SuperDime
In Conversation With Evan Sellas
Evan: All right, this is just maybe a conversation.
I had a lot of fun honestly looking into you guys.
I did not know of SuperDime before.
I’ve had "Big Tooth" stuck in my head for the past three days.
It’s awesome.
So yeah, let’s start with basic introductions.
Nolan: I’m Nolan Manke. I play guitar and sing.
I’m from Naperville, still in Naperville,
and I’m just working right now.
Maggie: I’m Maggie Smith. I play lead guitar.
I graduated from DePaul in film but didn’t go into it.
I’m also from Naperville but live in Chicago.
Jeremy: I’m Jeremy Donofrio.
I’m 20 and a junior at Columbia.
I’m also from Naperville.
Jack: I’m Jack Mitchell.
I’m 20 and studying Health Sciences
and Neuroscience at DePaul.
I play drums.
Evan: So tell me about Spinner and the process behind it.
How did you guys come up with it?
Jack: The energy on Spinner was a big focus for us.
The EP has this constant momentum,
like Maggie described it as a horse out of control.
Even when the songs slow down, you can feel everything pushing forward.
That influences how I drum too—I love playing with a lot of energy,
so I break a lot of drumsticks during shows.
It’s worth it, though, because it fits the feel of the EP.
Maggie: Yeah, that chaotic but controlled energy was a
key part of the process. The horse imagery on the cover
fits perfectly because the EP is all about that
sense of movement and momentum.
I think a lot of our writing comes from this urge to push forward,
even when it feels overwhelming.
Nolan: "PCP Dirt Bike" came together unexpectedly.
I was just fiddling with my guitar while we were waiting
to record demos for other songs.
I didn’t plan to write it, but it felt right, so we just went with it.
Moments like that really shaped Spinner.
It’s a lot of spontaneous ideas that clicked into place.
Maggie: Exactly. The spontaneity in the studio was
a big part of our process. There were moments where
one of us would play something out of nowhere,
and we’d all jump in and build off of that.
That’s how a lot of Spinner came together.
Evan: You’ve mentioned your first few gigs a lot.
Can you tell me how your early experiences shaped this EP?
Maggie: Our first gig was at Book Club in 2022.
We didn’t have any music out yet,
but we already felt like we had something special.
We had good turnout, and the energy was just there.
That made us realize we had to keep going.
Every gig after that gave us more confidence.
Jeremy: Yeah, that first show hit capacity in 10 minutes.
It was wild. Even though we were still figuring things out,
we could tell the audience was connecting with us.
Nolan: Our early shows were like a testing ground.
We played some of the Spinner songs live
before we recorded them, and we used those performances to
gauge what worked and what didn’t.
Seeing how the audience reacted helped shape the final versions of the songs.
Jack: For me, I use the audience reaction to adjust my drumming.
If I see people stop moving, I know something’s not working.
That feedback loop has been a big part
of our live performances and studio work.
That’s how a lot of Spinner came together—
it’s about creating that live energy in the recordings.
Evan: What was it like recording Spinner?
How did the studio environment affect the EP?
Nolan: We recorded the entire EP in Maggie’s basement.
It was a DIY setup with borrowed gear and some makeshift soundproofing.
It was definitely challenging, but it added this raw,
authentic feeling to the record.
Maggie: Yeah, we didn’t have a professional studio,
so we had to get creative.
We put comforters on the ceiling to dampen sound
and used duct tape to hold everything together.
It wasn’t ideal, but it worked for us.
That’s part of what made Spinner feel so personal.
Jeremy: It was a learning process.
None of us had engineered a full EP before,
so there were a lot of mistakes along the way, but we figured it out.
The result feels very "us" because we were involved in every part of it.
Jack: The DIY setup made us work together even more closely.
We were constantly problem-solving,
and I think that bond shows in the music.
Spinner is the result of that teamwork.
Evan: How important was it to maintain that raw, live sound on Spinner?
Nolan: It was crucial. We wanted to capture the
energy of our live performances, and that meant keeping things
a bit rough around the edges.
