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About nine years ago, when I was just a freshman in high school, I was introduced to something new. A type of music I’d never heard before, my brain couldn’t really comprehend it, but I knew I enjoyed it. I immediately jumped up and asked the person playing the music who this band was. “Stage Kids!” he said. I ran home that day, beelining it for my computer to look up this new and exciting band, Stage Kids.
Nine years later, I am just as much of, if not a bigger, fan of theirs. Stage Kids is compiled of seven members, Jarryd Arcelao, Jason De Jesus, Jonathan De Jesus, Ace Lagda, Sean Lagda, Lance Dela Llana, and Eric Walters. They all met each other between kindergarten and high school, playing music together. Hailing from Mira Mesa, CA, Stage Kids wear their hometown proudly on their sleeves, playing “Space Jazz,” as they’ve been known to refer to their sound as. |
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In their 2016 documentary, A Stage Kids Documentary, they give an in depth look into how the band started, and where they’re at now. All working separate full time jobs now, they still get together every Friday night to play music. That is one of the many things that is so special about this band, as all being best friends since childhood, they have never let life and adulthood get in the way of their music. There has never been an ulterior motive, such as only making music to become rock stars, but rather they are playing music because that’s what they genuinely love to do, and this really comes through in their music.
Being best friends since childhood, they seem to have an unbreakable bond between each other, both in and out of the studio. Because of this bond, they seem to have an incredible understanding of each other’s musical pockets, this is also abundantly clear in their music. Being on the same musical and mental wavelengths is essential while playing the genre of music that they do, especially as they are constantly changing tempos and rhythms,. I had the privilege of getting to sit down and talk with members of Stage Kids about some of these things,
Being best friends since childhood, they seem to have an unbreakable bond between each other, both in and out of the studio. Because of this bond, they seem to have an incredible understanding of each other’s musical pockets, this is also abundantly clear in their music. Being on the same musical and mental wavelengths is essential while playing the genre of music that they do, especially as they are constantly changing tempos and rhythms,. I had the privilege of getting to sit down and talk with members of Stage Kids about some of these things,
"The sound we’ve created together is much more of a concoction of seven different musicians simply jamming out what we’re feeling."
So starting off, for those who don’t have an idea of who you are, can you briefly explain who you guys are, and what you do?
We’re a group of 7 dudes from San Diego, CA that love jamming to what some have called ‘Space Jazz’ or whatever the hell you wanna call it and we indeed love it.
How do you think growing up in San Diego has influenced your music?
Very significantly. We all grew up going to local shows and haven’t stopped (other than Covid times). We’ve always been very much involved with local music and you can hear a piece of every music era we’ve been a part of in our music.
We’re a group of 7 dudes from San Diego, CA that love jamming to what some have called ‘Space Jazz’ or whatever the hell you wanna call it and we indeed love it.
How do you think growing up in San Diego has influenced your music?
Very significantly. We all grew up going to local shows and haven’t stopped (other than Covid times). We’ve always been very much involved with local music and you can hear a piece of every music era we’ve been a part of in our music.
How did you all meet each other?
Most of us have been longtime friends from High School and some of us as early as kindergarten. In high school, we had an even larger crew of musicians that all hung out on the stage area during lunchtime (hence the name ‘Stage Kids’) that was essentially split into two bands and through time, SK eventually formed the lineup we are now.
Most of us have been longtime friends from High School and some of us as early as kindergarten. In high school, we had an even larger crew of musicians that all hung out on the stage area during lunchtime (hence the name ‘Stage Kids’) that was essentially split into two bands and through time, SK eventually formed the lineup we are now.
"We’ve probably jammed close to every weekend for the better part of 15+ years. We genuinely have fun jamming with each other..."
