Diandra Interviews Quarters of Change: New Songs, New Opportunities

For Quarters of Change, their friendships has become the foundation of their music, which explains why it grows. As they unite to observe NYC life and dream of what real love will look like, one day, they creating the singles made to be on loop. In our interview, we discuss what it is to capture a sound that is still growing, and the nerdy things that bind them through that growth. 

Diandra: What was the inspiration and creative process behind “I Love?”

Quarters of Change: This song basically started in my room one night, 3 or 4 months ago. I was feeling sad; just reflecting on my own personal relationships. I was strumming on my guitar and made a quick demo, which I showed Jasper when I got back to NYC. After that, we developed it and added bass and drums. From there, we added synths and worked on the song form. Then we had a solid demo and for the next couple of months we added real drums and completely rewrote the lyrics. Ever since then, we’ve been sitting on the song deciding on whether or not to release it.
Sofia

Diandra; You see putting out music as opportunities to grow. How have you seen yourselves grow through this track?

Quarters of Change: Every time a new song comes around for me I just see it as an opportunity to do something new and expand upon what has worked in the past and what I think I can improve upon. With “I Love,” it was an opportunity to write something really poppy but with real substance based off of real things going on in my life. The pop elements really freed me up to say things I couldn’t just say on other songs. That’s sort of how I felt I grew at least.

Diandra: You shifted from covers to originals. What are a few songs, from other artists, that you wish you had written? Why?

Quarters of Change:
Mr. Blue by Catherine Feeny – I feel like this song is perfect. The lyrics speak to me in so many ways yet it is so vague. She stays on track while exposing me to a plethora of emotions along the way.
She’s a Jar by Wilco – I mean like, again, the words in this song, from the very first lines, are some of the most beautiful lines ever written. They are so original, so new, yet evoke such emotion in a new way of thinking. I am so jealous of that.

Diandra; How did you meet and describe the moment you knew you had to make this band?

Quarters of Change: We all went to highschool together and we started all being best friends around the end of the 9th grade. We would jam and feel just a sort of magic that can only come with really loving the person you are playing with. It was with that feeling we really knew we had to be a band, and we had to play together and we have just run with it ever since.
Kiwi

Diandra: Why did you choose the name “Quarters of Change,” and what message do you feel it sends when people hear it?

Quarters of Change: We knew we didn’t want to be named a band like “The dogs” or “The kids” we wanted to be more than just another “The” band. But for the life of us we couldn’t decide on a name. So finally, after months of arguing and not being able to pick a name, we went to one of the random name generators and asked them what we should be called. It told us we should be named kumquat of change. We were like okay sure. But after practice we were sitting in a chipotle, facing a payphone and eating, when I saw a homeless man go into the payphone and thought, “Wonder if he has enough change?” Then he just started peeing all over the payphone, and my line of thinking changed. But we were kicking that idea of change around still and since there were originally four of us, I was like we should be called quarters of change because it worked on so many levels. Now I think people have gotten used to it, but also its sort of a bold name compared to all the “The” bands. So we like to think it gives us an air of originality.

Diandra: What is one fear music has helped you overcome and one love it has helped you embrace?

Quarters of Change: I use music as my escape. It’s a form of therapy; I’m able to leave all my thoughts about certain relationships on the page. It has helped me think out how I am feeling and just feel better. It has really given me a sense of “Hey! You’re good at this. This is your passion. You are where you need to be!” which I feel like so many people miss out on.

Diandra: What is a love story that you feel embodies what you want in a relationship? Why?

Quarters of Change: We put out a song called “Sofia,” and to me that song embodies everything I want in a relationship. Its a love song for a girl I never met but had only seen about 2 times. It is a magical song to me that affirms that if you just look you can find love. I also have a lot of trouble locking down what I want; so that being a story about love with someone that can never come to fruition keeps me calm.
Quarters of Change – Hot Blazing Sun (single)

Diandra: What are your favorites things from your childhood: from toys to books and movies? Which one would you put into a song and what lyric would you give it?

Quarters of Change: My birth father used to write who was a musician actually wrote for the blue oyster cult. He ended up getting a gold record for his writing on there “Fire of unknown origins” album. I have treasured that album, and use it as inspiration everyday to be better. So it would have to be that. I would just call it the cult record.

Diandra: What are the top tv shows you are streaming right now?
Quarters of Change:
Blacklist
Prison Break
Bojack Horseman
Avatar: The Last Airbender
I Love

Diandra: List 5 facts that you say, “If you don't know these things, you don’t know Quarters of Change?”
Quarters of Change:
We are from New York City
We love rock and roll
We cute
One word “Cookiepuss”
We have so much to come it’s going to blow your mind

Diandra: What is the nerdiest thing each band member does.

Quarters of Change:
Ben: Plays league of legends at least once a week was ranked globally
Jasper: spends too many hours watching how to clean shoes
Adrian: Will make fun of you if you don’t know some obscure small music theory thing
Ben A: Is a computer science major
Attila: Spends a lot of time researching Korean tattoo artists