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Smallpools

Smallpools

4:22·By Gemma G
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Get a sneak preview to our new series Backstage Diaries with Smallpools! We hang out with indie pop group Smallpools at SXSW in Austin, Texas, where they share with us how they first came together, the strangest shows they've ever played, and how they reacted when they first heard their single "Dreaming" on the radio! Plus, they reveal the meaning behind the song's lyrics!

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The first time our song played on the radio was in Los Angeles, it played on KROQ and Mike had just gotten to his car. Well luckily, I was running late to rehearsal, he was running even farther behind and I called him and I was like, I think it's our song, I can't tell, I turned off my phone. He's like, I got to call somebody, I think he called, he's like call Shawn and Shawn, I didn't care. We're on KROQ and Shawn's like, cool. And I'm like, alright let me call someone who cares. Bo. We got no place to go. Caught up in the radio. Oh no please God tell me we're dreaming. We've got nowhere to run. They've got loaded guns. Oh no please God tell me we're dreaming.

Oh no please God tell me we're dreaming. Hey what's up guys? We're Smallpools. Welcome to our Young Hollywood backstage diaries. What's up? We're here on 6th Street, South by Southwest, Smallpools is hanging out. Joe and I were walking and now we're here and we're going into this place, it's crazy. It's so crazy. Video games off the hook. Anything you want, right here. We got pool, games of pool happening, bands playing. Golden Tee. Too bad I didn't put any quarters in. I don't agree with this at all, but I'm playing it. I actually met Mike first in South by. In 2007 we had old Myspace bands that were kind of touring together and we just stayed in contact.

He lived in Jersey, I lived in New York and we kept jamming together and writing songs and then we moved to Los Angeles about three and a half years ago, met Joe through my cousin who's another musician and then Joe brought Bo into the mix, they're both from Oregon. We just got in a room and it was good chemistry so we decided to take this thing you know, for real. We got no place to go. He we've been locked together. Together. Like we were something more. The lyrics, um they're really great.

Um I I it's my good friend who wrote 'em and uh everything is kind of coming down on you like even when you're in a dream and you're like falling off a cliff or something and it's like how can this actually be real? And you just want to like get out of it. The worst thing's happening but then you wake up and you're like holy crap. My feeling of that moment is like the moment in like those Adam Sandler movies where it's like 20 minutes left and it all kind of falls apart and he needs to like figure out how to put it all back together. It's like that moment. What's up guys? We are Smallpools. Thank you for watching our Young Hollywood backstage diaries. Until next time.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Mike

    Smallpools band member, met in South by

  • Shawn

    Friend called when song played on radio

  • Bo

    Smallpools band member from Oregon

  • Joe

    Smallpools band member from Oregon, brought in by cousin

  • Adam Sandler

    Movies referenced for song meaning

FAQ

What is the band Smallpools known for?+
Smallpools is an indie pop group known for their single "Dreaming."
Where did Smallpools first meet?+
Mike and a band member first met at South by Southwest in 2007 through old Myspace bands, while Joe and Bo are both from Oregon and joined the group later.
What is the meaning behind Smallpools' song 'Dreaming'?+
The lyrics for "Dreaming" describe the feeling of everything falling apart, like in a dream where you're falling, and wanting to escape it, similar to a moment in Adam Sandler movies where things go wrong before being fixed.
How did Smallpools react to hearing their song on the radio for the first time?+
A band member was late for rehearsal and heard their song, "Dreaming," playing on KROQ in Los Angeles, prompting them to call Mike who was also running late.

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