Under Spinning Lights

Based out of the thriving Long Island music scene, Under Spinning Lights mix power pop aesthetics with an infectious dance groove, coming up with thoroughly memorable songs. Their latest EP is entitled Lose Contol, featuring six terrific tracks that should easily gain the band a good deal of attention throughout the East Coast and well beyond. Fans of The Ready Set and Breathe Electric are sure to find a brand new favorite band when encountering what Under Spinning Lights has to offer. Here is a recent interview we conducted with one of the USL members to find out more about this up and coming band we’re sure to hear a lot more from in the future…

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Under Spinning Lights, and how long the band has been together.
Hey I’m Dom Fazzari and I play Bass in Under Spinning Lights! We have been together for just over 2 1/2 years!

Where is the band based out of and what is your local music scene like there?
We are a band based out of Long Island from a very diverse music scene prominently dominated by hardcore and pop.

It looks like you’ve played a lot of out of town shows over the month of February. What has been the best and worst part about touring and being on the road?
The best part is definitely getting to make a lot of new friends, especially with all the bands we played with along the way. Making new fans, seeing parts of the country we have never seen before, and experiencing it all with my second family really makes it the best trip ever. Some of the downsides were some seriously long drives, being the band in our level having to stay in some shady areas and having to protect the trailer as well as our personal belongings, as well as being away from our loved ones.

What could one expect from a live Under Spinning Lights show?
A very high energy performance with crowd participation, a unique light show, and a good time hanging out with the band.

Where did you get the idea for the lyrics on If It’s California?
Eric Pagan our singer has always had an obsession with California and wanted to lyrically embody the summertime spirit of California.

Please select two other Under Spinning Lights songs and what inspired the lyrics.
I Think I’m Dreaming was written about being away from our loved ones while we were on the road together while I Don’t Wanna Be was about refusing to be put in the friend zone or second place.

How did you wind up being signed to Island Def Jam Digital?
Well to be honest, we aren’t really signed to Island Def Jam…Tunecore just gives you an option to have Island Def Jam track your sales when you sign up to have your music distributed through iTunes.Listening to your music, one thinks you would be perfect on the Warped Tour. Has your band ever played Warped, and if so, what was the experience like?
We have never played Warped Tour but thank you so much for the compliment! Playing Warped Tour would definitely be an accomplishment for us!

Who are some of the bands you have opened for in the past?
Some of the bands we have opened for are Blood on the Dance Floor, Cash Cash, We are the In Crowd, Stereo Skyline, Jeffree Star, Brokencyde, Lets Get It, Sparks The Rescue, The Morning Of, For the Foxes, and a whole lot of other awesome bands!

Has your band ever played in California or plan to do so in the future?
We have not yet! We have made plans to in the past and unfortunately fallen through. However, we definitely have our sights set on the west coast and plan to get out there as soon as possible!

If you could be a donut, what kind would you be and why?
CHOC. GLAZED! It’s definitely my favorite! =]

Which member of Under Spinning Lights would be most likely to have Taylor Swift in their music collection? What about Slayer?
Me and Matt both have Taylor Swift on our iPod and Monty and Jay definitely have Slayer on their iPods!

Any strange or unusual Myspace/Facebook stories you could share?
Tons lol. We really try and interact with the fans who write us on myspace and facebook. with that being said, we do get a fair amount of odd messages sharing in detail of one’s personal life.

What’s up next for Under Spinning Lights? Maybe a full length coming up?
We are definitely hoping to tour in mid to late spring and record a full length we already started writing when we get home!

Do you have any messages for people reading this who might now want to check your band out?
Thank you to anyone to takes the time out and gives our music a chance because we have worked so hard and had a lot of fun making it and we hope you have just as much fun listening to it.