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For as long as I’ve been listening to Stage Kids, you all have seemed to play very tight instrumentally, even with the jazz elements of varying time signatures and tunings. What kind of musical backgrounds did you guys come from to allow all of you to play off each other like that? All of us grew up as musicians - from childhood Piano lessons to grade school Orchestra and Drumline, but beyond that, we each bond with each other very uniquely in that it feels as though we’re reading each other’s minds when we’re jamming. It always has kind of just come naturally. |
What do you think has kept you guys together for so long?
Friendship and consistency. We’ve probably jammed close to every weekend for the better part of 15+ years. We genuinely have fun jamming with each other - almost too much drunk fun sometimes. Even with some minor rifts here and there, we’ve all still been every bit dedicated to continue making music.
Friendship and consistency. We’ve probably jammed close to every weekend for the better part of 15+ years. We genuinely have fun jamming with each other - almost too much drunk fun sometimes. Even with some minor rifts here and there, we’ve all still been every bit dedicated to continue making music.
"Do whatever the f*ck you want and have fun doing it."
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Being a seven piece band, there has to be a crazy amount of different ideas and approaches that are introduced during your creative process, how do you collectively incorporate those ideas into a tangible/digestible piece of music?
‘Crazy’ is definitely an understatement of our process. Most times we’ll jam out to any given riff and let it feel out. In between, we then trade ideas/recommendations on how to play out the idea which then leads to anything from tempo changes, dynamic changes, solos, syncopation, key changes, etc. After a smoke break and some beers, we repeat the process all over again only to realize at the next session a week later that the song will never actually be complete, but in a great SK-kind-of way. Who are some of your main influences as a group? We all have contrasting taste in a lot of contrastingly different ways but definitely all share a general love for similar-ish music. Below are some examples I know we all love:
Are there any creative avenues (different genres, instruments, etc.) you haven’t yet explored that you’d like to in upcoming projects? We’ve always been very open to experimenting with any new ideas. We never tend to be too specific, but the experimentation has always evolved and I think the latest release we have coming is an example of how our sound has quite changed throughout the years. Definitely the electronic aspect of writing will continue to play a more prominent role in this evolution. If you could give any piece of advice to an aspiring musician out there, what would it be? Do whatever the f*ck you want and have fun doing it. |
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Being from San Diego and writing for Los Angeles outlet, I must say that I’ve always felt . . . inadequate, at least when it comes to things that I can be proud of, in terms of coming from my hometown. The one thing I have always been proud to represent, however, is this band.
It must be said that I’ve been wanting to sit down with these guys since the moment their first release hit my ears in 2011. Already having known a decent amount of information about these guys prior to the interview, I had an idea of how close they all were as that even comes through in their music. After this interview, I feel as if I have a new level of respect for their artistry, musicianship, and camaraderie.
In the interview, they make a point to say, “. . . I think the latest release we have coming is an example of how our sound has quite changed throughout the years.” I made a point to go back listen to all three of their main releases after this interview, and I have to say, there is a distinct progression in sound, although I still all enjoyed them equally, all for different reasons. While their influences and sounds have changed over the years, the one that has stayed consistent is their musical brotherhood.
Stage Kids' most recent album, Intra Mental, is available on all platforms and can be listened to here!
Follow Stage Kids on Instagram: (@stage_kids)
It must be said that I’ve been wanting to sit down with these guys since the moment their first release hit my ears in 2011. Already having known a decent amount of information about these guys prior to the interview, I had an idea of how close they all were as that even comes through in their music. After this interview, I feel as if I have a new level of respect for their artistry, musicianship, and camaraderie.
In the interview, they make a point to say, “. . . I think the latest release we have coming is an example of how our sound has quite changed throughout the years.” I made a point to go back listen to all three of their main releases after this interview, and I have to say, there is a distinct progression in sound, although I still all enjoyed them equally, all for different reasons. While their influences and sounds have changed over the years, the one that has stayed consistent is their musical brotherhood.
Stage Kids' most recent album, Intra Mental, is available on all platforms and can be listened to here!
Follow Stage Kids on Instagram: (@stage_kids)
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