variety. I guess the one commonality through all of our music is its complexity. I don’t think that listening to any of our songs you would think that they were done by just three people.
2) What’s a typical day in the studio like for you?
Right now, I actually have it really easy. We’ve been recording all of the vocals in a home studio for a few months now, and it’s been great. Kristy records me singing and I can work at my own pace. We can really take our time, work however long we want and however late we need to in order to get the sound we’re going for. I never have to compromise when it comes to how I sound; if I’m not happy with what I’m turning out, I can keep going until I am. Plus having snacks easily accessible makes it a pretty good gig.
3) Do you have to be in a certain mood to write a song?
In a way, yes. It’s not necessarily that I have to be happy or sad in order to write a song, I just can’t do anything if I’m feeling burnt out. I actually just left my most recent job in part because it was killing my creativity. It’s really hard to work anywhere from eight to twelve hours in the food service industry, and then come home and have the energy to do anything else. I’m sure a lot of people can relate.
4) Who are your three biggest musical inspirations?
For writing music, I would have to say Lin-Manuel Miranda. I’m a huge theatre nerd, and whenever I’m feeling stuck on something, I listen through the Hamilton soundtrack. I think that he does such a great job subverting expectations, and he has such a unique way of writing. As for vocal style, I love Demi Lovato. I think that they have such a powerful voice and beautiful timbre that really pierces my heart whenever I hear them sing. I would love to have that effect on people. And finally, it sounds cliché, but my bandmates are my absolute biggest musical inspiration. Jag and Kristy are so extremely skilled at what they do, it inspires me to give my all, 100% of the time. Sometimes it can feel like a marathon trying to keep up with them, but I’m grateful I have people in my life who motivate me to always do my best.
5) Who is the best band you've ever seen play live?
Oh, that’s such a tough question… How can I pick one band as the best? I will say most recently, I saw Badflower perform at The Sinclair in Cambridge (October 2019). They put on such a great show and they sound amazing live. In past years I’ve seen All Time Low, Pierce the Veil, State Champs, Panic! At The Disco, PVRIS, The Story So Far, The Wonder Years, Real Friends, Walk the Moon -- not to mention all of the amazing artists I got to see at Warped Tour in 2015 and 2016 (R.I.P.). And of course I can’t ignore some of my favorite local groups like Bitter Pill from NH, or Street Kult from MA. I can’t say I’ve ever been to a bad show, just like I can’t really pick one of these bands as “the best.” They’re all so incredible, and I always leave any concert feeling inspired.
6) What’s the toughest part of the industry for you?
There’s definitely an expectation that as a part of the industry, you’ll stay active on social media. I think that part has been particularly hard, especially over the last year with the pandemic. It’s difficult when you’re stuck in quarantine and not really doing anything to have the energy to make regular posts. Like, how can you share things that are new and exciting with people if you’re just doing the same thing day after day?
7) What’s the most enjoyable part of the industry?
Just the fact that it exists, honestly! Where would the world be without music? Entertainment? All of the arts? We love sharing our music with people!! It’s awesome to be part of this collaborative process, create music that we’re happy with, and then send it off to the public. The fact that we’re able to spend time doing what we love and then sharing it with the world is something that we all cherish deeply.
8) What’s in store for you for the rest of 2021?
It’s no secret that we have a big album in the works -- and again, this one is a completely different sound. We’re delving into more of a singer-songwriter vibe for this one, and I think that it’s going to surprise a lot of people. We have a lot of recording to do, so that will be our main focus for the remainder of the year, but we’re hoping to have our double LP out on December 31st. Keep your eye out for it!