The Witzard Interview: Rosie Gonce (My Last Line, toyGuitar) Talks Guilty Party's Imposter Syndrome EP Now Available On Paper Street Cuts
Guilty Party is a new Oakland, California-based Pop-punk band consisting of members of Bracket, The Good Life Crisis, toyGuitar, Long Knives, Middle College, and My Last Line. Earlier this summer, Guilty Party rolled out a couple pre-album singles, as well as an adorable animated music video for "Baby Bird." Guilty Party formed in mid-2021, soon signed to Paper Street Cuts, and played their first proper show together in November of 2021. We've known vocalist and guitarist Angelo Celli for a few years now and interviwed him for features here a number of times for Bracket's recent releases. He got us in touch with drummer and vocalist Rosie Gonce, who was kind enough to answer a handful of questions about Guilty Party and their debut four-track EP, Imposter Syndrome.
Check out our interview below, whish has been lightly edited for general clarity. Guilty Party have at least five upcoming California area shows: September 16th at 7:00pm in Oxnard at The Oxnard Performing Arts Center with Fist Fight On Ecstacy, Romper, Crucial Thought & Small Package, September 17th at 8:00pm in San Diego at Kensington Club with Ricky, Se Vende, Hangzz, Yujinb, Tiltwheel & The Hammerbombs, September 28th in San Francisco at The Knockout with Vacation, My Last Line & Loud Graves, October 10th in Sacramento at Cafe Colonial with Bad Cop / Bad Cop & Last Gang, and October 11th at Ivy Room with Bad Cop / Bad Cop & Last Gang. As of today, Guilty Party's Imposter Syndrome is now available digitally on streaming platforms, as well as pink 7-inch vinyl for just $7.00, directly from Paper Street Cuts.
I. Who are the various members of Guilty Party and what is each member's role within the grand scheme of the band?
Rosie Gonce: I (Rosie [Gonce]) play drums and sing back-up vocals. Angelo [Celli] is the singer and plays guitar. Rob [Herrera] plays bass. Angelo writes most of the songs and lyrics and I have helped a little with lyrics and melodies.
II. When, where, and how exactly did Guilty Party form? What's your origin story?
Gonce: Angelo & I met when our bands played together in [San Francisco,] then, we became friends on Instagram. I noticed that Angelo had written some solo stuff and I was wanting to branch out and join some different projects, so I reached out to him and said, if he "ever needed a drummer" that "I was available." He was really receptive and we almost immediately started messaging back-and-forth about making music together. Rob was a friend I made in The Bay Area Punk scene and I knew he had played bass in Long Knives, who weren't active anymore. So, I just asked him if he was interested in playing with us and he said, "yes." So, we started sending each other songs and soon, we were practicing monthly in Oakland.
III. Aside from or in addition to Guilty Party, what other band do/have each or you performed and recorded with?
Gonce: Angelo has been with Bracket for a number of years, although, they aren't very active right now. Rob played in Long Knives and is, also, currently in a band called Middle College. I currently play in another band called My Last Line & toyGuitar. Although, toyGuitar is on hiatus right now (I hope [it] starts back up soon!) In the recent past, I played with a Rock band called Genuine Parts and recorded with them and played tons of shows around Oakland. Before that, I played in numerous bands in LA, most notably The B*tchfits, an all-female Misfits cover band, who I was with for about six years.
IV. How did you come up with the title for your debut album, Imposter Syndrome, and what's the significance behind that incredibly striking album cover image?
Gonce: We, actually, have a personal connection with the artist, known as @moon_patrol on Instagram, and had the opportunity and privilege of picking any piece of his for our record. We picked that one out of all the pieces as one of our favorites. I think it appealed to our mutual sense of humor and the kind of lightness and fun take we have on our band. I noticed that the caption the artist had with this piece was "Imposter Syndrome" and I suggested using that as the album title.
Imposter Syndrome is defined as "the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills." We all identify in our own way with imposter syndrome and have various levels of anxiety and self-consciousness that we battle with as musicians and performers and we instantly knew that it was the perfect title for our first album. We just related to it, but, also, don't take it too seriously. It doesn't hinder our ability to get ourselves out there. So, the playful image, along with the title, captures the tone of our band; using humor to mask (and fend off) our insecurities and a light-heartedness about deep issues.
V. How was Guilty Party's Imposter Syndrome recorded? How did these processes differ from your past experiences within bands?
Gonce: We recorded with [Patrick "Pat" Hills] over at Earth Tone Studios in Sacramento. He was the perfect match for us. He's very laid-back and, also, honest about giving his two cents about how things sound. We were hooked up with him through our record label, Paper Street Cuts, who have successfully used his services in the past. I think for me and Angelo, it was the first time we had more control over everything we recorded.
