In The Garage with Lo Fi Ho Hum
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with Fort Collin's Lo Fi Ho Hum brought together through The Music District. Today they released their debut album Garage Pop.
Fort Collin’s Lo Fi Ho Hum started in a shop.
Lo Fi Ho Hum originally began as the solo project of the proficient Jacob Godbey. While Godbey’s songs may help you shed a tear his work can also provide you the opportunity to dance through their DJ services or laugh thanks to their sketch comedy background. It should come as no surprise that these have helped lead Godbey to communities they used to call home and new communities within Fort Collins.
Furthermore, Lo Fi Ho Hum is more than just another independent band. They are a love letter to Godbey’s newest home, Fort Collins. The band consists of members from Fort Collin’s own The Music District which allows for musicians to connect with each other. The Music District creates new opportunities that musicians may have trouble finding elsewhere. It is an excellent resource worth looking into if you are in the Fort Collins area. Nevertheless; these connections have led to collaboration and friendship.
The band is inspired by local acts such as Black Flag and Descendents. They also like to channel Dave Grohl methodology of writing parts primarily as a drummer. Each song that you will hear on their debut album Garage Pop brings a unique perspective. This perspective strays outside your typical songwriting formula and creates a new experience for listeners.
You can listen to their debut album Garage Pop here.
In our interview we discuss The Music District, collaboration, Garage Pop, setting boundaries, and so much more.
1. Mustard is grateful and appreciative to have Lo fi Ho Hum join them at Music Shelf. How is everyone doing today?
Hey Mustard, this is Jacob, the guitarist and vocalist for the band! Thank you for interviewing me today; I’m always excited when I greet the rare opportunity to speak to a condiment. And I gotta say: you are WAY nicer than ketchup or ranch.
2. Mustard has observed that there are various styles of Lo Fi. Did any of these styles make you feel ho hum? Could you share how you came up with your band name?
It’s a bit of a misleading band name because we definitely don’t belong on those YouTube “Lo-fi to relax to” playlists. I named the band this because I recorded the album in my parents garage, which is technically a lo-fi production. I had forgotten that lo-fi is its own genre and sound now! Also it’s a pun on “fee fi fo fum” but I don’t know why. I was sad.
3. What are some things that bore Lo Fi Ho Hum? What can be done to make these things more exciting?
Real life is boring, which is such a typical musician's answer. But truthfully, I have a really hard time acting interested in things that I’m not. I think the younger generation always having an earbud in is a great way to get around this. “If I have to be here, then I’m listening to Lo Fi Ho Hum while I do it,” you know?
4. Lo Fi Ho Hum originally started as a solo project of Jacob and has since transitioned into a full band. Could you share more about this transition?
I’ve been in many bands in many locations before and none of them really achieved liftoff in the way that I was hoping. But when I moved to Fort Collins, there’s a whole air stream just waiting to be flown in! I also think that the power pop punk genre is not a genre that does really well staying strictly online. There are lots of groups and genres that don’t have to tour to get lots of engagement, but this music specifically begs to be sung along to in a sweaty club with dad shorts and Doc Martens on.
5. The Music District from Fort Collins has been an excellent resource for Lo Fi Ho Hum. How has The Music District helped you connect and meet other musicians?
The Music District is unlike any other organization I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve lived in the cities you’re supposed to in order to “make it.” But I can tell you that in both Los Angeles and Austin I never came anywhere close to receiving the amount of mentorship and resources that The Music District in little ol’ Fort Collins has to offer. It’s truly one of a kind and I’m very thankful for the staff, gear, and members.
6. Speaking of Fort Collins, Lo Fi Ho Hum has become an ode to collaboration. What is Lo Fi Ho Hum's collaboration style? How do you bounce ideas off each other?
We’re still working that out since all of us like different kinds of music. We have a few touchstones that we all love like My Chemical Romance, but Maddi, our drummer, loves metal music. Adam, our lead guitarist, is a jam band fan, while Shiloh and I really have an unabashed love of pop music. We do all agree on one thing though and that’s MILFs. So if you come to a show you may hear a recent song we wrote that’s an ode to hot moms. Yes we are adults.
7. Lo Fi Ho Hum is inspired by the likes of Black Flag and Descendants. Which album by each does Lo Fi Ho Hum consider essential listening?