We didn’t want it to sound too polished.
The DIY recording process helped with that because
we couldn’t smooth everything out even if we wanted to.
Maggie: The imperfections are part of the sound.
We could have re-recorded certain parts,
but we chose to leave them in because they felt real.
That’s a big part of what makes Spinner special—
it’s an honest reflection of where we were as a band at that time.
Jeremy: We also tried to make sure the recording
process didn’t take away from the spontaneity of our songwriting.
A lot of the best moments on the EP happened
when we just went with the flow in the studio,
and we didn’t want to lose that energy by over-editing.
Evan: So looking back, how do you feel about Spinner now that it’s out there?
Jack: I’m really proud of it.
It’s a snapshot of where we were at that time,
and it captures everything we wanted it to—energy,
spontaneity, and that live show feel.
Nolan: Same. I feel like Spinner represents
who we are as a band right now.
It’s raw and imperfect, but it’s real.
I think our fans appreciate that honesty.
Maggie: I agree. It was a stressful process, but it was worth it.
We learned so much about ourselves as musicians and as a band.
Spinner is just the beginning, and I’m excited for what comes next.
Evan: So let’s talk about your first EP,
“Do You Remember How We Used to Run?”. I read that that process involved
using borrowed interface, rented microphones,
can you explain that whole process?
Maggie: I found some random place in Lake Forest
where we rented microphones.
I produced the project but had never engineered before or anything.
I did a lot of research.
Nolan: In some ways, as silly as where the title came from,
it does feel very specific to the raw sound
of that first EP and the vibe of it.
Us finally coming back together and forming a
stronger friendship and being able to reminisce
on growing up together in our formative years.
Evan: I was thinking about the title a lot.
Both the title and the music are very reflective on youth.
A lot of the themes of your first EP reminds me
of the themes of Nolan’s short film
that he did in high school, “Exultation”.
Nolan: Wow, no way. Yeah, I’m so happy to be talking about this.
Evan: “Exultation” had no formal rules or structure to it,
just a collage of you and your friends over one summer hanging out.
It remind me of my own youth.
Nolan: Wow, yeah. I’m very much a fan of nostalgia,
and that an idea I had to film my friends for an
entire summer with no script or formality.
I just filmed things as we were doing them randomly
and then put it all together at the end and all
the music from that is scored by songs that I made.
“[It’s]
who we are as a band right now.
It’s raw and imperfect, but it’s real.”
-Nolan Manke, Guitar & Vocals
Evan: So, beyond How We Used to Run and Spinner,
what are some of your musical influences?
Nolan: For me, it’s all over the place.
I love classic rock like The Rolling Stones,
but I also listen to a lot of indie and experimental stuff.
I think you can hear that in the mix on Spinner.
We like to keep things fresh and unpredictable.
Maggie: I’ve always been drawn to punk and grunge—bands like Nirvana,
Sonic Youth, and The Stooges.
That raw energy and emotion are things I try to bring into our music.
Even though our sound has evolved,
those influences are still there.
Jeremy: I’m into a lot of jazz and funk.
I play bass, so naturally,
I look up to guys like Jaco Pastorius and Bootsy Collins.
I like grooves that keep things moving,
and I try to bring that to our music, even if it’s more subtle.
Jack: I’m all about rhythm,
so I listen to everything from hip hop to metal.
Drumming is all about timing and energy,
and I love to explore different beats
and techniques to keep things interesting.
On Spinner, I think you can hear a bit of
everything I’ve been influenced by.
Evan: What’s the songwriting process like for you all?
Do you write together, or is it more of an individual thing?
Maggie: It’s definitely collaborative,
but we each bring different ideas to the table.
Sometimes Nolan or I will have a riff,
and we’ll build around that. Other times,
Jeremy or Jack will start a groove,
and the rest of us will jam until it clicks.
It’s a very organic process.
Nolan: Yeah, there’s no strict formula.
Some songs come together in a couple of days,
and others take weeks or months.
We’re always tweaking things and pushing each other to try new ideas.
That’s how we keep things fresh.
