The Pulltops just cannot disappoint with their ability to create good, memorable songs and this is evident in “Mission Control. ”It is their fifth record for this year, after the EP Sight Lines and three individual singles, and it captures exactly the sort of music they are known for: classic, alternative, indie, and pop rock.
It is crucial to highlight that “Mission Control” is quite memorable in vocal harmonies, which feature a vast variety of pitch – bass, middle, and treble. This is a chorale type of song with good backup and sing-along vocals that adds another dimension to the song.
The rhythm and lead guitars are well integrated and produce a full sound, with interesting riffs and chords supported by elaborate leads and harmonies. Supported by the steady rhythm section comprising of warm bass lines and strong drumming the track has a sound foundation and groove.
Synths and keys layer and enhance the song to turn “Mission Control” into a multi-dimensional rock treasure. In terms of topic, the song is a mix of hope, reflection, and desire for consistency, making for an engaging narrative. In “Mission Control,” The Pulltops demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that their music is other-worldly.
Listen to Mission Control
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What is your stage name
The Pulltops
Is there a story behind your stage name?
We were about to play our first show, and we didn’t have a name. So we came up with one as fast as we could out of necessity. lol The Pulltops is a throw-back to the old soda cans from the 70’s that had the tab you would pull off, instead of the tabs they have now. We wanted something with a retro vibe to it.
Where do you find inspiration?
We’re huge music fans, so we find a lot of inspiration in listening to music. But also sounds in general are inspiring. A new guitar effect, or a synth patch, maybe a new drum sound. Those kinds of things always give you new ideas.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
Lots of listening to music at an early age. I had an older brother that had a great record collection I could listen too, and swipe a records from. But there was also music in school, the school band, etc. I also learned as many songs as I could on guitar from the radio.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
Actually, not at all. My sister plays piano, and still does. But my parents never played anything, and neither did my brother. So I have no idea where my sister and I got it from!
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
I was inspired a lot by my guitar heroes, David Gilmour, Eddie Van Halen, Brian May, etc. But also by the fact that music is such a big part of who I am, and I want to always be surrounded by it, that it just made sense to be part of the industry.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
Songwriting early on started with learning how to play other peoples songs. You get a good sense of song structure, lyric writing, and story telling, from analyzing songs. And then there is a lot of trial and error. Writing a lot of bad songs! As far as playing, I did have some formal training. Piano was first, and then some band instruments in school. Guitar was a mixture of taking lessons, but also learning a lot on my own, just trying to figure things out by ear.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
I saw Boston at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Wisconsin years ago. I am a big classic rock fan, so there have been a lot of classic rock concerts over the years. But I do remember just being blown away by the shear volume of that first concert. Feeling the kick drum at that volume for the first time was impressive.
How could you describe your music?
There are a lot of influences. So even though we stick to the rock, or the alternative lane, there are a lot of other styles that work their way into what we do. So one song might lean a little more towards 80’s synth, but the next might have more of a country influence. It’s nothing really planned. It just comes from listening to so much eclectic music growing up.
Describe your creative process.
The music always comes first. Some kind of riff, or drum pattern, or synth or piano chord. Something that sets the mood or gives off some kind of emotion. Once you can lock into a feeling, you get inspired and build from there.
What is your main inspiration?
Guitar is my main instrument, so there is a lot of inspiration that comes from noodling around and coming up with riffs or ideas. I’m also a night person. I stay up late and write a lot after every else has gone to bed. Something about the night has always been inspiring, the lighting of it all, the mood at night.
What musician do you admire most and why?
I’m a huge Pink Floyd fan. There were a lot of strong personalities in that band, and the music is very non-commercial, which is odd since they are a massive commercial success. But hardly any of their songs follow a regular song structure. Most don’t even have a chorus! They didn’t follow any rules.
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
It’s always evolving. It’s hard to settle firmly into one way of doing things when there are so many great styles of music out there.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
I’ve never viewed any artists as a competitor. Everyone has their own style, and it’s all so subjective. Most of it is inspiring more than anything. Hopefully AI doesn’t become one. I’d like to see it become just another tool and not a replacement. I’m sure that will be the case.
What are your interests outside of music?
I love dogs. We have 3 border collies right now. We’ve fostered dogs in the past, and we would like to do that again when we have more room in the house.
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
I was into computers more when I was younger. I still am when it comes to music creation. But if it wasn’t music, I would probably find something else creative to do on a computer.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
Lack of time. That’s the biggest problem with anything. There is a finite amount of time. So you will never get everything done that you want to while you are here. That sounds so bleak, but it’s true! lol
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
I’d love to spend more time creating music. It’s a business, so you need to do the business things, promotion, etc. Sure, you could just create music for yourself, but that wouldn’t be the music industry then, would it?
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
“Mission Control” came up early on lyrically, and the song was inspired by that phrase, and the idea of calling out for help. It was a nice metaphor for the feeling we were going for.
What are your plans for the coming months?
We have a lot of songs in the works. We have list of what we want to finish first, and we’re going to keep working through the list until we run out of songs. And hopefully we don’t run out!
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans
We do have a lot of friends we want to work with. But that might night end up under The Pulltops umbrella.
What message would you like to give to your fans
Life is full of a lot of struggles. A lot of what we write about is dealing with struggles on a personal level. We try to be encouraging, for others, and for ourselves. Just know that we are all going through this together. Hopefully the songs can help guide you through it all.
