Following on from the release of their highly-praised studio album 'Interrobang' and subsequent live LP 'Where My Soul Has Been' last year, Michigan-based outfit The American Hotel System are now back for 2023 to unleash their anthemic new single 'Seattle'.
Capturing more of that warm and inviting alt-rock aesthetic they have built for themselves over the years, 'Seattle' makes for a rousing return to form for the five-piece. Filled with bold and cacophonous energy, a soaring atmosphere, and captivating vocals layered throughout, they are returning for the new year with one of their most impactful offerings to date here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with the band's Jacob Betts to find out more about his origins and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Guitar will always be my primary instrument, and my love for music has been lifelong. My grandparents gave me my first guitar for my second birthday and it instantly became my favourite possession.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
While there aren’t any musicians in my family, all of my family members have a deep love of music. For the first few years of my childhood, we listened to almost exclusively 80’s and 90’s country. Garth Brooks was my favourite and I often put on my child size stetson, toy headset microphone, my baby guitar, and asked my parents to blast whatever the nearest Garth CD was so I could pretend like I was performing. A few years later my dad introduced me to 70’s rock and roll through the likes of Queen, The WHO, and Pink Floyd.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Shania Twain’s ‘Come On Over’ on Cassette for my third birthday. I still believe that record is a masterpiece from top to bottom.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Most recently, ‘Beloved’ by Switchfoot. Jon Foreman really captured how I felt over the last three years with the pandemic and cultural divides.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I’ve written at least one lyric line per day for the last seven years. Most of my song ideas come from conversations or books. I’ll hear a phrase or read a line that pings my soul and ignites my creative spark. I’ll open my notes app and write down the first line or two that are running through my mind. I schedule dedicated songwriting time into my week where I filter through the previous week’s ideas. From there, I take the lines or phrases that resonate or captivate me the most and expand them. While I have several songs that have seemed to flow out of the pen, I would say that 90% of my lyrics go through months (and sometimes years) of revision. I’ve learned that taking the time to really sit with the lyrics allows them to grow with me and, ultimately, that has always made for a better song in the end.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Switchfoot, Manchester Orchestra, and The Dear Hunter will always be my favourites. Recently I’ve been on a 90’s alt rock kick with The Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, and Matchbox Twenty – which I think you can really hear on the new stuff we’ve been making.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Switchfoot, Manchester Orchestra, Colony House, or Foo Fighters.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
For me, the most rewarding part of being a musician are the conversations that happen at the merch table after the show or the messages we receive in our DMs from people who connected with one of our songs. I believe that words are some of the most powerful tools we have in life– they can build up kingdoms and burn them down. Having the opportunity to share your life experiences, love, and hope with others through lyrics is incredibly rewarding.
And what is the most frustrating part?
There are the daily frustrations with work-life balance, especially when you’re in the indie or DIY scene trying to be a full time musician while also making a sustainable income. I always say that the highs are the highest and the lows are the lowest. I believe being an artist, in any form, involves a certain degree of frustration; fear, anxiety, and depression run rampant within the music industry and the inner critic seems to always be fighting to take the reins and discourage. These are what Steven Pressfield calls “resistance” in his book ‘The War of Art’. While these frustrations can be incredibly difficult to deal with, I believe they ultimately help artists like myself tap into new depths of creativity and build resistance against adversity.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
For many years I had creative anxiety that I couldn’t make music quickly enough and every day that passed without a new release was a failure. In 2021 and 2022, The American Hotel System had the honour of being top 10 finalists in the LA Music Prize (Viva La Music Prize!) and participated in MPCon where we’d meet and workshop with industry professionals. During one of these sessions, Tom DeSavia from Concord Music told the group “It’s okay to sit on a release and wait for the right time to put it out.” – I walked out of that session feeling a peace I had not felt before. It was a liberating thought that the world won’t end if I don’t meet my own self-imposed deadline…imagine that, haha! It is because of that bit of advice that the band felt the freedom to really pour into this new project to make a record that showcases the best of our capabilities.
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The American Hotel System's new single 'Seattle' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.