Pop-Culturalist.com

Sibling trio We Three gained notoriety after auditioning with their original song, “Heaven’s Not Too Far”, on America’s Got Talent. A dedication to their late mother, the performance showed off the band’s ability to create emotionally poignant lyrics that strike listeners at their core. As they continue to grow and evolve as artists, they’ve stayed true to their roots and proven that they’re not afraid to tackle topics that many wouldn’t, evident in their latest offering, We’re All Messed up—but It’s Ok. Pop Culturalist caught up with bassist Bethany (Humlie) Blanchard to chat about the EP.

PC: In the past year, you all have released your self-titled debut album, headlined your first tour, and now have a new EP out. Have you had a chance to reflect on all you’ve accomplished? What’s been the biggest change for the group?
Bethany: That’s a great question. We’re always go, go, go. We’re not workaholics, but we’re always pushing ourselves. Sometimes, it’s hard to look back and take everything in. The last year feels like three years in one. We’re almost coming up on a year since our last tour, which is crazy—it’s surreal. We’re definitely loving every moment, and I’d say the biggest change for us is that now writing, recording, producing, and performing is our full-time job, which is insane.

PC: We’re All Messed up—but It’s Ok tackles a lot of heavy themes. Does that change the creative process or the weight of the project?
Bethany: 100%. We like to say that the songwriting and song selection is very organic for us. Any time we had too many people forcing a direction, we’ve always said no. We really like to trust the process. We had two songs down for the EP, and then “Sara” came along, and that’s when we realized the direction that the EP had taken without us intentionally doing that. The songs deal with heavy topics like mental health.

The title of the EP came from a lyric in “Machine”. We feel like it encompasses what people have appreciated about us, which is that we talk about things that people are afraid to talk about or don’t know how to talk about. We decided we don’t want to be afraid to say stuff that’s hard to talk about. We were nervous, but the response has been more than anything we could have asked for.

Manny is our main songwriter, and he writes from where he’s at in the moment. You can tell what he’s going through with the songs that are coming out. It’s an invitation for people to go into his head, which is pretty vulnerable and scary. For him, it’s what he does; it’s what he knows how to do.

“Sara” was a specific song where he stepped into somebody else’s shoes. He wanted to write about someone else’s experience. It’s interesting to look back at all the songs and see what came from a moment—after all, they’re a reflection of what’s going on in the moment”. We don’t try to force topics or force things; we just let them happen.

PC: The first single off the EP is about embracing your individuality, which is an important lesson for anyone. When did you personally learn that?
Bethany: Oh gosh, that’s such a great question. I’m still learning! In the last couple of years, I’ve learned that I don’t need to compare myself to anyone else. I don’t need to try to be like anybody else. It’s easy to say, but when you really believe it, it changes your perspective on life. It changes what you’re doing and your motivation behind it.

I realize I don’t need to compete with anyone, I just need to do what I do. It’s about working hard and being humble. In the past year, I’ve stopped comparing and competing. Instead, I’m coexisting with people. When you cheer them on, they’ll cheer you on, too.

PC: You all have teased that you’re working on some new music. How much do the previous releases impact this next set of songs that you’re working on?
Bethany: I think a lot. I think we’re getting more comfortable and honing in on how we want to communicate and what we want to communicate. We’re stoked about this next project—it’s the next stage of where we are and where we’re heading.

PC: You’ve released a really successful album and EP. Does that add pressure to the next release? How do you all deal with the pressure?
Bethany: There’s pressure from all angles. I think what we’re learning is that it’s never going to go away no matter where we are or where we’re going; we just have to choose how to live with it. People are always going to say make or break, this is your shot, and all that stuff, but honestly, we’ll never stop making music. I think we’re at the point where we know the pressure will be there and we just need to get comfortable with it.

To keep up with We Three, follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Pick up or stream We’re All Messed up—but It’s Ok on Amazon Music, iTunes, or Spotify.