Bracket, his cousin, [Marti Gregori,] is the main singer/song-writer and definitely had a vision for the sound and the same went with me in toyGuitar, working with Jack [Dalrymple] & Miles [Peck,] who were the song-writers and gave me a lot of direction with my drumming for the songs. This record was, also, a new experience for me vocally doing so many harmonies. I've never done so much singing on a record, so that was a new push for myself. Feels very vulnerable, but, also, I've learned and grown so much musically learning these sophisticated harmonies and looking at my vocals so closely while recording.
VI. Who did the animation for your simply adorable "Baby Bird" music video and what can you tell us about the storyline and concept(s) behind it?
Gonce: I found this animator, Olive Lagace, who did some really cool videos for another local Bay Area band I love, Destroy Boys. I really liked her style and I, also, liked the idea of having a talented artist have her own take on our song and create something inspired by it. The guys agreed and we thought it was the perfect first music video for us. Then, we, also, wouldn't have to do come crappy D.I.Y. lip-synching music video we all really didn't want to do. Olive, also, just animated one for pinkshift, another great up-and-coming band. She was super-easy to work with and we just trusted her vision and she was, also, able to work with our [band's] fund budget. We love how it came out. The song is about parenting and the animation feels like a light take on a really emotional topic. It's a cartoon about birds and yet every parent can relate to it. I love that.
VII. Who would you readily cite as some of your greatest sources of inspiration and influence while making Imposter Syndrome?
Gonce: We all have slightly different tastes in music, but with a lot of overlap. I think what overlaps and has influenced this album is definitely The Muffs and, of course, Bracket (especially, with the style of harmonies.) There is a specific [drum] fill I use in "Baby Bird" that was directly inspired by a band called The OBGMs from their song, "All My Friends." We all love Weezer and I think, sometimes, we channel that laid-back vibe they have. Other than that, it's hard to say. We all listen to so much music all the time. It's hard to pinpoint how they have influenced our playing specifically. Except, maybe, there are bands that we would love to play with, who we listen to a lot so, maybe, subconsciously, we have a sound that is similar, like bands like Mercy Music, Radioactivity, Durry, Bleached, Houseghost, [and] The Muslims, to name a few. And we like to play around and get nostalgic about 90's era Rock and TV theme songs.
VIII. How did you end up initially coming into contact and signing with Paper Street Cuts?
Gonce: We were invited to play a show at a motorcycle shop in Oakland with our friends The Hammerbombs and, also, Slow Draw & Lightweight (both great bands!) After we played, Rob [Green] from The Hammerbombs told us that him and some buddies of his had started a record label and they wanted to have us on it. I've known Rob for years and was so happy to be invited into the Paper Street Cuts family. They've been super-supportive and the other bands they have on there are so great. Rob even came into the studio with us and recorded some shouty back-ups and bought us sandwiches. We feel really lucky to get to work with such good people.
IX. What can fans expect of the vinyl and various physical packaged available for Guilty Party's Imposter Syndrome?
Gonce: We have a unique band photo on the back that we haven't shared on social media yet because we wanted it to be a surprise. It was taken in Old Town Sacramento at a very special place. Also, Bubblegum Pink vinyl!
X. Would you mind telling us a bit about your overall experience working alongside Patrick Hills at Earthtone Studios in Sacramento, California, who singlehandedly recorded, mixed, and mastered Imposter Syndrome?
Gonce: He's a great engineer to work with. He had some key ideas about our record, including suggesting using a tambourine for our ballad. He, also, is comfortable and respectful about giving feedback about certain takes being better than others or when he thinks you can do a better one. That is really essential for a good record. It’s nice to have an outside perspective that can be honest without being a d*ck about it. He was, also, so hospitable and let us crash in the studio and set us up with Horror movies and Mexican food. It was pretty much an ideal recording scenario.
XI. I know this may be a tough one to answer... but what's your personal favorite song from each of your fellow bandmates' outer-Guilty Party projects?
Gonce: I love the song "Talk Show" by Bracket and pretty much the entire Live In A Dive record. I have always particularly been a fan of Long Knives' drummer, Connor Koreski. The song "Normal" really showcases his tasteful, solid drumming and creativity. He now plays with the Gill Brothers Band, which are amazing.
XII. What's planned next for Guilty Party?
Gonce: We want to just keep playing shows and get better and better. We want to put out a full-length next year. We keep writing songs and I'd like to try singing lead vocals for more songs and get better at song-writing myself. We love playing shows with our friends' bands and if we can travel a little here and there to play shows outside of The Bay Area, then, we'd love to do that. And, then, of course, just a simple European tour.