What these two bands have in common is their drummer, Bill Stevenson. He owns and operates The Blasting Room, a music studio in Fort Collins that has recorded the likes of Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, and Hot Water Music. Honestly, that’s part of the reason I’m even in Fort Collins!
My favorite Descendents album is Cool To Be You, which I appreciate because the production quality finally matched the songwriting. I don’t love Black Flag as much, but Bill’s drumming on Slip It In is creative without ever being too flashy.
8. Mustard wonders what is Lo Fi Ho Hum's creative process?
Lots of songs get thrown out! The debut only has 7 songs because those are the best ones. There are probably 15 songs in its wake that will likely never see the light of day. But generally, I’ll write a complete or near-complete song and bring it to the band for a round of polish.
9. On your debut single, "Never Been in Love", Lo Fi Ho Hum explores having a friends with benefits relationship. What are some benefits of having friends? How does a human receive these benefits? Was this single inspired by actual events?
Having friends is great! It’s truly a remarkable thing to have folks to lean on, do exciting things with, or even just hang out with. I would highly recommend talking to the other members of the fridge you live in. You might be surprised!
Every single line in this song was inspired by actual events and I’ll probably be getting some texts from those folks once the song is released. Thankfully I think it’s catchy enough to be forgiven?
10. Mustard would like to wish you congratulations on releasing your debut album Garage Pop. Could you share what it was like to structure and put this album together?
It came from a challenging point in my life after a long-term relationship came to an abrupt end and I moved back in with my parents for a few months. My dad was finishing up building a garage, so I literally recorded the album during the day while he was gone and then we’d put the ceiling up in the evenings.
The songs themselves came pretty easily, but it’s definitely harder to record an album yourself. I played every instrument except for the guitar solo in the track “Given Up,” and that takes longer than creating an assembly line of band members who can each focus on 1-2 things.
11. Listening to the album it felt like there was a narrative throughout that detailed the relationship between the friends with benefits. Is this an acceptable interpretation of the record?
Yeah! It definitely has a theme of being unable to commit to a serious adult relationship and the loneliness that can come with that. And it’s not that I couldn’t commit. It’s just that I’m not ready to. A friend also suggested that the songs sorta follow the 7 stages of grief, which I think is a very cool interpretation as well.
12. Why is it important that humans set boundaries?
Boundaries are important to set because otherwise you will be taken advantage of. The song “Boundaries” is about a relationship that dissolved into a friendship, but I kept letting this person stay the night, use my shower, ride in my car, etc. Once I started moving on and setting boundaries for myself, they removed themselves from my life faster than you can imagine.
13. Just because it is Open Mic Night does not mean one should attend. Mustard wonders how Lo Fi Ho Hum approaches open mic night?
Open mic nights are tough for folks who work in the rock genre. None of our songs ever sound quite as good without a little distortion. So usually if I end up playing one, I just grit my teeth until the set is over. There are some truly talented singer/songwriters that frequent or host open mics and I am not one of them!
14. A local soda company in Fort Collins reaches out to Lo Fi Ho Hum. They want to partner with Lo Fi Ho Hum to create "Garage Pop." What flavors best represent this album and the band? Do you accept the offer?
I love this question! It’s a great example of why Mustard is the best condiment doing music interviews right now.
100% we say yes to this collaboration. I want the pop to be so sweet that it tastes amazing while you’re drinking it, but later in the evening you’re sitting on the couch and you go “wow, I did not need all that sugar.”
15. The album art features a human in the garage along with doing various tasks. Is this human a pop? Does the album title work as a double entendre?
The human is whoever you want it to be! It actually isn’t me on purpose, so you can project whatever feels best to you.
16. Where can readers listen to your music?
Our music can be found on any streaming service, lofihohum.bandcamp.com, or godbeycreative.com/lofihohum. Please come to a show, buy merch, put us on your playlists, or send to your friends who have also “never been in love!”
Music Shelf with Mustard is a publication that interviews independent musicians from all across the globe. It is read in 32 states and 19 countries. Check out previous interviews here.
Music Shelf with Mustard originally began in early 2021. Inspired by independent musicians on social media application TikTok Mustard knew they had to do something to help share their music. Shortly after Music Shelf with Mustard was born. Its goal is to highlight independent artists from all across the globe. Mustard appreciates you taking the time out to read this interview.
PS; Music Shelf with Mustard is offering 20% off a paid subscription for your first year! You can subscribe monthly for $4, annually for $2.67 a month, or become a Mustard Major for $60 bucks for the full year!