An Interview With The Ohio Indie Outfit CLUBHOUSE On New Music, Biggest Inspirations and More!

Despite being a young band just breaking the music scene, CLUBHOUSE has already earned both gratuitous praise and amazing opportunities. Their immersive and energetic live shows have earned them opportunities to perform with HAIM, FOALS, Wolf Alice, Silversun Pickups and Circa Waves—all within the first year of the group’s formation.

With their genre-bending mix of funky guitar riffs, smooth synth hooks, and rhythmic drive; the band’s undeniably catchy and infectious vocal melodies immediately capture audience attention.

The band’s success has not stopped there. While gaining nearly half of a million streams on Spotify and getting featured on their editors’ playlist “Canción del Día (Song of the Day),” CLUBHOUSE gained enough momentum to share the stage at music festivals alongside X Ambassadors, Passion Pit, Matt & Kim, Børns, and Ra Ra Riot. With the releases of their new single “Blame the Weather,” CLUBHOUSE is eager to reach new and larger audiences, across the globe.

CLUBHOUSE is: Max Reichert (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Ari Blumer (Guitar), Zak Blumer (Drums), Michael Berthold (Keyboard/Synth, Backup Vocals) and Ben Saulnier (Bass, Backup Vocals.)

 Learn more about Clubhouse in the following All Access interview:

Photo Credit – Joshua Teplitz

So, now that 2016 is over, what are some words you would use to describe the year for you?

“2016 was an amazing year for us and we couldn’t be more thankful for everyone who helped make it that way. We had the privilege of playing alongside some incredible artists(HAIM in particular had me star-struck), we made a lot of strides as a band and grew a lot as musicians.” – Max Reichert (Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar)

What were some of the highlights for the band?

“Opening up for HAIM at Express LIVE! was pretty surreal… When we got the call to open for them, Max was actually in Europe with another 2 weeks left in his trip. It wasn’t a for sure thing yet, but Max had to head home as soon as possible if we’d have any chance of being available. So, we actually changed his flight and he hopped on the plane not knowing if the gig would be confirmed. Luckily, we found out soon that it had been confirmed and, when he landed, we texted him the news. It was a wild situation and it ended up with us sharing the stage with an incredibly talented group in front of about 1,800 people.” – Zak Blumer (Drums)

What are you most excited about for 2017? Did you any of you make New Year’s Resolutions?

“I think we’re most excited to see how people receive our new music. It’s really cool to see how other people experience the music that we create.” – Zak Blumer (Drums)

“We’ve had big goals from the vey beginning so I wouldn’t say we have any New Years resolutions. We’re continuing to reach those goals we’ve had since our formation. However, We are so excited to get back out to LA and work with Dan Mufson (of LA duo Scavenger Hunt) and Dave Burris (of Mateo Sound in LA) on this EP we have been writing. Also, we cannot wait to play shows on shows on shows this whole summer, travel to new places, meet new people, and make more memories together. This whole band thing has been so fun and I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for us.” – Max Reichert (Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar)

Growing up, did you all always want to be musicians? Can you recall some of your earliest musical memories?

“I think I always wanted to, before I even knew it myself. I actually started with African hand drumming after my parents couldn’t take me tapping on everything in the room.” – Zak Blumer (Drums)

“I can’t speak for everyone, but growing up I definitely didn’t really thing about being a musician until about when I was in 5th grade. By then my sister had started to play guitar and sing and I decided to start learning guitar. From there my brother (Zak) and I started playing together in our basement, and eventually we started jamming with Max, playing in battle of the bands at our high school, and the rest is history.” – Ari Blumer (Lead Guitar)

“I have always been around music, especially growing up as a kid. My dad played in a cover band with three of my uncles so music was always present at family gatherings. One of my earliest memories is from when I was about 3 years old and my dad brought me up on stage with him to sing “American Pie” which was my favorite song at the time. I guess you can say I’ve been chasing that thrill ever since.” – Michael Berthold (Keys & Backup Vocals)

“Growing up I was always involved with music.  My mom was really into theater and always had my brother and I singing in choirs and plays. We also were in the school’s concert band for a bit. I always knew I wanted to be entertainer and I tried all the time to get my friends interested in starting a band.  It wasn’t until I met these guys that I thought becoming a musician might actually be a possibility.” – Ben Saulnier (Bass & Backup Vocals)

Can you talk about how this group first came together? Why do you think you all work so well together?

