Going through the "Boxes in Your Basement" with Sitris

If you enjoy rock music, talented vocals, and the sound of a band having fun together, look no further than Sitris. This South Carolina-based band formed in 2021 and released the well-received single “Ryobi.” Fans are highly anticipating the release of the band’s debut EP “Boxes in Your Basement,” which will be available on streaming platforms on June 24th. To keep up the excitement for “Boxes in Your Basement”, here’s an interview Zeal & Pristine was able to conduct with Sitris in between the band’s busy schedule:

So what first drew you and your fellow bandmates into the music scene? [The] community was definitely one of the biggest draws. Local music scenes are full of really cool people with similar tastes in music, so it’s a great way to make new friends and discover bands you’ve never heard of. Plus the music is great, so there’s that too!

Which other artists and groups inspired you to create your own music? Each member has their own personal influences, which is evident in Sitris’ blend of math-rock and pop. Our instrumentals take a lot of inspiration from bands like Citizen and the early works of Joyce Manor, while our guitars and vocals draw from the more indie sounds like The Smashing Pumpkins and Snail Mail.

When did you first decide to collaborate together? It’s hard to say, exactly, when the band formed. Our single “Ryobi” was in its demo stage as early as August 2021. Eva Purcell joined as our vocalist later that fall and that’s what elevated us from a basement band to a local staple.

What's the story behind the band name? We wanted to keep it short and sweet, pun intended! We looked at bands with short names that we liked like Basement, Hum, and Macseal. We also wanted it to be kind of nature related, yet poppy. Sitris was eventually what we came up with!

Can you tell us about the creative process behind your songwriting? Usually, one of us comes up with a guitar part and we workshop that bit until we have a good foundation. Then we move on to the rhythm section, and only after there’s a good foundation there do we move on to vocals. We like to be able to focus exclusively on lyrics and vocal melodies without having to worry about a part drastically changing.

What are some of the band's favorite moments? When we first wrote “Ryobi”, everyone could feel the magic, and it’s only gotten stronger over time. Hearing the audience sing along during our first show, when our single had only been out for a few weeks, is definitely up there on the list.

Any new or upcoming projects you can share? Our debut EP “Boxes in Your Basement” is releasing on Friday, June 24th so be sure to check it out! You can also follow us on Instagram.