A Chat with Frat Mouse (23.12.20)
Founded in 2019, Frat Mouse is an emo meets alternative rock trio from Los Angeles. Only 18 years old (and we mean all of them being 18), Truman Sinclair (vocals and guitar), Griffin Meehan (bass) and Ben Lopez (drums), Frat Mouse is a burgeoning talent with tons of teenage emotions to share. We spoke with the lads about the new album plywood, musical inspiration and future plans.
OSR: What is the backstory to plywood?
Frat Mouse: plywood is a portrait of where I am in life right now. We didn’t have any overarching ideas we wanted to portray and very little pre-planning was done other than to be as honest as possible.
OSR: What do you hope people take from the album?
Frat Mouse: I really hope this album means different things to everyone who hears it. To me, the songs are really just about safety, resilience, comfort and humanity, so I really hope that comes through, but any and all feelings that could come out of the music are valid!
OSR: Which is your favourite track and least favourite track on the album?
Frat Mouse: My favourite track is probably ‘grant wasserstein Pt. 3’ or ‘plywood’. Both of those songs really stand out as a portion of the album that came out exactly how I wanted it to. As for the least favourite, that’s really hard to answer because the album still feels like my baby. We had a lot of tracks that we had to cut so probably one of those.
OSR: How would you describe Frat Mouse to a new listener?
Frat Mouse: If Blink 182 formed in a daycare.
OSR: Why should people listen to your music?
Frat Mouse: Because if you do you’ll make more friends get clearer skin and develop logical thinking skills.
OSR: What is the best review you have ever received?
Frat Mouse: “3/10 post modern trash heap” – Internet user.
OSR: Which of your live performances is the best to date and why?
Frat Mouse: Our first show will always have a special place in the lore because we played it the same day that rat pack dropped and it really felt like the start of something very cool.
OSR: What inspired you to begin making music?
Frat Mouse: At first it really was just for fun, but now it has become something that I turn to for solace and comfort. It’s a part of my daily tradition; it’s a bit like meditation.
OSR: If you could perform with any other band who would it be?
Frat Mouse: I would die to open for bands like Mom Jeans or The Front Bottoms, but also acts like Phoebe Bridgers and Big Thief would be incredible. Also Blink 182, but like I don’t know if I would be able to hold it together.
OSR: Do you have any future plans?
Frat Mouse: The biggest one is to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but besides that, probably just keep doing music and playing for people. We would also love to go on tour and see parts of the world that we previously would never get to…and open for Blink 182.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Frat Mouse: If you buy the Olympia over and over in the starting room of Die Rise on Black Ops 2 Zombies you can get the ray gun and its op op.
Thanks to Frat Mouse for speaking with us. For more from Frat Mouse check out their Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
