Afloat is an alternative rock/emo band based out of South Jersey. After meeting in college, Gabby Relos (lead vocals, guitar) and Josh Rubeo (bass) formed Afloat and released their first EP in August of 2018. I originally found Afloat through a Start-track playlist that featured “Mouth Shut,” the first single from Where I Stand. I was immediately pulled in by both Gabby and Josh’s vocals, which at first reminded me of the band Thank You, I’m Sorry. Nearly a year later, I was able to see Afloat play live at Fauxchella, an annual festival organized by Summit Shack in Bowling Green, Ohio. They kicked off their set with “Crash,” wasting no time filling the room with an energy they maintained throughout a technically impressive and dynamic performance.
The band is now celebrating the one-year anniversary of their EP Where I Stand, released September 15, 2023 via Sinking Ship Records. The album was created alongside Christian Cortez and William McCory, produced/mixed by Nick Starrantino, and mastered by Pierce Johnston. Lyrically and compositionally brilliant, the catchy EP takes you through the emotional toll of choosing to leave a soured situation.
Where I Stand opens with Gabby singing, “Never felt quite right to say goodbye.” The lyrics, “grief is the cost to call you mine” later in the song largely set the tone for the EP as a whole. This theme continues with “Crash,” a heavier track whose intensity is fueled with Christian Cortez’s complimentary vocals. The following track “Through My Veins” holds some of my favorite lyrics on the EP, “Who I could’ve been feels let down again,” that continue to weigh the damage of staying in a place it would be better to leave.
The penultimate track “Mouth Shut” continues to dance with the idea of leaving somewhere you’re tired of being, though in a much more biting tone compared to the earlier tracks. “Stand,” the final and what I find to be the sharpest track, offers closure to the ache of the first line with the repeated final lyric, “Goodbye.”
I had a fantastic time talking with Gabby and Josh about the one-year anniversary of Where I Stand. You can read the interview below, slightly edited for brevity and clarity.
K: So “Mouth Shut” just hit its one year anniversary. That’s exciting!
Gabby: Yeah, I can’t believe it’s been a year! I feel like I lived a whole other life since that came out. I think we did.
Josh: We did. It has been that much.
K: What’s it been like since you released [Where I Stand]?
G: It’s been fun. I feel like we’ve had a lot of things happen that we kind of just rolled with. I think it definitely put us in a better place with people who have listened to us before, and I feel like we’ve gotten a lot of new people that are like, “Oh my god, this is my favorite song off the EP!” And people actually singing it too has been kind of cool. That’s never happened.
J: Yeah, that’s the first time we’ve experienced that.
G: And [Fauxchella] was really cool. I was happy we got it. I think it really, not put us on a map, but kind of into that realm. Because I feel like it was a lot of, from my perspective, bands on Twitter that talk to each other all the time and are always playing shows, especially the Midwest. Me and Josh were talking about the Midwest scene. It is so different from where we’re at. And everyone’s just so about each other’s project, like there’s such a big community. So I feel like it kind of put us on the radar for anyone trying to come East Coast, because we live right outside of Philly in Jersey, so it was really cool.
K: Yeah, every band that’s not on Twitter, I’m like, you’ve got to get on there. That’s where everybody is.
G: Literally. That’s how I do most of my booking. Last year I really hustled and was just replying to so many people. I feel like if you’re not on Twitter, like DIY Twitter, you really kind of miss out on a community that’s not on any other platform, besides like Twitch and Discord, but you don’t see people talking on Instagram like this on each other’s photos and stuff. Also, I knew some of the bands that played, but I didn’t know most of them. I’ve heard of them, and after seeing everyone and everyone watching certain sets I would just be like, wow, the Midwest really has bands. I thought we had a good handful. No, it’s like these random states in the middle of the United States that have these emo bands. I’m just, like, what the fuck Josh, we need to go out more West now.
J: It was crazy. So many people showed up to that.
G: Yeah, I knew it was gonna be a fun time. I was excited to meet Connor because I’ve booked some bands that he’s sent like Jersey/Philly. But yeah, I was really shocked that people were coming from all over the place to come to this random town in Ohio.
K: You’re also Head Above Water Collective that sponsored Fauxchella, right?
G: Yeah, so I just was telling Connor when we were talking about it, I was like can I throw my logo on this flyer and represent the collective also representing Afloat? And Afloat is going. I help a lot of bands here that I kind of book for, but no one else was going, so I feel like we were the representation of the collective. So yeah, we promoted it, and then that was really it. It’s been cool doing it. I’ve met a lot of people on Twitter just from booking them, and we’ve gotten some cool show opportunities because I’ve booked some bigger touring bands going through Jersey and Philly, but it’s definitely helped us a lot.
K: Any favorite memories from Fauxchella?
G: Man, I just had a good time the whole weekend. Oh, my favorite thing was the $2.00 PBRs. You will not see that on the East Coast. I don’t know, I don’t really have a specific thing. It was just really fun, just meeting people we’ve talked to on the internet, and people knowing your band from states away. So overall, it was a good time. What about you, Josh? Besides the $2.00 PBRs.
