[HA for DROKU] Music and Life, Seriously.

Seriously the Band created their name on the spot, signing up in 2006 for Asian American talent competition Kollaboration. One friend’s constant use – or abuse – of the word “seriously” in every sentence and every phrase permanently implanted the word in their heads and was subsequently scribbled onto the registration sheet and into perpetuity.

The band’s four members –Chris Pham, Joshua Baek, Nathan Park, and Phillip Park – hail from Diamond Bar, California, and met at their local church. Though music had always been a part of their lives, even from an early age, being full time students and holding down regular jobs made it difficult for them to pursue a career as professional musicians and artists.
But all that changed when they won Kollaboration 2006 and signed under label Chaos Theory Music. They may not make millions, but being managed gives them the freedom to focus their time and energy on doing what they love.

Seriously has come a long way from when they first started, letting themselves be pressured into a more commercial sound so as to fit into the music scene, despite their members’ varied tastes ranging from funk and jazz to heavy rock. In fact, they experienced – and still sometimes experience – frustration and arguments as they push each other to try new things.
As they’ve grew closer, however, the quartet have been able to fuse their individual interests together and aim for a more electronic rock sound, says Baek, Seriously’s electric guitarist.

The ability to meld their classically-trained musical prowess with their eclectic list of influences and an honest look at life, love, and relationships only adds to their many charms. But it didn’t happen instantly.

Pham – who plays the keyboard, guitar, and vocal chords – jokes: “I think it’s kind of like a Pokemon. You have to put time in to your Pokemon for it to evolve.”

Another key to Seriously’s success as an indie-rock band is their ability to balance their musical passion with normal life – and having space apart from the band.

After releasing their first EP, “On Your Mark Seriously,” the four-man outfit has been spending time back in the studio, releasing subsequent singles, playing local shows, collaborating with other artists on YouTube, and preparing for an upcoming album release – all the while juggling work and school.

“Other than music, we all have our own lives, like school, work, and girlfriends. I feel like other musicians probably have the same thing. We just have other priorities. Not to say this isn’t an important thing, cause this is an important, serious thing,” quips Pham.

“It’s actually good to do other arts in a sense too,” comments Philip, the band’s drummer and resident violist (that’s someone who plays the viola). “I personally feel that exercising different parts of my artistic development will help with my musicality, and I experience these life lessons, which helps us in our music.”

As long as they are true to their music, says bassist Nathan, everything else will fall into place. As the young twentysomethings, they realize that anything can happen and look forward to where they may find themselves in the near future.

“We’re keeping ourselves open to other areas of our lives,” continues Nathan. “We’re not separating everything into compartments, but kind of seeing the whole as one unit of life.”

It’s that real-to-life attitude that makes them a seriously great band. Seriously.

Be sure to like their FACEBOOK, follow them on TWITTER and subscribe to their YOUTUBE. Also be sure to check out their official WEBSITE!

Interview By: Patrick Tomas and Michelle Nakaji