From cutesy bubble pop to manicured dirty indie: The Hacks discuss what pushed them to make the shift and how they navigated their way out of the big machine by Riley Reynolds It’s an early afternoon on a sunny Saturday. Summer in LA is hitting hard, relieved only by the Santa Monica sea breeze that occasionally hits the outdoor table where I’m sat waiting for the last of the Hackley siblings — Tyler is thirty minutes late. I can tell this is standard behavior by how the oldest brother and band’s guitarist Todd jokes about the lead singer operating by his own timezone. I can also tell Tristan, the youngest drummer to play in a commercial record ever, doesn’t find it funny at all as he fumbles with a thousand and one wristbands that almost completely cover his right forearm. His shaggy hair and beachy outfit are a stark contrast to his brother’s formal button-down shirt and dress pants. At first glance, you wouldn’t say they’re in a band together. But when the missing brother finally arrives — in a black leather jacket and long hair tied in a low ponytail — they strangely make sense as a unit. “Traffic at 405 is always a nightmare. I hate this city,” Tyler declares as he sits down in-between his brothers, still clutching a cup of coffee. Todd laughs while Tristan rolls his eyes at me — and here you have the entire band’s dynamic in a nutshell. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
Let’s talk about creativity! More specifically, the book that kind of changed my whole perspective on it. This book itself is magic. It takes many of the ideas long associated with creativity and making art and offers a new way of seeing them — a lighter, more pleasurable, achievable way. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
In the beginning of the year, I set myself a goal to write 150 thousand words. This week, I reached the 75 thousand mark, which means I’m halfway there — right on schedule! Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.
That magic month every year in which we can all become our true selves. I mean, mermaids. That would be mermaids, in case you were wondering. Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.