Seismic-Sound’s Featured New Artist Interview: Luke Messimer of Northern Youth

If you haven’t heard of the name Luke Messimer, there is a good chance you have seen him share the stage in the PNW with The Head and The Heart, Campfire Ok …  amongst others. But more than likely you would have recognized him as a former member of  Bryan John Appleby’s backing band on his latest project “Fire on The Vine“. But like many artists …. Luke felt the need to create, and share is own message; and from what I’ve already heard, I couldn’t be happier that he did. We were able to catch up with him and find out a bit more about Luke himself, his new band Northern Youth, and if he’s coming back to Seattle.

So give us a little insight into who Luke Messimer is about, where you come from?I grew up in Westminster, CA – a smaller city in Orange County. Much like most of Orange County, there’s nothing to do there. It’s just strip mall after strip mall with an endless amount of Walgreens, Subway Sandwich shops, and Starbucks’. Definitely a place where creativity isn’t encouraged or supported. However, my family is awesome and I always had a good group of friends, so it really wasn’t too bad. I went to a small homeschooled group run by BIOLA university. It was at a church in Garden Grove. That’s where I met Kyle Zantos (BJA & Damien Jurado) and Josiah Johnson (The Head and the Heart). It was an interesting experience. 
 
So you’ve abandoned the PNW, why did you leave? 
I didn’t abandon the PNW. I left on tour with BJA, and thru a series of different situations and conversations with people I really respect in music, I decided it was best for me to come to Northern Arizona to live at my families cabin up in the forest. It would give me some time to do some soul-searching, write some music, and save up some money.
 
Are you collaborating with anyone in Seattle from afar? I mean you
probably have a couple talented friends here who’d love to work with
you.
I’m not collaborating with anyone. I’ve been in a lot of bands. It was always some sort of collaboration. I wanted to see what I could do by myself. No influences. No one saying what works and what doesn’t work. Just me making the music I want to make.

 So the song “Broken Minds” completely floored me. You couldn’t punch the
smile off my face while I listened. You have the ability to take two
different genres and make them flow effortlessly, I mean it’s a
brilliant song. Is this the direction of the album? Or is it more along
the lines of “Los Angeles”? Bit more somber and guitar driven.
 
Thank you for saying that! That song means a lot to me. It’s probably one of the most honest things I’ve ever done in my life. I’m trying to do that more. Honesty is a good thing. 
The sound of album is kind of all over the place, but lyrically and melodically, it all ties together. It’s a pop album. No matter what genre specific songs may fall under, the bottom line is that it’s pop. 
 
Whats the timeline for Northern Youths debut?
I’m hoping to release the LP by the end of May, but certain issues with recording have made it a much longer process than planned. It might be June or July. I just really want to make sure that this is he absolute best product I can put out. No short cuts or settling for anything. I want every song to be my best song. I’m being way more picky with this record than anything else I’ve ever done.
 
You coming back to Seattle? 
Yes sir. You can expect me back home by the end of the year with Northern Youth in full force.

Northern Youth– Broken Minds