An Interview with Dad Bod
Photos by Michelle Max/Photos Courtesy of Dad Bod
Dad Bod is a band toying the line between indie and alternative, presenting themselves as a group of skater kids dressing for success.
Brothers Marcus, Matthew and Michael Marinos, along with their friend Ben Ostler, formed their band only about a year ago but have gained state-wide success from their makeshift home in Provo, Utah. The four found themselves playing in a room one afternoon and the rest was history.
Their brand new album, “After Thought,” was released in September and since then, they’ve played shows all the way up to Rexburg, Idaho. Their first show in Logan issued a new wave of doubts and fears, but the boys came excited to see what the future held.
Starting a band can be a difficult task, especially when you live in an area where many are involved in music. Bands not only have to figure out how to stand out from the rest of the crowd but also how to “get out of town.” That was the daunting task for the Marinos brothers, who, after leaving their religion behind, felt a bit out of place in Utah County.
“There’s a lot of time we have to put into the band,” said Michael Marinos as Ostler strummed a soft melody in the background. “You have to load, drive to gigs, that kind of stuff.”
That doesn’t leave a lot of time for anything else, which is why two of the members went on a temporary pause from school to solely focus on the band.
Luckily, their families and friends were very supportive. In fact, the Marinos’ parents let the band practice in their basement.
Their visit to Logan brought four songs to the Aggie Radio Studio: “Truth,” “After Thought,” “You Never Say Hi” and a brand new one called “For Real.”
It was hard to not feel the camaraderie in the studio, as it was clear each member cared deeply about the others and about the people that helped them grow. They were humble, kind and eager to learn more and grow.
This positive mental attitude carries into their creative process as well, where lead vocalist Michael Marinos said they work “from the beat up.”
“It’s easier to write a melody,” said Michael Marinos, “and so we usually save the vocals for last. Once you have the bones of the song, we can come together and bounce ideas off each other.”
Michael continued by describing his “special spot” for writing songs, which Ostler usually helps him with. Each member has had moments of alone time that have helped form elements for their songs, especially their first full-length debut.
“We had our doubts while working on this,” Michael Marinos said. “It gets tough when you have four creative people with several different ideas. Like I said, it takes time. We all want something we can be happy about.” The process of recording, mixing and mastering takes a long time, but it also has to be something everyone is happy with. If even one person isn’t satisfied, adjustments need to be made.
“Some days we just hunkered down for hours and recorded over and over again until we felt okay about something,” said Michael Marinos. Matthew added that there was a lot of recorded stuff that would probably never even be released.
“Lots of songs go through lots of changes, but it’s a very collaborative process where we can give each other input. Like, ‘Hey, I think this bass riff would fit nicely, so let’s build something,’” said Matthew.
While music is generally written for others to listen to, receiving an audience’s opinion, whether good or bad, can be scary. Dad Bod’s first show in Logan was something to look forward to, but also nerve-wracking.
“We heard a lot about the Cache Venue,” said Matthew, “so we’re excited.”
“I feel like we have a lot of listeners and support up here,” said Michael, “so I’m excited.”
The band was excited to meet people and gain more support from others who might not know who they are. The hope is to make Logan a place Dad Bod can come to and play often, joining the ranks of the boys’ other favorite places.
“Kilby Court is one of my favorite places to play,” said Michael Marinos. Marcus and Matthew Marinos said they loved Urban Lounge and The Velour as well. The dream place to play, said Ostler, was Brooklyn Ball in New York. Some others included Hard Rock Cafe in London and Downtown Disney.
According to the group, Ben Ostler is the “king of memes,” who often sends them the deepest, darkest memes he can find. He also shares memes featuring Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man series. He often keeps them grounded during troubling times, reminding them that maybe life isn’t so bad after all.
You can find Dad Bod on all streaming platforms and social media sites like Instagram. Check out their new album, “After Thought,” on Spotify.
@dillydahle