California Pop Punk Trio Promotive Talk New music video

Pop Punk trio Promotive is here to reignite 2000’s emo culture. Hailing from sunny Southern California the band radiates scene nostalgia in the vein of Hawthorne HeightsJimmy Eat World, and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.  With the release of Promotive‘s latest single “In My Head” we linked up with Jacob Ortiz to get the scoop on their new music video.

Jacob Ortiz (Guitar, Vocals) / @ortizsensei
A.J. Padilla (Bass, Vocals) / @saterfoo
Mel Torres (Drums) / @iwakeuptosleep

Promotive really nails that early 2000s Warped Tour aesthetic. Were there any specific bands that inspired the band’s sound?

Oh definitely! We all grew up with Warped Tour (AJ even had a chance to play on Warped with an old band of his), so it was only natural that its influence would find its way into our sound. I would definitely say bands like Silverstein, All Time Low, and Mayday Parade were a huge influence in shaping the sound of this band, as well as some more recent bands like With Confidence or State Champs.

Where did the name promotive come from?

AJ and I had actually originally planned to market under a different name, The Post Credit Scene. However, at the time, we were working with our good friend, Lee Jennings (The Funeral Portrait), and he had actually suggested that we consider a simpler, catchier name. Something that better reflected our sound and image. So after some more brainstorming, we eventually landed on Promotive. I think it really nails the idea of the band, which is just to share a positive message and to show that good things can come from even the worst of situations.

I love the new music video for “In My Head”. Can you tell us about how the song and video came about?

So the song is basically about a time in my life where I was head over heels for this girl who didn’t really feel the same way. However, whenever I would try to distance myself, she would always want to be close to me and want me to stick around. It was an interesting time in my life, to say the least (laughs). I usually like to compare it to Jim and Pam’s relationship in The Office.

When it came to the video, we wanted to capture the feeling of being rejected while at the same time having fun with it. One of my favorite moments in the video is when my character visits the girl to show her his dog, and she ends up stealing the dog.

Both the song and video were both ideas I’ve had in my back pocket for quite a few years, so it was super humbling to not only see how much time and love that everyone involved put into this song/video, but also how well it’s been received. It’s awesome!

How has being on lockdown in California had an effect on the band’s writing and plans?

It’s been a bummer not to be able to actually meet up with the dudes, that’s for sure. At the same time though, it’s been a good time for all of us individually to hone in and really grow in areas that we’ve needed to. For example, AJ has been working a lot at his production skills and even taking lessons to really grow as a musician, which I think is awesome! No matter your skill level, there’s always room to grow and improve.

What have you guys been doing to pass the time in quarantine?

Lots of video games (laughs). Mel has been doing a lot of streaming with his girlfriend, and I recently got a Playstation 4 (I know, barely), so AJ and I have been playing a lot of Call of Duty and Rocket League with our buddies. Aside from that, though, we’re all still writing music separately to keep the creative juices flowing.

If Promotive could collaborate with anyone who would it be and why?

I don’t know about the other dudes, but me personally, I would love to collaborate with Aaron Gillespie (Underoath, The Almost). He’s a guy that has been a big inspiration to me, both as a musician and as a human being. I’ve always resonated with him and his beliefs, as well as the way he chooses to express and practice said beliefs. Not to mention he’s a phenomenal songwriter. So yeah, I definitely would love to have a chance to work with him someday. I’d also love a chance to work with Shane Told (Silverstein), for the same reason that he and his band have played a huge role in shaping who I am today as a musician.

Can you tell us about what’s next for the band?

Lots of new music in the works, that’s for sure! We have A LOT of material that’s pretty much ready to go, and we’ve been spending a lot of time this quarantine really narrowing down the songs that best represent us as a band. So definitely more music coming sooner than later. Aside from that, just continuing to build ourselves individually and as a band.

Is there anything else you want to say to the readers of By The Barricade?

Make sure to check out our latest single “In My Head” wherever you get your music! And make sure you guys stay safe during this quarantine and during this season of our lives! Stand up for what you believe in, stand against injustice, and let’s continue to make our world and our community a better place.

You can hear the latest from Promotive on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or Spotify.