Self Help

The formation of Self Help was gradual. Self Help was born as a way for guitarist and vocalist John Stych to learn how to record and produce music from his computer. While learning this skill some solid songs came out of it. Eventually, Stych was offered to play a show. He did not want to play by himself so he asked his roommate, drummer Parkins Davis, to play with him. With this first show, Self Help became a duo. Later on, the duo was asked to play a bigger show with a higher production value; this time there was a sound technician and a real stage so the pair decided they needed a bassist. David Murray came in to play and Self Help was then a three piece for a few months. Edward Rojas later came in to play guitar; now Self Help happily plays as a four piece band. 

Stych grew up in a music loving family. His mother played The Beatles in the car. As he got older his brother introduced him to the, mostly, emo bands he liked. “I mainly got introduced to different types of music through the grape vine of my family,” recalled Stych. Rojas’ family is also responsible for his interest in music. After introducing his son to bands of all sub-genres of rock: Green Day, Queen and The Beatles, Rojas’ father taught him how to play guitar. When Murray was a child his parents forced him to join their churches’ choir, with his stolen hymnal he learned to read sheet music. 

Self Help draws inspiration from a vast array of bands from The 1975 to The Beatles to The Cure and Phoebe Bridgers. Whether it’s in an interaction with a stranger or the media they consume, Self Help finds inspiration in their daily lives. The band takes these inspirations and creates a sound that is a fun type of indie rock. 

Self Help is working towards releasing a record. Listeners can expect a more well rounded sound than on their earlier releases. The band played around with new styles and different “sonic ideas” than they have before. While the record will be better and a little bit different the new music will still hold the same sound Self Help have worked so hard to create these last few years.