Jack: I feel like we work best when we’re just vibing together.
Some of the best parts of Spinner came from us
just messing around during practice.
When we’re all in sync, that’s when the magic happens.
Jeremy: And it’s always evolving.
We’ve changed a lot as a band,
and I think that shows in our music.
We’re more comfortable with each other now,
and that makes the writing process smoother and more fun.
“We don’t want to get stuck in a formula.
Every project is an opportunity to explore something new.”
-Maggie Smith, Lead Guitar
Evan: So it sounds like your songwriting process is very fluid.
How do you know when a song is finished?
Maggie: Honestly, sometimes we don’t! (laughs)
There are songs on Spinner that could have gone
in different directions if we had more time or resources.
But at some point, you just have to say, “This is it.”
It’s more about capturing the feeling of the moment than perfection.
Nolan: Yeah, I agree. A song is never really finished.
You could keep tweaking it forever,
but we try to keep that live energy in the recordings.
Once we feel like we’ve captured that, we know it’s time to move on.
Jeremy: The energy is what makes it real.
I think that’s why our live shows are so important to us.
It’s where the music really comes to life.
The recordings are just a snapshot of where we were at the time.
Jack: And live shows are where we can experiment.
Sometimes we’ll play a song one way in the studio,
but then we’ll change it up live.
It keeps things interesting for us and the audience.
Evan: Amazing, What’s been the most memorable moment for SuperDime so far?
Maggie: For me, it was the first time we sold out a show.
That was huge. We had been playing small venues,
and suddenly, people were showing up early and packing the place.
It made us realize that we were doing something right.
Nolan: Yeah, that show was a turning point.
We started to see the fanbase growing,
and that gave us more confidence to take risks with our music.
It was like, “Okay, people are into this, so let’s keep pushing ourselves.”
Jeremy: For me, it’s always the moments when I
look out at the crowd and see people singing along to our songs.
That never gets old. It’s wild to think that something we created
in a basement has connected with so many people.
Jack: I think for all of us, it’s about the connection with the fans.
We put everything we have into our music,
and when that energy is reflected back at us during a show,
it’s an incredible feeling. It makes all the hard work worth it.
“There’s a lot more to being in a band than just playing music…”
-Jack Mitchell, Drums
Evan: We’ve spoken about Spinner a lot, but what’s next for SuperDime?
Are you working on new material?
Nolan: Definitely. We’re always writing,
and we’ve got a lot of new material we’re excited about.
I think the next project will be even more experimental than Spinner.
We’re pushing ourselves to try new things and keep evolving as a band.
Maggie: Yeah, we don’t want to get stuck in a formula.
Every project is an opportunity to explore something new.
We’re already working on a few tracks that are
completely different from what we’ve done before.
It’s exciting to see where it goes.
Jeremy: We’re also thinking about how we can bring that
new material to life in our live shows.
We’ve always focused on creating a live experience
that’s high energy and unpredictable,
and we want to keep pushing that.
Jack: The next project will definitely be an evolution of our sound.
We’re always growing and learning as musicians,
and I think our next release will reflect that.
Evan: What advice would you give to up-and-coming
bands who are trying to find their sound?
Nolan: I’d say don’t be afraid to experiment.
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to fit into
a certain genre or sound like other bands,
but the best music comes from taking risks and finding your own voice.
Maggie: I’d add that you have to be willing to fail.
Not every idea is going to work,
but you learn from those mistakes.
The key is to keep pushing forward and not get discouraged.
Jeremy: And stay true to yourself. There’s a lot of pressure to conform,
especially in the music industry,
but the bands that stand out are the ones that are authentic.
Jack: Practice, practice, practice.
There’s no shortcut to becoming a great band.
You have to put in the time,
play as much as you can, and keep honing your craft.
Evan: How has the band evolved since you first started?
Maggie: When we first started, we were all over the place.
We were trying to find our sound and figure out
how we fit together as a group.
Over time, we’ve gotten a lot more comfortable
with each other musically, and I think that shows in the music.
Spinner is a reflection of that growth.
