By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Bellevue have dropped their first independent release in three years with a new single “Rinse & Repeat,” a reimagined version of their pop-punk anthem “Weight.”
A followup to their 2019 debut EP ‘Picking Up The Pieces’ via Penultimate Records, the track showcases a newer sound, reliant upon pop-influenced vocals and an acoustic arrangement. They expressed that although the message in the song had already been heard, it was ready to be received on a deeper level, alongside hardships presented by current events.
Even though they also have session musicians on board, the permanent members of Bellevue are vocalist Shane Tasker and guitarist Cody McManus.
In their time together, Bellevue have stared the stage with the likes of Chief State, Chase Your Words and Alone I Walk.
The Music Bugle had the chance to chat with Tasker about “Rinse & Repeat” and more.
Music Bugle – What excites you the most about pop punk?
Shane Tasker – What excites me most about pop punk is the blend of catchy pop hooks and beautifully layered vocals in a full-band setting. I’m loving how mainstream this new wave of pop punk is becoming and can’t wait to see how it will pave the way for the future of the genre and alt music in general.
Music Bugle – How did you guys decide the band name?
Shane Tasker – Naming a brand is hard, that’s no secret! After pages and pages of ideas and weeks passed trying to narrow it down, we landed on Bellevue. There is a place in Alberta called Bellevue that Cody used to go to with his dad when he was younger, so that is how it landed on the list. From there, we spent time looking at the way it would look merchandised on products and typed out in different fonts. That’s when we really knew it felt right.
Music Bugle – How would you compare your newer music to your older?
Shane Tasker – People will probably notice us being a little more true to our instincts and influences, stepping further out of the box each time we hit the studio. I feel like the past few years gave me the chance to dig deeper. I’m coming closer in touch with who I am, everyday growing more comfortable. I feel like my perspective is broader, my eyes more open to the world around me. Just a little more dialed-in. You can hear it in the music, the freedom of expression. The way the message is delivered, it just hits different.
Music Bugle – Does social media make it easier or harder for a band to stand out these days?
Shane Tasker – Gosh, I have such a love/hate relationship with social media, but only because I was never much of an internet kid. I am trying to be better though! It is an amazingly rich network. When utilized in the right ways, it can inspire and connect you. It’s such a limitless way to express and share your creativity.
Music Bugle – What do you miss the most about performing in front of a live audience?
Shane Tasker – I miss the rush. I miss that interconnected feeling, where for 30 minutes, my energy and the energy in the room become one. Moving and feeling in unison. Incredible. I also miss seeing all of our friends in all of the different cities and countries as we make our way from show to show. Some mates we’ve had for years now, all because we met through music. Crazy!
Music Bugle – Away from music, what’s something people might be surprised to know about you guys?
Shane Tasker – Like many artists that also follow the path of the entrepreneur, Cody and I really love business. We hope to reach heights in our music that allow us to branch out and invest in other amazing industries. With interests in fashion, beauty products, food, winemaking and so many more things, we really hope to bring some of our cool projects and ideas to a larger scale.
Music Bugle – How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Shane Tasker – I think primarily, it has just really slowed things down. I’m sure the rest of the industry and the world can feel it too. We took the summer to recharge and reconnect with ourselves. We have redesigned our entire approach to the upcoming year and are ready to attack a 12-month release plan with an open mind and see where it takes us.
Music Bugle – Who are you listening to right now, music-wise?
Shane Tasker – Some mates of ours – Later Days, OVLVYN and Year Over Year recently put out some proper golden tunes! Always got the mates on spin. I’ve been listening to lots of blackbear, as always! (Laughs) Can’t go wrong. We’ve been doing a lot of mixing lately too, so there is lots of listening back for notes and revisions there.
Music Bugle – What’s a quote that motivates you to keep doing what you do?
Shane Tasker – I actually don’t have a quote that I’ve been super obsessed with lately. I reckon Mike Posner keeps it straight to the point with his affirmation, “KEEP GOING.” A reminder that anything is possible, if we simply keep going.
Music Bugle – What’s something you wish happened more in the “scene”?
Shane Tasker – One thing that I would love to see more in the whole music industry is camaraderie and support. No matter who you are, how successful, who’s on your team, none of this should matter. If you’re a big fish now, you started out as a little one and if you’re a little guy, you just want to find your way to the top, too. Everyone just wants a chance to live their truth. As a media-based industry with the power to impact the masses, this is the kind of culture that we need to adopt in order to show a caring and empathetic way of living to the rest of humanity. We have the power to be an example of change in the world.