“Ari (my identical twin) and I met Max around the third grade. A few years later, we started playing music together. We had been in some previous groups before, but it wasn’t until Clubhouse that we really started creating original music. I met both Ben and Mike in my dorm room at Ohio University. Some of the guys that lived across from me kept telling me that they had a friend named Mike who went to OSU, who was also a musician and who listened to music similar to my taste. A few weeks later, as I was playing piano in the dorm lobby, Mike walked in and started jamming with me. Around the same time that happened, Ben moved in to a room close to mine, and we quickly started noticing that we were both into the same kind of music. I saw that he had a guitar in the back of his room and talked to him about learning bass guitar. I introduced them both to the band soon after that, and found out that Max had actually met Ben through a completely separate encounter. It was all super organic. The first time we rehearsed together, I think we knew we’d enjoy making music together. I think we probably work well together just because of the fact that we were friends first. I think that’s super important when it comes to creating something together.” – Zak Blumer (Drums)

“My addition into the band came about one drunken weekend freshman year down at Ohio University while visiting some friends. Across the hall from where I was staying lived Zak. I was introduced to him and went over to hang out in his room for a bit. Immediately his electric drum set in the corner of his dorm caught my attention. I had been playing around Ohio State’s campus with some friends regularly and was really looking for a group to play with that had similar tastes in the music I was listening to. Zak told me to check out a song him, his brother, and buddy we’re working on called “To the Ocean”. Immediately I knew that this was the kind of music I wanted to make and had been searching so hard for freshman year. That night we hung out and jammed into the early morning in the lobby of his dorm and the next week I met up with the guys to finish the final recording of “To the Ocean.” The rest is history.” – Michael Berthold (Keys & Backup Vocals)

“We came together in a really organic way.  I actually met Max and Zak on two separate occasions and went about a month before that I knew that they were even friends.  Later I met Ari and heard a demo they were writing and I knew that I had to find a way into this band. After a while of me not so subtly dropping hints they let me in.  Michael was visiting a friend in Zak and I’s dorm and Zak ended up jamming with Mike on a piano in the lobby.  The first time we were all together in the same place we were already taking band pictures in Columbus.  We all were just really into the same music and our personalities meshed well.  It felt like like we’d all know each other for years after a few hours.” – Ben Saulnier (Bass & Backup Vocals)

How did you come up with your band name? Was it difficult to settle on one name that described your music?

“Ari and I have a small, separate building from our house (about the size of a small dorm room). We’d play hang out with friends there, play video games, and write music. When we were trying to come up with a band name, “Clubhouse” just seemed like it fit so well. Not only did it serve as a reference to our youth, but it seemed to really fit with our music style too.” – Zak Blumer (Drums)

I’m curious to know how you think being from Ohio has influenced your sound or how this group works together and the band dynamics?

“Being from Ohio has really been awesome for us. So much good music is coming from Ohio these days and the music scene just continues to grow. The local music scene is so passionate and supportive it’s hard to imagine where we would be without it. Our Ohio fans are what keeps us going.” – Ari Blumer (Lead Guitar)

“It’s really hard to say whether or not Ohio has influence our sound.  Our musical influences mainly come from whatever band or style of music particularly into at the time and the making it our own. The people in Ohio are really receptive to a lot of different genres and styles so if anything they help our sound develop and grow.  We don’t feel too much anxiety trying new things and taking a few risk every now and then.” – Ben Saulnier (Bass & Backup Vocals)

Despite being pretty new to this world, it’s pretty incredible that you have already performed with HAIM, FOALS, Wolf Alice, Silversun Pickups and many more. What were those experiences like? Which one stands out the most to you all?

