Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with TWIN XL

In late 2018, Cameron Walker-Wright (vocals) and brothers Stephen (bass) and John Gomez (guitar) came together for a casual songwriting session in Los Angeles. Little did they know, it would be the start of something special. In under a year, the dynamic alt-pop trio have generated over two million streams and tour alongside the likes of The Maine, The Mowgli’s, and Jukebox The Ghost. They’ve received praise from publications including Nylon, Alternative Press, MTV News, and Substream Magazine, and recently dropped their debut EP, How To Talk To Strangers. Pop Culturalist caught up with vocalist Cameron Walker-Wright to chat about the release and their current tour with The Maine.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Cameron: When I was really young, I remember my mom playing old Beatles and Beach Boys records. I think that was when I realized that I wanted to figure out how to write songs.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Cameron: I’ve always looked up to artists like Ryan Tedder and Jack Antonoff. They’ve not only had success with their own music, but also played a big role in helping other artists create as well.

PC: What’s been the biggest thing you’ve applied from your previous musical endeavors to TWIN XL?
Cameron: To be honest, I’m not sure! This project feels very different from anything else I’ve ever been a part of. There is this sort of aura of excitement around everything we do; we are very passionate about this band. Whether we are in the studio, shooting a video, or preparing for our live shows, it always feels like everyone is very involved and wants to be there. Our experiences in previous projects have helped us make the right decisions for this one.

PC: TWIN XL marks a new sound and chapter in your musical career. As a band, how important was it to make that distinction?
Cameron: When we started writing the songs for the EP, we were writing without a specific destination for them. We had no plans to start an actual band together. I feel that we were just writing what came naturally to us at the time and we weren’t overthinking it too much.

PC: If you had to pick one song off your EP that best encompasses you all as a band, what would it be and why?
Cameron: I would go with “Don’t Wake Me, I’m Still Dreaming”. It’s about growing up but desperately trying to hold on to the way you saw the world when you were younger. I think at the heart of it, we are just three emo boys who won’t quit following our dreams.

PC: You spent a year putting together How To Talk To Strangers. What was the biggest takeaway from that experience? What’s one thing you learned about each other that you didn’t know before working on the EP?
Cameron: One of the coolest things about this band is how seamlessly everyone has fallen into their roles. I feel like our skill sets are quite different from one another. I love how well John and Stephen complement each other in the studio and on stage. It’s a very cool thing to see.

PC: You’re on tour with The Maine. What can fans expect when they head to a TWIN XL show?
Cameron: We essentially take what we did on the EP and bring that to the next level with our live show. We have some new production stuff we are taking out for this tour. It’s going to be awesome and we are really excited!

PC: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Cameron: I do vocal warm-ups for about 15-20 minutes followed by one whiskey or tequila drink to loosen up a bit. Then, I jump up and down a bunch and do some stretches to get my adrenaline going. We are usually all together about 20 minutes before we go to stage.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Cameron: The Backstreet Boys

PC: First album you bought?
Cameron: Smash Mouth—Astro Lounge

PC: First concert you attended?
Cameron: Blink-182

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Cameron: Blink-182—Enema of the State. It was the perfect bridge between rock and pop.

PC: Someone you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
Cameron: Robert Smith of The Cure

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Cameron: Madison Square Garden

PC: A must-have on the road?
Cameron: Nintendo Switch

To keep up with TWIN XL, follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Pick up or stream How To Talk To Strangers on Amazon Music, iTunes, or Spotify.

Photo Credit: KayKay Blaisdell