J: There are a lot of really cool bands that I’ve never heard of, you know, and talking to people. Like we were talking to that one guy in the parking lot about venues, I think it was in Baltimore, and that was really interesting how, like, he knew everything about it. I was like, what the hell, that’s right near us. That was definitely cool. And hanging out with Nick [Starrantino].
G: Yeah, hanging out with Nick. And I talked to the lead singer of Stars Hollow [Tyler Stodgehill]. I was talking to him out in the parking lot because I bought a shirt. That was cool. And they were at Reverend the same day we were. We visited Reverend because we have an endorsement with them, and while we were there I think it was Stars Hollow doing a session or coming to do a live session. Then they got two guitars that weren’t released yet, so that was really cool, and when we were talking in the parking lot I saw the teles. And I talked to Eric from Heart Attack Man. That was also cool.
K: So what is the music scene like in Jersey/Philly?
G: So where we are in Jersey, we are right outside of Philly. There’s basically North Jersey, near New York, or you get like Asbury Park. Then there’s like nothing in the middle besides us next to Philly. That’s it, like me and another collective. South Jersey is where we went to college. There’s some house venues there. But it’s been getting better I feel like? Then there’s a lot going on in Philly all the time, which could either be good or bad, but there’s a ton of house venues. There’s not a lot of bar venues that we used to play before Covid, which kind of sucks. House shows are cool, but it’s also like, sometimes I feel too old to be playing a house show. I don’t know. I think I’m just starting to age out of it. What do you think, Josh?
J: There’s definitely a lot going on. There’s a lot of opportunity. But there’s also, like, a got to be part of the cool kids to get in sometimes. And, like you were saying, there’s definitely a need for that small to small/medium cap venue size because there isn’t really one except for maybe like two bars that also do shows. I mean Gabby’s said this before, like, some of the other venues that we could go after, they just have really high room fees. And then, like she said, the alternative was like a house show, but at some point it’s like, how old are you going to a house show?
G: Yeah, that’s the problem. It’s like, if you don’t have that big of a pull, but you can bring some people, but the room fee is so high, you’re not gonna book there because, you know, you’re not even gonna break even. I feel like too, like, I’m 31. If you didn’t know, I am 31. Hopefully I don’t look 31, but I feel like a lot of our friends- Josh, you’re, what, 28?- are late twenties-early thirties, and at what point can you keep going to college house shows? Like, we played a show where there were kids that were I think, maybe, 18 there and I was like, man. This is cool, but I just looked around the room and was like, damn. I feel too old. Honestly, I’d rather play smaller venues. Because as a booking perspective, if I see a band that’s filling out a venue with a bar and they’re doing really well, I’d rather have that reputation than, okay they packed a house show but half those kids aren’t 21 to go to the next size up.
There used to be more before Covid. We played them all like, there was a record store- Creep Records- that used to do shows, but now they’ve got a different building so it’s smaller, they don’t really do shows. We played this venue called Kung Fu Necktie, which used to be two floors. Now they’re only one floor. So I feel like there’s been a lot of change. Then this one we like playing called The Grape Room closed. It’s kinda sad to see these bars/venues close.
J: Then there’s, like, nothing in Jersey.
G: There’s literally one there. There’s a bar near the college we used to work that started doing shows. There’s also a venue where I’m throwing the collective anniversary show. It’s a venue in Mount Holly, which is where our practice is, but Mount Holly is such a small town. It’s like a small downtown area. You really have to know it’s there. It’s a great venue, but it’s like they do a lot of covers. They do a lot of open mics. Which is cool, but you kinda have to know like, oh, Union Firehouse in Mount Holly, I’m going there Friday to watch a band.
J: Yeah honestly, the town’s really nice, but it all closes at like 10:00pm, so there’s no nightlife or anything, you know?
G: Yeah, I don’t know. No one’s opening up venues, which we want to do. We want to open up a venue, but that takes some time. But that’s the scene.
K: I get what you mean talking about age, like, I’m only 26, right? But as soon as I start seeing like 17, 18, 19 year-olds it’s like, I feel weird now.
G: Yeah, at one point I was an adjunct for a semester and some of my students are talking about this house, and I’m like, damn, I go there. That whole semester we didn’t play any house shows. I was like we’re not going out, like, I don’t want to see any of my students. I really like the idea of house venues. I think a lot of people, like, that’s where they find their favorite band or a community or make friends. I think that’s all great. But, like, I cannot be playing there at my age. I don’t know.
K: Do you have any favorite local bands?
G: Hmm, I really like The Bandits, they’re from around our area. They just put out two singles and two music videos. And I like the band Old Friends.
J: Oh, Elephant Jake.
G: Yeah, Elephant Jake, shout out to Andrew for playing our guitar set. They’re such a good band. They’re all so nice, and I feel like genuinely nice, and I feel like that’s kind of hard to find in our area. They put out an album last year. It was really good. They just have so much energy, too, like I like watching their set. I book them pretty often. So yeah, they’re cool.
J: I heard this one band on the radio the other day. They’re really good, they’re called Queasy. They’re from Philly.
