Ole ole ole ole, Turnstile, Turnstile! Founded in 2010, Turnstile is a band turning hardcore on its head, continually pushing the boundaries of the genre with influences from across the board while staying rooted in piercing vocals and a heavy but agile wall of sound. It’s the kind of music that demands to be experienced live with the band building a reputation for some of the most high-energy, ‘motion-packed’ shows around.

We caught up with Pat and Daniel from the quintet while on tour to promote their latest album Glow On, and talk growing up in the Baltimore scene, their onstage energy, what's influencing them right now, and much more! Thank you guys and good luck in Europe, we’ll be following along!

Q: How would you guys describe your sound to the uninitiated?

A: Free moving music, fast and slow, with every feeling.

Q: In what ways did starting in Baltimore, a smaller, tight knit/ scene, influence your music? Does any city come close in terms of inspiration?

A: When we were growing up there was a new band playing a show every weekend. It’s easy to be inspired by your peers starting 5 different bands!

Q: You’re on tour right now, how’s it been so far?

A: We just finished our first portion of tour supporting our new record and it couldn’t have gone better. Every show felt brand new and explosive.

Q: The spirit of hardcore definitely comes out at shows but why do you think your shows in particular have a reputation for bringing out so much energy?

A: To me the shows have less of an element of a band performing songs. It feels like we’re all experiencing the same thing together and that’s a very palpable feeling.  

Q: Some people might be surprised to know that Turnstile has been in business since 2010, is it difficult to balance a familiar/signature sound with adapting, evolving, and progressing as musicians?

A: Not really. No matter how we adapt it’s still all an expression from us as a unit so the sound that existed in 2010 will always be present in some form.

Q: There are endless comments out there from longtime fans being like ‘I’ve been a fan since X, happy these guys are finally getting recognized’, what’s the journey been like to where your band is now and how do your fans fit into the equation?

A: It’s all part of one giant experience. The people at the knights of Columbus hall and the people that come to the shows now are hopefully sharing the same experience just in a different space. It’s a connection between everyone in the room. A release.  

Q: Your music pulls from different genres as it is but if you guys were to make a record within a completely different genre, what would it be?

A: I don’t think we would ever choose an outright genre to pursue. It’s important to us that any creative choices come from a free and borderless headspace. But we are influenced by so many things — house, pop, classical, etcetera. So who knows what might naturally happen!

Q: What’s inspiring you guys right now – in and out of music?

A: We are currently in Europe touring for over a month. So it’s safe to say at least a couple of us are feeling inspired by Euro-beat electronic music and European worker’s cargo pants.

Q: How does your music affect your sense of style / vice versa?

A: I’m not sure if our music and our style are linked necessarily but I do love that everyone in this band is a true individual. We all have preferences for music and style that are unique from one another. And a ton of overlap of course. That’s what keeps things interesting with Turnstile for me. I’m a fan of everyone’s differences.