The members of Under Spinning Lights are Eric Pagan on vocals, Jay Pagan on guitar and vocals, Max Iantorno on guitar, Dom Fazzari on bass, Matt Jacino on keys and synths, and Eric Montalvo on drums. Be sure to check out Lose Control by Under Spinning Lights – now available on Itunes! - Highwire Daze Magazine

Under Spinning Lights is a pop-punk group from Long Island and one of The Aquarian’s very own On The Verge bands that really delivers; and we aren’t the only ones who’ve noticed. Since their formation, these boys have gained sponsorship from Peta2, Vitamin Water, and Keep A Breast, among others, and never pass up an opportunity to go out and do what they love most: rock. Their sound is positive and upbeat, and their latest single “Tell Me Why” is now out on iTunes. Come to a free, all-ages acoustic performance at the Borders Books & Music in Stony Brook, NY on Friday, Sept. 10 starting at 4 p.m. Also playing: Stars Eat Wishes, This Good Robot, and more. - The Aquarian Weekly

Long Island’s Pop Punk infused outfit, Under Spinning Lights is fairly new to the scene, however it seems that all the members have one common goal; to make music that will make people move.

Their latest EP ‘It’s Saturday Night’ does just that. The EP is the perfect mixture of synth, prefabricated drumbeats and actual instruments. The EP kicks off with the track ‘Saturday Night’ and it’s the perfect first track to hear once you pop this into your CD player (or iPod, for those who have completely given up on physical music). The track has everything that makes a perfect Pop Punk masterpiece; It starts with a solid drum beat, then the vocals enter with a punch that leave the hooks dangling in your brain and even a perfect Pop breakdown that’s perfect for hand claps.

The EP continues on with ‘Lights Out’, which starts out a bit softer than the opening track. The keyboard intro works for the song even though it feels a bit mundane, but why fix something if it isn’t broken, right? Once the actual song kicks in the completely redeems the shotty intro, with harmonizing vocals. The next song up is ‘Should’ve Known (Overwhelming)’ which definitely should be the title track for the EP. It faintly reminds me of something Motion City Soundtrack would have written years ago, without the electronics of course. I can just imagine the keyboardist doing handstands on his rack during the live show. The song is definitely heavy on the electronics, but not in a bad way. The vocals aren’t over produced, and the band still continues on with the perfect mixture of electronic and non-electronic parts. The EP ends with ‘Baby Girl Letdown’, a very energetic track with powerful vocals and punching lyrics.

Under Spinning Lights seem to be onto a good thing in making a unique stamp in such an over saturated genre of music.

The band is playing a benefit for Keep A Breast this coming Saturday at the Vibe Lounge in Rockville Center, NY, followed by a string of Local Static in store performances at local Hot Topic stores. - Lush Beat

“She’s just a baby girl letdown/Another product of this town/ And I cant believe I let her get the best of me.” Under Spinning Lights will not make you ponder the meaning of life, unless your meaning of life is having fun and partying. That being said, it’s not like it was their intent anyway. Merely the first few seconds of any of their songs leaves the impression that they definitely know how to entertain the masses. With deliciously catchy hooks, frequent use of synth, and strong vocals, Under Spinning Lights could be described as the audio version of Pop Rocks candy or Chubby Soda. Already with a respectable fan base, Under Spinning Lights could be one of the lucky few that make a name for themselves in the dance-pop-rock circuit.

“Overwhelming (Should’ve Known)” starts off the EP strong, jam-packed with electronic beats and vocal tweaks. Maintaining the same high energy and catchiness, “Saturday Night” picks up where “Overwhelming” left off. A dance-floor anthem, “Saturday Night” is about telling a girl he’s not going to care if she leaves. There is a very faint Angels and Airwaves-sounding part at the beginning before the song flows into an energetic electro-pop melody. “Baby Girl Letdown” is one of the highlights on the album. Catchy and fast-paced, it’s along the same lines as “My Worst Nightmare” by Forever the Sickest Kids, while bearing semblance to Cash Cash. “Lights Out” finishes the album with the same high-energy as that it started with.