Nolan: Yeah, in the beginning, we were just happy to be playing music.
We weren’t really thinking about the bigger picture.
Now, we’re more focused on where we want to go
as a band and what we want to say with our music.
Jeremy: I think we’ve also learned a lot about how to work together.
In the early days, there were a lot of disagreements about
the direction we should take. But now, we’re more in sync,
and we trust each other’s instincts more.
Jack: We’ve also gotten better at navigating the music industry.
There’s a lot more to being in a band than just playing music,
and we’ve had to learn how to handle the business side of things.
It’s been a steep learning curve, but we’re getting there.
Evan: That amazing. You’ve mentioned the live energy a lot.
How do you keep that energy up?
Maggie: It’s tough, but it’s all about feeding off the crowd.
Every show is different, and the energy from the audience really fuels us.
Even if we’re tired or things aren’t going perfectly,
the crowd gives us that boost we need to keep going.
Nolan: Yeah, some nights are harder than others,
but once you’re on stage, it’s like flipping a switch.
The adrenaline kicks in, and everything else fades away.
You just focus on the music and the crowd,
and that’s what keeps the energy going.
Jeremy: We also try to mix things up every show.
Even if we’re playing the same songs,
we’ll change things up a little to keep it fresh.
That way, we’re not just going through the motions,
and the audience gets something unique every night.
Jack: It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s also part of the fun.
It’s exhausting, but it’s also the best feeling in the
world when you’re on stage and everything’s clicking.
That’s what keeps us going.
Evan: What’s the most challenging part of being in a band?
Maggie: I think the hardest part is balancing everything.
We’re all really passionate about the music,
but we also have other responsibilities—
jobs, school. It’s hard to juggle all of that and still give 100% to the band.
Nolan: Yeah, time management is a big challenge.
There are only so many hours in the day,
and sometimes it feels like there’s never
enough time to get everything done. But we make it
work because we love what we do.
Jeremy: For me, it’s the business side of things.
I love playing music, but dealing with all the logistical
stuff can be really overwhelming. We’re lucky to have a
good support system, but it’s still a lot to handle.
Jack: I’d say the toughest part is staying motivated
when things aren’t going well. There are times when it feels
like we’re not making progress, and it’s easy to get discouraged.
But we’ve learned to push through those moments and keep going.
“[I] want people to feel the energy.
We put a lot of ourselves into our music,
and I hope that comes through…”
-Jeremy Donofrio, Bass
Evan: What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a band?
Maggie: Patience. Things don’t always happen as
quickly as you want them to, but you have to keep working at
it and trust the process. Success doesn’t happen overnight,
and we’ve learned that it takes time to build something meaningful.
Nolan: I’d say teamwork. Being in a band is like being in a relationship—
it takes communication, compromise, and trust.
We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’ve learned
to work together and support each other.
Evan: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
Maggie: There are definitely things we could have done differently,
but I try not to dwell on that too much.
Every mistake we’ve made has been a learning experience,
and it’s all part of the journey.
If we hadn’t made those mistakes, we wouldn’t be where we are now.
Nolan: Yeah, I think everything happens for a reason.
We’ve had some setbacks, but they’ve only made us stronger.
I don’t think I would change anything, because it’s all led us to this point.
Jeremy: I agree. It’s easy to look back and think
about what could have been,
but I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.
We’ve worked hard to get here, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Jack: I wouldn’t do anything differently either.
Every challenge we’ve faced has taught us something,
and it’s made us a better band.
We’ve learned and grown from every experience,
and I think that’s what matters most.
Evan: It sounds like you’re all really in sync when it comes to making music.
Has it always been that way, or did it take time to find that rhythm as a band?
Maggie: It definitely took time. When we first started,
we were all still figuring each other out musically.
Nolan: Yeah, I think we all came into the band with our own
ideas of what we wanted to sound like,
and it took a while for us to figure out how
to blend those influences into something cohesive.
Jack: And I think we’ve gotten a lot better at communicating.
If someone has an idea, we’re all open to hearing it and trying it out.
