Music Q&A with Ethan Rundlett of Guest Bed
Photo courtesy of Guest Bed
You just released two songs as part of a split along with Roraima. Congratulations! What do these songs mean to you?
Thanks Jazmin! DJ of Roraima and I used to be in a band called Cape Farewell, so we’re excited to be co-releasing again under our new monikers.
We worked closely with producer and long-time friend Pablo Cabrera at Analog Approach studio to create a thick and polished sound somewhere between shoegaze and modern pop punk. I’m proud to say Guest Bed’s first release is about creating music, the desire to perform, and using humor to overcome self-doubt. These songs remind me of where we are as a new band, and where we have opportunities to grow.
How did the pandemic affect the formation of the band and/or the creative process of the music, if it did at all?
When I moved to Baltimore in 2020, I had been talking online with another drummer about starting an emo band. Unfortunately, COVID-19 infection rates in the city kept rising – we eventually abandoned the project. I sent those same demos to Brooks, who I had met at a wedding a few years prior. We joked about starting a pop punk band, and neither of us took that conversation seriously, but, with the pandemic, it became more apparent to me that that’s exactly what I needed: something more posi to work on. I think Brooks felt the same, and when we met Josh, everything just clicked.
Who has been your favorite artist or band to see live?
I first fell in love with Foxing around 2014-15 at a small church venue, so to see them now opening for Manchester Orchestra at Rams Head last year was incredible. They’ve grown a lot as artists, and both Foxing and Manchester Orchestra’s 2021 albums are special to everyone in Guest Bed.
Josh and I also saw Origami Angel play a secret acoustic set at a farm outside the city. I really value the types of venues that can provide a more intimate artist experience, and the artists that choose to perform there.
If you had a chance to collaborate with a musician, dead or alive, who would it be?
Brooks has agreed to step aside from drums if Travis Barker wanted to do a feature LOL.
Seriously though, I grew up outside DC idolizing every band on Discord Records, so it’s a lifetime goal of mine to one day record with J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels, etc.) at Magpie Cage studio in Baltimore. He’s recorded tons of great records there, and I imagine J has a wide breadth of “being-in-a-band” knowledge.
What is your favorite thing about making music?
Maybe the exploration. Every musician or producer I’ve worked with approaches songwriting differently. I love discovering how their influences affect structure, tones, patterns, etc. For example, Guest Bed has two trained drummers (me and Brooks), so rhythm became an important consideration when writing. Josh also proposed that interesting break in the middle of “Dry Try” – instantly became one of my favorite parts on the split. It’s not something I would have included myself, so I feel really grateful to collaborate with these talented and creative musicians.
We all have our days where it may not be going as well as we’d like. People deal with their worst days in different ways. What helps you get through the bad days? How do you stay positive?
I’ve found that my worst days are when I’m not creating. Sometimes just jotting down potential lyrics or humming an idea into my phone can help me feel productive and worthy of air. I know it’s rarely going to be A+ material when it first comes out, but I love revisiting and reworking it when I’m stuck.
My faith is also important to me. God doesn’t expect perfection and encourages me to make mistakes when I’m pursuing art. When I’m really low, I’ll ask that He reminds me.
Thank you for taking the time for this Q&A. Any last words or final message for the readers?
Thank you Jazmin! Keep up the great work, and keep it posi everyone!
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