Ten Questions with “Sink Swim”!
Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and were you can be found at on the web.
Ay thanks for having me! Well, my name is Dane Petersen. I’m 19 years young and I sing, play guitar and write in the band Sink Swim that I recently founded. My band consists of me, Corey our drummer, Jake our guitarist, and Blake our bassist. Those dudes are my best pals and we are in love with music! Ha-ha, right now, the places you can find us on the web are kind of ever growing at the moment. But here are the main ones:
As well as iTunes and Amazon
Who are your musical heroes, influences & why?
I have a few artists that I really looked up to growing up and still do. Starting with John Lennon and Paul McCartney at a real early age. My dad is a massive Beatles fan so that was always playing and making a real positive impact on me pretty early on. Then I believe Blink 182 came next as some people in music I looked up to. I just remember thinking how badass they were and every song was in my head all day. That’s when head-banging came into my life ha-ha. And after that, Paramore, Coldplay and Mayday Parade’s music had big impacts on me in my early teen years. A lot of it would really get me through things and drove me to play music every day and become something. I have those artists to thank for that. The top music hero/influence is my dad though. He’s an artist as well, he plays piano, sings and writes songs. He’s always encouraged me to write and take my dreams seriously.
Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music?
Do what you want to do and be original. I feel a lot of musicians somewhat begin mimicking bands completely to write music. I think it’s important to take influence where you feel it, but channel it into your own creativity. Take the feeling and vibes it gives you and play what comes out. At that point, I’d say if you really want it, you’ve got to keep going despite whatever challenges are thrown at you. Because you’re going to face them, but they make you learn and they fuel you. Always be you and go hard basically, haha.
Any pitfalls they should avoid?
People who may try to bring you down or hold you back. Don’t ever let someone try and alter your dream for their own reasons.
Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?
Hmm I think I have a good one. I was in a band previously with Jake and we put on a show of our own at our then drummer’s huge barn in Hidden Valley. We had pretty high hopes for it to go well and it turned out better than we could’ve imagined for our first show as that group. A ton of people came, many of who of which we had no idea would come haha. And we put on a rad show. I would even see a few people tearing up or crying during a few songs. Indescribable feeling.
On the same token as the above question. How about a “worse gig” ever story.
Haha yes I do. Although while it was a great night, the first concert I ever played when I was 14 was with a music school that would put us in bands and have us learn a few songs then we’d play a show at a venue. I was really nervous but excited to be the frontman and sing and play guitar for people. So when I went out for the first song, my guitar strap fell off from the top mid-song. Luckily I didn’t let it drop completely, I still had it by the neck. So I just kept playing haha and someone came out and re-hooked me. The crowd continued to cheer however so I didn’t get too embarrassed I don’t think haha!
Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of boobs?
Hahaha you caught me. I’m constantly drawing pictures of boobs who told you?! But besides that, I’m constantly playing music and hanging with the guys. We like to go on crazy hikes a lot and get out of the man cave when we’ve been locked away playing music and video games. You know, MAN stuff.
What do you think about the present music scene or lack of? Care to address that?
The music scene is growing and changing constantly in my opinion. People are opening up their eyes and ears to all kinds of music and artists are doing a lot more on their own as well. If you make it in the modern music scene you’ve really got to have something and so much hidden talent is being brought to the masses, which is exciting.
Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear… Like their hobbies or something like that.
Are you guys trying to get me in trouble? Haha well..Jake, is the most laid back guy I know. It seems like nothing can break that guy. But he’s the master of fucking with people haha. He’s got some crazy tricks up his sleeve. Corey is a super intelligent person, a real techy kind of guy. He recently hacked my Wii to add new textures to games I already own for example haha. He trips me out sometimes the way he whips out random knowledge. I call him “Snapple facts” sometimes. And Blake is also a very intelligent dude. He picks up everything musically really fast and he’s a magician behind a Macbook as well haha.
Hypothetical situation. You’re stranded on Gilligan’s island and you get to hook up with only one of the girls. Is it Ginger, Mary Ann or Mrs. Howell and why?
My favorite interview question ever so far haha! Gilligan’s Island is definitely that old school. Mary Ann for sure. Have you seen those eyes? And other inappropriate things I probably shouldn’t mention? I hope that answers the question haha.
# 10 is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s where you get to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”!
Damn there’s so much we could talk about! Uhhh, how bout them dodgers?
