Off Road Minivan talks new record, friendships, tragedy, and more– exclusive interview

Off Road Minivan recently released their debut full-length album Swan Dive. You can check out All Punked Up’s review of the album here.

We recently caught up with Off Road Minivan’s vocalist Ryan O’Leary to talk about the meaning behind the record as well as the band’s long-standing friendship with one another. Be sure to check out the interview below and follow Off Road Minivan on social media!

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So, your biography mentions that you have been friends for a really
long time. When did you guys figure out that you wanted to create
music together as an official band?

We have collectively been making music together on and off for 16
years. Myself, Miles, and Dave were first in a band together at 13/14
years old. Over the years we’ve all shifted around to different
projects. We started this band in 2016 and it’s been a lovely 4 years.
We just simply had the urge to do someth0ing new and it came together
relatively easy.

Take us through the writing and recording process of Swan Dive. How
long has this record been in the works? What were some of the
surprises or challenges you ran into while creating this album?

The hardest part is that 3 of us tour full time for work or other projects
so we don’t have a ton of free time left for writing the album. It
took us about a year to compile 15-20 demos. We threw some out and
refined what we really liked. The recording of the album took place in
separate places as well. Melvin Brinson, our guitarist, recorded the
guitars and bass at his home. Drums were recorded by our friend Shane
Frisby (The Ghost Inside, Bury Your Dead) at The Brickhit house in
Massachusetts. Lastly, Vocals, reamping, and mixing were done with John
Naclerio (My Chemical Romance, Just Surrender) at Nada Recording Studio.

I absolutely love Swan Dive. It is so diverse and represents your
unique taste and talent. Which song(s) do you think best represents
Off Road Minivan’s overall sound?

I think there are a few songs that highlight the different styles we touch on. I think the song “Swan Dive” hits our post-hardcore influences very well. “Supernova” is
probably my favorite track while also being the most personal. I’d say
the opening track “It’s Harder to Make It Below Third” encompasses the
overall feel that we want to deliver. It’s fun, you just want to turn
up the radio and roll the windows down. It reminds me of when I used
to get out of school, get in my shitty car, and feel like nothing could
hold me back.

While it may be a while until live shows come back, which songs off
this record are you most excited to play live? Which songs are you
most nervous to perform?

I love playing the more aggressive tracks like “Vampire” or “Swan Dive”
just to dance and spin around. “Supernova” is probably the one that
makes me the most nervous because the ending is hard LOL.

If you had to describe the album in one word or phrase, how would you
describe it and why?

In terms of music, I’d say “ALTERNATIVE” because I think anyone with
roots in alternative music like Blindside, Jimmy Eat World, Armor for
Sleep will really enjoy it. It seems a bit cliché for sure but I’m having
trouble describing it. It’s like an emo record that’s not really that
emo. Not as sad as a sunny day real estate record but also not as
pissed off as an AFI record.

Swan Dive tells stories about characters from your hometown and
immortalizes memories often felt but rarely discussed. Has everyone
you shared these experiences and emotions with listened to the tracks
yet?

No, they haven’t. It would be difficult for most to hear because they
are no longer with us. For one of the songs, “Taconic,” everyone that is from
our area that hears it will know the story. Swan Dive itself is about
a friend of mine from high school. We weren’t the best of buds but
kept in touch over the years. He was a real rock fan and I worked not
this song for a long time. I just wanted him to have something special
or to maybe know someone is thinking about him. The opening track is
just about Hudson, NY, and ties in small stories or places we would
hang. 737 is my gift to Boeing. They can use it in a commercial and
toss me some cash.

How have those who heard the record before it released respond to you taking these personal
stories and bringing them to music?

The only people I’ve shown the songs to are mutual friends of some
involved. There is 1 song on the record that I would approach
differently given more information. That is the difficult part about
writing songs based off of something that happened: your feelings can
change and sometimes things come out that no one knew.

For those who have not heard it yet, what are you hoping this record makes them think and feel?

I hope they enjoy it for the art. Some of it is meant to be edgy and
some is meant to be heartbreaking. If I could show my friend’s mom
Swan Dive and talk to her about it, I think she would enjoy that I
thought about him but overall, it would probably just make her even
sadder. In that respect, things like this may always seem selfish. I
don’t use any real names and I don’t want to give out too much
information. Overall these stories tie into the name Off Road Minivan.
The “off road minivan” is used to symbolize tragedy in a small town.
When you grow up in a small place you remember the car crashes, fires,
crazy freak accidents. To put it nicely, this off road minivan isn’t
attempting to drive in mud with its lift kit…

The alternative and emo influence is very clear in each track. What
are some artists, albums, or songs that you think help define the
alternative genre?

I could list far too many. For me, its Jimmy Eat World, Taking Back
Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, Cursive, Armor for Sleep… that whole
era of music. I always find myself going back to these records and
loving them just as much as I did if not more.

What are some songs or artists you are listening to at the moment?

I’m always jumping between heavy and soft stuff. Currently, I’m very
obsessed with Self Defense Family’s “Have You Considered Punk Music?” I
think it is simply perfect. Tigerwine just put out a brilliant
traditional screamo/post-hardcore album called Nothing is for You. If
you’re a fan of anything from Hot Cross, Deaf Heaven, to Foxing, I
think you’ll love this band.

Is there anything else you want to say to your fans or All Punked Up readers?

Just listen to the album and give it a chance. It won’t be the worst
thing you’ve ever heard. I promise.

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