We don’t take things personally if something doesn’t work.
It’s all about finding the best ideas and building on them.
Evan: Do you feel like your sound has changed since you started,
or do you think you’ve stayed true to the original vision?
Maggie: I think our sound has definitely evolved.
When we first started, we were experimenting a
lot and trying to figure out what worked.
But now we have a much clearer sense of who
we are as a band and what we want to say with our music.
Nolan: Yeah, our sound has definitely grown.
We’ve always been about blending different genres and influences,
but I think we’ve gotten better at making those elements work together.
Jeremy: I think we’ve stayed true to the core of what makes us SuperDime,
but we’ve also allowed ourselves to evolve.
We’re not afraid to take risks and try new things,
but at the end of the day, it’s still us.
Evan: What do you hope people take away from your music?
Is there a message or feeling you’re trying to convey?
Maggie: For me, it’s all about connection.
Music is such a powerful way to connect with people,
and I hope our songs resonate with people on a deeper level.
Nolan: Yeah, I think we all want to make music
that people can relate to.
Our songs are often about personal experiences,
but we try to write them in a way that feels universal.
If someone can listen to one of our songs and
feel like we’re speaking to something
they’ve gone through, that’s the ultimate goal.
Jeremy: I also think we want people to feel the energy.
We put a lot of ourselves into our music,
and I hope that comes through when people listen to it.
Jack: I agree. It’s all about creating a shared experience.
Music has the power to bring people together,
and I think that’s one of the reasons we do this—
to create something that people can connect to and feel a part of.
Evan: So what do you guys think about the stereotype
of musicians have to be experimenting with or using
any subtances for live performances or recording?
Jack: I think it’s a tired stereotype.
Frank Zappa is arguably one of the most impressive songwriters ever.
The amount of output from him, the creativity,
the boundary pushing, and he didn’t even
want his musicians to smoke and drink.
I think art is good when it comes from what’s within.
And you don’t need substances to channel that.
Jeremy: Yes, Pink Floyd, The Beatles,
all those bands took psychedelics to create some weird,
boundary-pushing stuff, but I would argue
that art was already within them.
Nolan: I feel like the older I get, the more I appreciate
just living in the moment and benign there fully.
It’s just a personal preference, though.
Maggie: We’ve played with bands before
who get blackout drunk before the shows and
just don’t give it their all for their fans at live shows.
We just want to avoid that.
Evan: That’s a really powerful.
So, what’s next for SuperDime?
Where do you see yourselves in the next few years?
Maggie: We’ve got a lot of plans. We’re working on new material,
and thinking about ways to keep pushing ourselves musically.
I think the next few years are going to be really exciting for us as a band.
Nolan: Yeah, we’re not slowing down anytime soon.
We’re always writing, always experimenting,
and always looking for ways to grow.
I think our next project is going to take us in a new direction,
and I’m excited to see where it leads.
Jeremy: I think the key for us is to keep evolving.
We don’t want to get comfortable or stuck in a routine.
We’re always looking for new challenges and ways to push ourselves,
both as musicians and as a band.
Jack: In the next few years, I hope we’re still
making music that excites us and connects with people.
Whether we’re playing small venues or big festivals,
the most important thing is that we’re still creating and sharing our music with the world.
Evan: Do you guys have any last thoughts?
Maggie: We just want to say thank you.
The support we’ve received has been incredible,
and we’re so grateful to everyone who has listened to our music,
come to our shows, and been part of this journey with us.
Nolan:We’re excited for what’s next,
and we can’t wait to share more music with everyone.
Jeremy: I just want to say that we’re really proud of
Spinner and we hope people continue to enjoy it.
We’re working on new music,
and we can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.
Jack: Thank you to everyone who has supported us.
We’re just getting started, and we’re excited for what the future holds.
Evan: Thanks so much for talking with me today.
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you guys.
Best of luck with everything you’ve got coming up!
Maggie: Thank you! It was great talking with you.
Nolan: Yeah, thanks so much!
Jeremy: Thanks!
Jack: Thanks, Evan. This was fun!
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