DON’T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS – AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION
By Ralph Beauchamp
Don’t Believe In Ghosts is a four piece alternative indie pop band based out of NYC. The group has just released their newest single entitled “Always Right”. The new song combines state-of-the-art indie-pop production with a modem alternative rock sound, all surrounded by lyrics about the internal battles and self doubts we all face. Today, the music video for the song released featuring the band performing while everything goes wrong.
Don’t Believe In Ghosts is comprised of Steve Nathan (Vocals/Guitar), Dan DelVecchio (Guitar), Alex Goumas (Bass) and Ken Yang (Drums). The band is signed to Imagen Records/ Warner ADA and their previous singles have garnished them major airplay throughout the country. In addition, they have shared the stage with several major acts including Coin in the Midwest.
“Always Right” features a buoyant ambiance with a playful spirit. Nathan’s vocals are crisp and effervescent. DelVecchio’s guitar is light and airy and full of delightful nuances. Goumas’ bass flows with alluring animation while Yang’s drums deliver a passionate timber. The track’s production is top notch and “Always Right” exudes a vibrant aura. Last year, Don’t Believe In Ghosts dropped the driving “This Is Paradise” which showcased another aspect of the band with its vibrant beat and crunching guitar riffs.
Steve Nathan and Dan DelVecchio were kind enough to sit with AMP for this interview.
AMP: Can you give us a brief history of the band?
DAN: Steve started the band. It’s been around a little more than I’ve been in it.
STEVE: It wasn’t a band until you came into it. There’s a difference between someone writing some songs and a bunch of people coming together to play music. It started as an idea but then you find the right musicians and that’s what forms a cohesive unit.
DAN: The way we met was when our previous bands were playing a college in Daytona Beach. Both bands had kind of the same fanbase. After the show we kept in touch. When both bands slowly dissipated, Steve reached out to me. In 2017 we started playing together. From there we went on to writing and recording.
STEVE: That’s when we started to click. It seemed like the perfect combination when we started writing songs. We wrote so much material that it took two years to have it all get out. That’s when we knew we had something special.
AMP: How would you categorize your sound?
DAN: Alternative indie rock or alternative indie pop.
STEVE: I totally agree but what does that all mean anymore. You listen to alternative radio and it can be anything. We’re just rock, poppish rock.
AMP: How does your creative process work?
DAN: A lot of the time it’s me and Steve in a room putting together ideas but that isn’t the only way our songs get conceived. Sometimes, one member of the band will bring in a more fleshed out concept and we will work on it as a group. Other times, we rent out a beach house and the entire band participates in the creative process as a team. That’s a really fun experience. Overall, we are entirely self produced. Steve has his own studio that we work out of.
STEVE: I really like our process. Everyone brings in ideas and they get bounced around. We build on these musings. The first song we wrote together was “Put Your Head Back”. It happened when we were on tour in 2019. One show got cancelled and we stayed in a hotel in Indiana. We decided to write a song. We busted out computers and guitars and a song was born.
DAN: Some songs are like brain surgery. They take a long time to flesh out and other songs come out quickly and organically. Like the tune Steve mentioned. Our creative process is like a wild card. It’s a toss up on how it all comes about.
AMP: Who would be the ideal musician to collaborate with and why?
DAN: For me it would be bands that fit in our particular genre whom I looked up to. A few would be Foster The People, The 1975 and Walk The Moon.
STEVE: I’m with Dan but a dream person to collaborate with would be Prince. That’s not going to happen until A.I. turns him into a program that I can work with. Who knows, that may not be to far down the road.
AMP: What’s the best piece of advice another musician has given you?
DAN: The first one I can think of right now would be that there is no formula to any of this. Create music because you really enjoy it. Do it for yourself. That’s how you keep the music genuine. Only then will it find its way into other peoples’ hearts.
STEVE: Who told you that?
DAN: My first guitar instructor.
STEVE: Smart man.
AMP: Describe your favorite and least favorite part of being a musician?
STEVE: My favorite part is a tie between being in the studio and creating new music with nothing else to do. When you are in that deep focus where you are totally engrossed with coming up with this chorus or that lyric. That’s my favorite time in life. Another one is when get to play your songs to an appreciative audience. That’s magical.
The worse thing is carrying your shit into and out of the club. It plainly sucks. Just as an example, we sold out the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. It was a fantastic show. There is nothing more humbling than the fact that when everyone leaves the venue, you’re left to carry your gear out and get in your cars while the same people who were just clapping for you are honking for you to move.
DAN: The best part for me is playing in front of a pumped up audience. The worse part is the business aspect. It’s not designed to be fair. Trying to keep up with business and media trends is exhausting. You have to stay on top of it and I feel it takes away from the creativity.
AMP: What a good segue. How do you feel about the current state of the music business?
STEVE: I think it’s an exciting time for mediocre talent with big personalities because anything is fucking possible now. But really, there is more opportunity for bands to get their music out there. There are more ways to reach more people and that’s great. In addition, there are more revenue streams. If you are smart about it, you can use these tools to your advantage. At the same time, there is more competition than ever.
Even 10-15 years ago there was a filter. It took a while to get to the point where you had finished material. Now, all you need is a computer with music apps and you can produce semi-professional tracks. You can create a decent track in no time.
DAN: There is a lot of noise out there. On the positive side, everyone has the opportunity and tools to succeed but as a result there is more for the listener to sift through.
AMP: You are signed to Imagen Records? How is that working out?
STEVE: We love it. We’ve been signed for about a year now. The next two singles will be on the label. Also, we have about eight or nine new one being released this year.
AMP: Any plans for an EP or full length?
STEVE: We have this steady stream of singles coming out. They may turn up as an EP or album but at the moment we aren’t sure. Right now we are focused on the singles and creating video content. Then hopefully setting up a tour.
AMP: Do you believe in Ghosts?
DAN: Good question! I believe in some things that can’t be explained but I don’t know if those things are ghosts. They can be something extremely different.
STEVE: I am open to be proven wrong but I have seen no evidence of ghosts in my life outside of movies and discussions. There isn’t enough evidence to prove their existence. To say I believe would actually be a choice as there is no concrete proof and my choice is to be skeptical.
AMP: What’s next for Don’t Believe In Ghosts?
DAN: More music. We will also be venturing further than the tri-state area like Chicago, Nashville and hopefully L.A.
STEVE: We’ve toured before but this will be the first time since the pandemic. Wea re spreading our wings. Plus, we will be filming more videos. We are always trying new innovating ways to to present ourselves.
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