“The experience of getting up to open up for bands like those is incredible every time. When we opened up the CD102.5 holiday show for Circa Waves, Wolf Alice, Foals and Silversun Pickups, it was the first time ever playing on a stage like the LC in front of such a big crowd. That experience will always be one to remember. But I think the HAIM show stands out more. When we got asked about our availability for the show, it was pretty close to the date of the show and Max was in Europe. At first we weren’t even sure we would actually end up playing it — we were waiting on a response from their agent. Max cancelled the rest of his trip and took a flight home that day and didn’t find out we were actually going to be playing the show until he landed in Detroit. Not only were we on the bill, but were we direct support for them. So that was a pretty unforgettable experience.” – Ari Blumer (Lead Guitar)

What was the inspiration behind your newest singles, “Blame The Weather” and “Kyra”? When do you hope to release more music and a full-length collection too?

“’Kyra’ is about a friend of mine that passed away a year ago in a car accident about year ago. It’s about coming to terms with losing someone you care about, but also celebrating the time you had with that person. ‘Blame the Weather’ is more of a light-hearted song about just staying inside with someone and wasting the day away with that special someone.” – Max Reichert (Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar)

What musicians continue to inspire your music? Is there anyone that you would love to work with one day?

“There’s almost too many to say.  We really take influences from so many different bands and genres that our music has kind of become a melting pot of things we love from all of it.  I can’t speak for everyone but personally right now I would love to work with Roosevelt. He just can’t seem to write a song that doesn’t blow me away.  He takes these retro techno-funk groves and combines it with indie pop perfectly.  I would love to get a look  at how he does it.” – Ben Saulnier (Bass & Backup Vocals)

“The musicians we are inspired by are constantly changing. One minute we could get inspired by a Flume track, the next it could be a D’Angelo record from the 90’s. We all love so many different types of music, so we’ve wanted our music to sort of reflect that. I also think that’s how most people are. With streaming services now, everyone is exposed to literally all types of music and it’s all at your finger tips. So we want to create music how everyone consumes it. Personally, at the moment, I would love to work on a song with Mura Masa (Alex Crossan). I think the music he has been making has been so innovative and refreshing. At the very least, I would love to be able pick his brain and find out how his mind works musically because his music blows my mind.” – Max Reichert (Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar)

When you aren’t performing, working in the studio, what do you like to do for fun? How do you two unwind from it all?

“Living in a house with 4/5 band members means that we can just hang out with each other and our friends without having to focus 24/7 on music. It’s definitely nice to just hang out with some buddies, watch a movie, and think about something else every once in a while.” – Zak Blumer (Drums)

“I definitely like to spend my time away from music hanging out with friends and spending time around my fraternity at Ohio State. I also enjoy unwinding by playing a lot of basketball, me and my roommates play regularly.” – Michael Berthold (Keys & Backup Vocals)

“Personally I just got a Pioneer DJ controller so I use my off time to have fun with that and learn how it all works.  Four of us live and go to school together in Athens Ohio, so we take that time to go out and see our friends or catch a movie with our roommates.  Mostly we just catch up on our favorite TV shows or visit or families when we have the opportunity.” – Ben Saulnier (Bass & Backup Vocals)

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

“I hope that there is not one message that our songs portray. To me it is fascinating when a song can be interpreted in many different ways. If two different people can pull two completely different messages out of a song then I consider it a success. I hope that our songs can continue to achieve this goal while still spreading positivity and a little something funky that people want to get up and dance to.” – Michael Berthold (Keys & Backup Vocals)

“Again I can only speak personally, but I just want our music to remain honest about who we are. I don’t really think we’ve ever tried to get across a universal message.  I think that’s one of the best part about writing our lyrics.  Whatever is relevant to us at the time we write about.  Our singles kind of show that too. When you listen to “Blame the Weather” it’s just a light hearted fun love song you can dance to.  “Kyra” instrumentally is a song that moves people, but lyrically it definitely shows our more serious side.” – Ben Saulnier (Bass & Backup Vocals)

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about your music or the band?

Be on the lookout for an EP this coming year!