The boys of Under Spinning Lights are the full package: promotable, easy-going, and fun. While following the frequently trodden path of electro-powerpop, they definitely fit the cliché of making the success formula work. While their music may not be for people with selective tastes for something different from the norm, for the rest who occasionally like to give in to catchy party songs, It’s Saturday Night is the perfect album for you. In layman’s terms, it’s ear candy which will cheer you up and make you want to dance. Although the lyrical content may not have great profound value, Under Spinning Lights proves they can establish and differentiate themselves in the oceans of pop-rock bands by leaving Its Saturday Night as a token of their capability and potential.
- Absolute Punk

Under Spinning Lights, an up and coming band from Long Island, New York, are making their way with their new single, Tell Me Why, recently released on Itunes. The electro-powerpop band is made up of brothers Eric Pagan (vocals/programming) and Jay Pagan (vocals/guitar) as well as Max Iantorno (lead guitar), Dom Fazzari (bass) and Kenny Gallart (drums). The band formed in early 2008 and it was a mutual passion for playing music that brought the fivesome together. They have a catchy sound that is upbeat and fun with songs that make you want to get up and dance. Not only does Under Spinning Lights groove to the beat using electronic programming, but they also know how to rock out using the classic guitar and drums combination.

In December of 2009, the group put out their four song EP entitled It’s Saturday Night. So far they are doing what it takes to make a name for themselves among other bands within their genre. Based on their progress so far, Under Spinning Lights have built a foundation on which to expand with more feel-good songs and more explosive live shows. The guys have a show planned for September 4, 2010 at the Vibe Lounge in Rockville Centre, NY. The talent is definitely there, but with a music scene so hard to fit into these days where will Under Spinning Lights find their niche.

Check out more about the guys and their tunes over at myspace: www.myspace.com/underspinninglights - Back-Pocket Believers

The first band I want to introduce you to is Under Spinning Lights. These fellas have been reppin' peta2 hard at all of their shows with Animal Testing Breaks Hearts materials, and yes, they made sure their fans signed the pledge to be cruelty-free. Want proof? Check out the video they made by clicking here. They have quite a few shows posted up on their MySpace page, so head over there and make it out to a show … and tell them peta2 sent you! - Peta 2

Under Spinning Lights are a Pop-Punk quintet from Long Island,New York where they have have now become a household name over the last two years due to their rising popularity. They are known for their energetic and catchy tunes that you just can’t help but dance too. This party loving band is made up of brothers Eric(vocals) and Jay Pagan(vocals&guitar) alongside Max Iantorno(guitar), Dom Fazzari(bass) and last but certainly not least Kenny Gallart(drums). The boys have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with bands such as Boys Will Be Boys , Pathway To Providence and Years Gone By and they recently released their second EP “It’s Saturday Night” in late December.

“It’s Saturday Night” opens up with “Should’ve Known(Overwhelming)” which begins with a typical yet always loved pop-punk beat alongside some powerful vocals from frontman Eric. Although sounding somewhat typical to begin with once the chorus kicks in, it is clear that this song is definitely a crowd pleaser with the urges given from the catchy chorus lines to jump and dance around like no-ones watching. Although not of my personal favorites I still feel it does them justice.

The second track “Saturday Night” almost instantly has you tapping your feet and nodding your head to the beat. This track is certainly not short of pounding drums,strong vocals or fierce guitar riffs which all blend together to create a super upbeat track that easily can put a smile on your face.

The following track “Baby Girl Letdown” I feel is more lyrically focused as opposed to the other tracks. Although a strong energetic beat is present throughout it is not as prominent as the lyrics which take first place in this song. Alike “Saturday Night” Under Spinning Lights have created another song that has you tapping your feet and nodding your head, and not to mention looking oh so cool in the process.

The closing track is “Lights Out” and I think that it’s one of their better tracks focusing equally both on the quality of the beats, riffs and the empowering vocals. I feel as though it ends the EP perfectly by still giving as much energy and fight as the opening track leaving you on a high.

I think that this EP has definitely done the boys justice for being known their energetic and catchy tunes and won’t disappoint both old fans or new. - Shred