MEET THE OSTEOBLASTS
MEET
ROMPER
PHOTO BY: JUAN ZARAGOZA, 2022
BY: GOON RECORDS
We caught up with ROMPER and got down to the nitty and gritty and here's what they had to say! June, 2022.
Q1: Please state your names and what instruments you play:
KL: Karina Lopez, vocals.
V: Vivian Pondella, guitar/background vocals.
C: Christina Adame, drums.
KB: Kali Bennett, bass.
Q2: How did you all meet?
KB: Karina and I have known each other for quite a few years now, we met through friends when Karina was singing for her last project, Grapevine.
C: Both Karina and Kali worked at Casa Agria, a brewery in Oxnard, when I met them both through a music/beer collab. I met Vivian through them.
V: Yeah, I’ve known Karina for a few years before Romper. I met Kali through Karina and we all came together at a show at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center in late 2019, that’s where I met Christina.
KL: That’s right, Vivian and I met at the restaurant I worked at several years back, she would gig there and later we became friends. Kali and I have been friends for a minute, then coworkers, so bandmates was right down the natural evolution haha. Christina, by a mutual friend at work, maybe with the intention of us linking eventually? And yes. Then it was just all four of us really wanting to do the thing. I didn’t realize my jobs all had a role in this until now, wowie!
Q3: What first got you into playing music, and how long have you been playing?
KL: I was 19, would hang around a lot at my Aunt’s place in Tarzana and her boyfriend became a mentor of sorts. Talented, seasoned dude who had his hands in every genre. I started doing background vocals for his Eastern European rock band, eventually started writing my own songs at home. It’s mostly been because of the friends around me though, the way they dove into making music made me want to make things too, then came the projects. Romper, we’ve already been a band for 2+ years!
C: When I was in Jr high, my mom used to let my older brother's friends punk band practice in his bedroom. They always left their instruments overnight, so I would sneak in to play the drums and bass. I learned a few songs on bass but realized I loved drumming more. I've played ever since but have been the most consistent within the past seven years.
V: I’ve been playing music for about 24/25 years. I got into piano lessons when I was seven, but what really made me fall in love was watching a No Doubt music video on MTV when I was nine or so. Something clicked inside me and I fell in love with music from there.
KB: So I never played an instrument until I turned 30. Dabbled in ukelele but not much, I played basketball my whole life. I’ve been playing bass for two and a half years now. Love it.
"When I was 11 and first sat behind a drum set, it was bands like Bad Religion, GBH, and The Skeptix. Now I’m highly influenced by almost every genre."
From left to right: Christina Adame (drums), Kali Bennett (bass), Front: Karina Lopez (vocals).
PHOTO BY: JOSHUA G. ZACARIAS, 2022
Q4: Who are your biggest influences?
C: When I was 11 and first sat behind a drum set, it was bands like Bad Religion, GBH, and The Skeptix. Now I’m highly influenced by almost every genre.
KL: Heart, X, Siouxsie, The Cramps, Babes In Toyland, Alice Bag, PJ Harvey. Got a soft spot for 60’s & 70’s psych like Affinity and Coven. Grunge era: Bam Bam, The Gits, Bush Tetras. I love everything from Los Saicos to Café Tacvba… Tio music, you know?
V: As far as influences with this band, I would say Bikini Kill, Fea, L7, Exit Order, Surfbort, King Woman, Black Flag, Minor Threat. There are so many more but I’ll stop at that.
KB: The Ramones will always have my heart, but I would say modern bands like IDLES and Amyl and The Sniffers. Old school female-fronted bands like Veruca Salt. Punk and new wave bands from the 70’s and 80’s and can’t forget sludge/stoner metal.
Q5: What is your creative process like? (Songwriting etc.)
KB: Vivian usually creates a riff, Karina almost scats and sings some melodies on the spot, Christina plays around until it sounds right. I like to input on tempo and switch ups, but it’s a little like a collage.
KL: A little bit of this, a little bit of that… usually a melody or riff appears from a place far, far away and gets molded into a Romper song!
"The community itself influences you to write what you want and come from a
place of expression that is true no matter what people expect it to sound like."
PHOTO BY: JOSHUA G. ZACARIAS, 2022
ROMPER performing in Santa Barbara, March 26, 2022
Q6: Do you feel like being a part of the local “nardcore” scene influences your style of music or writing?
C: Not really. Our sound is quite different from most of the bands in the nard scene. I will say that despite that, they've been really good to us, and I'm personally very thankful.
KL: What she said. The community itself influences you to write what you want and come from a place of expression that is true no matter what people expect it to sound like.
Q7: Who or what bands would you say resemble your sound the most?
C: Ahh, this one is tough! Each song is sort of different, like it carries its own vibe, in my opinion, so it's hard to say.
V: You tell us!
KL: Sometimes I feel like we sound like many things at once, but also nothing. Maybe that’s our superpower?
Q8: Any new releases?
C: We're currently working on an album, and if all goes as planned, we'll be in the studio to record it before the end of 2022.
KB: We’ve got some good stuff coming for sure.
"Let yourself go when you’re creating and know when to reel it in for crunch time through practice. If a song is not where it needs to be, it will."
PHOTO BY: JOSHUA G. ZACARIAS, 2022
Front: Vivian Pondella (guitar, back up vocals)
Q9: Any plans for touring soon?
C: Nothing is set in stone at the moment. We do plan to tour eventually, though, hopefully, after our album release.
V: Hopefully by this year or next year we can get something going!
Q10: What’s next for you guys?
KL: World Domination, and like yea a music video would be sweet. We’re working on an album!
C: Hopefully a music video! New merch, more shows, beach days, new songs, beers, and maybe a few weekenders before the end of the year.
KB: More and more and more. We’re a new band that is eager and excited. More recording. More new music. More shows. New places to play. I want it all.
Q11: Where can we find your music and merch?
C: We have all of the links on our Instagram page @Rompurr, Bandcamp has our merch listed!
V: Our music is also streaming on all major streaming platforms as well as soundcloud.
Q12: Do you have any advice for new or upcoming bands?
V: As long as you are your authentic self when you play then everything else is up to you as far as how far you want to take your band. Having fun is first priority. Keeping good communication between you and your band mates is also key.
KL: Just like in everything: there needs to be balance! Let yourself go when you’re creating and know when to reel it in for crunch time through practice and consistency. If a song is not where it needs to be, it will. A hard truth at times but you’re no longer doing things on your own time, everyone’s efforts and energy are as they say, precious! Don’t forget to enjoy yourself, time goes by fast. Stay Hydrated.
C: If you're doing it just to fuck around, then cool, have fun! But bands aren’t all fun and games, there is a lot of business and hard work. You have to be willing to make sacrifices from time to time and you have to practice, practice, practice. The business aspect can suck, but it's always worth it, so don't let it get you down. Also, be kind to touring bands coming through your city to play. Pretty much network as much as possible. That'll help you a ton when you're looking to book a tour or shows in general.
KB: I’m new to this all, so check back and I’ll see if I have any wisdom.