Music exists to instill feelings, to raise emotions, and in these tough times to help in any way it can. With this philosophy, The Inventors are using their new EP to raise funds for the service industry. All the proceeds from the sales of their record will be donated to businesses listed on chicagoservicerelief.com. The purchaser can even pick where their payment will go. We caught up with vocalist/guitarist Joe Mango to talk about this decision, the lyrical trends of the new tunes, and how spreading positive vibes is a way musicians can help during these trying days.

JM: Joe Mango

Your new EP Alone Together was released to raise money for businesses off the chicagoservicerelief.com list. In this time of the unknown, where many musicians are hustling for their own dollar, you are dedicating all the money raised from sales of the EP to the industry. What drives this choice?

JM: The Inventors have always taken whatever we have earned and put it back into the band, paying for shirts, recording etc. We realized that no matter how bad things get, we would still be a band. Some local businesses don't have that same sense of security. The songs were about ready for release and we planned to roll them out slowly and promote them heavily, but we saw the opportunity to raise some money for those in need. We've seen other bands do releases like this and it seemed like the right thing to do. Also, people need music to listen to at a time like this. So if you're low on money, the EP is also available to listen to on bandcamp for free.

The sound you are fostering rides the rails between punk/emo and 00's indie rock. What are some influences that foster the sonic vibe you embody?

JM: This list can be very long and lacking focus. We all have our individual influences, of course, and nothing is shot down when writing and arranging. Nick, Ray and I have been playing music together since we were about 15 or 16. We bonded over a love of classic rock, 90s "grunge" bands and mostly Red Hot Chili Peppers. We've grown our musical taste together since then, expanding to all reaches of the sonic-sphere. When we met Tommy, he fit like a glove and we hit the ground running. All that to say, there isn't anything specific in mind when we write, but a few off the top of my head are Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Arcade Fire, Neko Case, The Hold Steady, The National, St. Vincent, The Beatles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Talking Heads and Tom Petty.

When were these tracks recorded, where did you lay them down, and who produced?

JM: Alone Together was recorded in October 2019 at Chuck's Vegetable Stand in Antioch, IL. It was recorded, mixed and mastered by Ben Standage, who is just a great fellow.

You end the message on bandcamp with the words "Stay safe, stay positive, and be kind to one another." Why are these words more important now than ever before?

JM: The world is crazy right now. People are on edge and scared. The only thing we can do to combat that is spread positivity. We have to get through this one way or another. I'd rather do it with love and compassion instead of fear and selfishness.

The lead track "Wild & Free" is an opposite approach than most rock songs, taking the position that age and wisdom is better than youth and being care free. Are we reading it wrong?

JM: I think a lot of those nostalgia songs only look back at the good times. When I was young, I never felt like I belonged anywhere. I wanted to be older or taller or cooler or richer or whatever. Most of those feelings aren't gone, but there are major differences now. I am in a band with my best friends. We get to write songs and show them to the world. When I think of being a kid, I think of wanting to be in a band with guys like Tommy, Ray and Nick. Why would I want to go back to being alone with a stack of burnt CDs when I can be in a band and make music with my best friends? Life is much cooler now.

Closer "Short Term Goals" runs through a list of desires and ambitions; and then hits with "I don't relate to you anymore." Is this to a friend or lover, or a generational divide at large?

JM: It's intentionally vague. It's partly a song about breaking up with a lover, partly a song about breaking up with the former version of yourself. The person in this song could be singing that line to a picture of a lover or to a mirror. I never considered the generational divide, but I really like that. I'm sure that's in there a bit, as I feel older everyday.

What's the dream first show you would love to play when this is all over?

JM: Anything! We haven't been practicing during all of this, so I'm missing every part of playing with others. We took some time off before everything and were just about to start playing shows again. Then this virus started to spread. I can speak for all of us when I say we just want to play.