Hermosa Beach punks One Square Mile have brought back their powerful punk sound on the Cameron Webb produced new EP Source of Suffering. The quartet were kind enough to join us for a roll of the dice interview to discuss the new album, the South Bay scene and what’s next for the four-piece.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congratulations on the recent release of Source of Suffering! What can you tell us about yourselves, your sound, and what makes you tick?
Vanessa Kaylor Phillips (vox) – I enjoy the energy of live music. I’m a dancer, and I sing. I’m into creating and collaborating with others on projects. I like homework, crosswords, and true crime.
Todd King (bass) – I love all types of music, especially seeing it performed live, but heavy and aggressive music is what drives me. Distortion and black Coffee make me tick.
Let’s talk briefly about how Sound of Suffering came into existence. What was going on at the time that helped kickstart the songwriting process?
Vanessa– When I joined the band, we needed new material. I had to find my voice and see if we could launch as a band, not just play the first two albums.
Todd – The songs came into existence organically, mainly during the pandemic. A lot of bands shut down during the pandemic. We kept at it.
What album, band, or significant singles made you say, “Yeah, this is what I want to do?” Not just an influence, but who or what was the catalyst?
Vanessa– Whitney Houston
Todd– Metallica‘s Ride the Lightning
John McCree (guitar) – Propagandhi – “Back To The Motor League”
We’ve all got a few; what is your biggest regret? A gig you turned down, advice you didn’t take, what one thing do you wish you handled differently as a musician?
Vanessa– I regret letting others tell me I wasn’t good enough and listening to them.
Todd– I regret not continuing with guitar lessons!
One Square Mile is from Hermosa Beach in the South Bay. It’s an interesting, diverse, and generally under-appreciated place that has bred fantastic music. Why do you think the area churns out so many brilliant musicians and songwriters? How does the region feed into the piece you are writing, if at all?
Vanessa– there has got to be some cosmic connection with the beach, the water, and the community that produces such exceptional talent out of the South Bay.
Todd– The South Bay and its residents have always felt like a family to me, and it is easy to see that this ‘family’ loves and supports its very own music history.
What have been some of the most memorable moments or experiences as a touring musician so far? What’s been the most unexpected? The weirdest?
Vanessa– We were playing a show at the Doll Hut in Anaheim and went for tacos beforehand. Somehow, I sang karaoke with the entire restaurant to “Sweet Caroline,” mainly because I thought they needed more time to cook our food. We almost didn’t make the gig.
Todd– Memorable: Playing alongside musicians and bands that were, and still are, influential for me, like Green Day, Descendents, and Pennywise.
One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important personally. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about but should know about?
Vanessa– Hard Rooster
Todd– Plague Vendor, Plague Vendor & Plague Vendor
What’s next for One Square Mile?
Vanessa– Play festivals worldwide, write more songs, record, do vinyl, make videos. Meet more new friends! Help others reach their goals, too.
Todd– Write and finish new songs, get in the studio, record…and play more shows!!!
Was there anything I missed that you’d like to share or dive deeper into with our readers?
Vanessa-Always stretch and warm up for practice and gigs. I need coffee for me. Green tea, no sugar
Todd– Coffee should be consumed in black. No milk. No sugar.
INSTAGRAM @onesquaremilehb
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/1SMHb/
WEBSITE onesquaremilemusic.com
Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
