Believe In Yourself: An Interview with The Icarus Account
One of the things that makes me happiest in life is music. Good, solid music with harmonies I can join in on, so when I came across The Icarus Account and gave them a listen, I felt my soul get a bit bigger. They are just talented musicians that write straight-forward songs. I love that. Plus, the story of Icarus is one of my favorites, so how can you not love their name? Please, give their interview a read – if you’re an artist, I think you’ll resonate with what they say. And then, give them a listen. I don’t think you’ll be sorry. 
1. Tell me about your latest project.
Our most recent project is a full length album called Carry Me Home. We really tried to focus on telling a story with each song on this album so that it really feels like the audience is getting an inside picture of our lives.
2. How did you get introduced to music?
We started playing violin and piano at a very young age as our parents wanted us to study classical music. When we turned 12, we started playing guitar, and that is when we really started to fall in love with music. We could learn how to play songs that we listened to on the radio and ultimately learned how to write songs like that, and it was a really revolutionary concept to us.
3. If you could describe your music in terms of a meal, how would you describe it?
We try and keep our albums balanced with up beat songs and slow songs and happy songs and sad songs, so I would describe it as a well balanced meal but nothing too experimental. We aren’t going to be feeding anyone bull testicles or anything like that (lol). Just quality songs. We would probably have 2 main courses as well since there are 2 of us and we both sing lead about half of the time. I think instrumentally we keep it pretty basic, mostly simple arrangements of guitar and piano with some drums and strings. It’s not anything super experimental, but we try to find creative ways of bringing in each instrument or harmony line so that it isn’t boring. I guess what I’m trying to say is it’ll be typical food but possibly with some new twists!
4. What is your process for writing songs?
We both write songs, so typically we will start out writing separately, and then once we have the main concept of the song done we will bring it to the other one to refine the song and get some really detailed feedback. We also are big believers in not forcing songs. With 2 writers in a band, we are never really needing to write a bunch more songs to finish an album. We always have an abundance of songs, so we try and take our time with each one and make it as strong as possible. If a song isn’t ready to be finished, we won’t force it just to get it done or just to make it on an album. There is always another album, and if we make a song as strong as it can be, there is a better chance that it’ll make it on an album.
5. Whose music do you adore?
We love listening to a lot of different types of music, but lately we have been really into Ben Rector, Lydia, Bon Iver, Green River Ordinance, and Fun.
6. What are your three favorite books, and why do you love those?
When Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe – It’s such an amazing and touching story and it’s so beautifully written. It’s one of those books that you read and you literally feel like you are in the middle of the events, like you actually know the characters and everything is taking place right around you.
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller – Growing up in a christian family this book just explains our faith in such a real and genuine way. It is a collection of essays that isn’t afraid of asking hard questions about the Christian faith but at the same point in time not just rashly writing off the faith. It is sincere and honest writing that is so refreshing in a culture that is obsessed with looking the part instead of being the part.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls – It’s one of the few books that can make a grown man cry!
7. What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever experienced?
Such a hard question! I think the most beautiful place we have seen on tour was driving past a lake in the middle of the mountains in Northern California right as the sun was setting. We don’t really know the name of it, but I just remember both of us being in awe as we drove past.
8. Describe your dream performance. Where are you? Who are you playing with? Whose in attendance?
I think our dream performance is more about the fans than the place or who we are playing with. I think anywhere that we have a ton of fans singing our songs along with us is a dream come true.
But if I had to pick, I think it would be really neat to be in New York City at one of the famous venues like Madison Square Garden or Radio Music Hall. And then playing with an iconic band like U2 or Coldplay.
But ultimately, it would be playing for thousands of people who know and love our music. Not just people who are screaming or going crazy because they think we or another band is a superstar, but people who are singing with us and genuine fans of our music.
9. What’s the toughest part of the musician’s life?
I think just staying positive and motivated is the hardest part. As a musician, especially as unsigned artists early in our careers, it’s hard to get opportunities and sometimes it feels like things are happening so slowly that they aren’t happening at all. Everyone always talks about getting “a big break,” but a lot of times it doesn’t work that way, and the “big break” comes years into the process after a lot of hard work and a lot of disappointment. The band FUN. is a perfect example; Nate (the lead singer) was in an underground band called The Format for years and years and did a number of small tours before FUN. ever got popular or hit the radio. To the average fan, it may look like they just came out of nowhere and got “We Are Young” on the radio and were an overnight sensation, but it took years of plugging away before he ever got to that level. I think the artists that get famous after years of working are the ones that we really respect and admire.
10. What is the best advice you can give for other artists?
Two things! Keep practicing and honing your craft, first of all. You’re an artist, and you have to have talent and something to offer an audience. If you aren’t proving that you’re talented, then no one is going to listen.
And second, just keep working and promoting yourself. As we touched on in the previous question, even things that happen “overnight” often come after years of rejection and fruitless tries. If you’re talented people will eventually figure that out, it may just take a while for them to take you seriously, but if you believe in yourself ,then you have a chance to get there.
Maybe one day, we can all gather to hear them do a show here at God’s Whisper. What do you think?