G: I gotta keep thinking. I feel like where we’re at too, the bands that we’re friends with I feel like are very supportive over here, like South Jersey. There’s this band All Systems Go that has been around, I think, before us and they pop off the shows. They’re always promoting stuff and other people’s shows. They’re pop punk. They’re really nice guys. That’s all I think of off the top of my head.
K: You mentioned college earlier- I saw one interview where you talked about meeting in college and, Josh, you said you’ve played, just, since you were born?
J: Yeah, I’ve been playing instruments since I was like 5. Then I learned instruments as I’ve gotten older. But yeah, I started on the violin.
G: We love the violin here.
J: Yeah, I took private lessons from when I was like 5 to 18 or 19. I also played guitar. I taught myself. That’s actually how I met Andrew, our current drummer, because he went to the same musical music school as me and there was like a rock ensemble group. He played drums and I played guitar, so I knew him from way back. We kind of fell out of touch and then we needed a drummer and I hit him back up, so that’s how we got Andrew.
G: That’s true. The saving grace.
J: Yeah. And then I played in one of the first bands I ever played in. Well, technically my second, but my first one that we played shows, and they needed a bass player. I was like, I could probably figure it out. So, I just played bass and I’ve played bass ever since.
K: Is your entire family musical?
J: Actually, no. I mean, my mom played some clarinet in high school. Otherwise, no. Pretty much one day I saw my cousin playing the violin and was like, I wanna do that, and that changed my entire life.
K: Then, Gabby, when did you pick up playing?
G: I started playing guitar when I was probably 15 or 16. My two cousins played guitar and I always wanted to play guitar. I was just super interested in it, so I got a guitar in high school, a very cheap electric guitar, and I played that for a little bit. I didn’t like it as much, because when you get a cheap instrument, I feel like it kind of is like, I don’t know. When I have a nice instrument in my hand I’m like, oh, it doesn’t matter if it’s an instrument I don’t play, this is nice so I’m gonna keep playing it. So, my cousin gave me one of his guitars and I kept playing. At the time I was in high school, I was getting ready to go to college and I really wanted to study music, and my parents weren’t about it, so I kind of stopped playing guitar for a little bit and just did school. Probably my third year into college I started playing with one of my friends from high school. But it’s not until college that I was super focused on playing guitar and recording and doing music, because I was always told by my family that music doesn’t pay the bills, you need to get a job. And I’m the oldest of four, so I was the first to go to college. So, there’s big expectations there. When I switched colleges that’s where I was just like, fuck it, I am so into guitar and recording now. I feel like the last maybe five years I’ve gotten better at guitar and actually understanding it more. And I can play bass. I played bass fill in for like two shows. I want to learn the piano, but that’s going to be on the back burner for a second. Our other guitar player, Alec, he’s learning piano, so now I want to learn. Especially, piano really helps your ear and, with writing, I think it’d be very helpful. But yeah, I’ve been playing guitar since 15 or 16. No lessons. Sometimes that’s hard trying to figure stuff out, but I think I’ve been doing pretty well trying to just listen. I can play songs. Oh, yeah, and I did take vocal lessons when we recorded the EP. I basically showed my teacher all of our songs and she would play them on piano and I would hear the keys and everything. It really helped me listen to where notes are. I might go back and do it when we finish writing. Yeah, I forgot, I did that. That seems so long ago.
K: Have you had vocal lessons, Josh, or did you play anything else?
J: I can play a little bit of drums and a little bit of keys, but just like basic stuff. I didn’t have any vocal coaching. Honestly, I was kind of forced into it, because we need background vocals and sometimes people aren’t there to do something, so I just kind of do it. Because I already have an ear, so I was like, alright, I can just figure this out and just kind of like, fake it till you make it you know.
G: I think we should take vocal lessons. I think we would be getting some really cool harmonies and stuff, because I feel like voices are very similar. So, it’s funny when we try to find harmonies, we try singing the same thing.
K: So, you met in college and have been putting out music since 2018? Or before that?
G: No, I think so. We met when we were working at the studio together in school. At the time I had a capstone project, and I basically wanted to be a post-rock band, like, I had no intentions of singing or playing with other people. Like, I wanted to be Explosions In The Sky, that’s what I want to do. But I ended up writing lyrics to a lot of the songs. I had people that were gonna play on it, just like friends, and they ended up not. So, the way we actually formed, I was like, hey Josh, I have this capstone project. We have to record it, mix it, and we have to put on a show. And Josh knew Max, who was our first drummer. So I was like, you guys wanna do all this? Then we played our first show, like the release show, and then I was like, you guys wanna still do this? Like, no one booed us. So, that’s how he formed.
J: And at the time Max and I had been in a band, the first band I just mentioned, but it kind of fell apart, so we would just jam together and we were looking to play in a band. It kind of just came together, so we’re like, yeah, let’s keep rocking. The three-piece era.
G: Oh, yeah, we were a three-piece for the longest time. I actually like being a three-piece because I can play more technical stuff, but I cannot sing and play technical stuff. I really wanted our sound to expand and be fuller, so we added. Now we can’t go back. Sometimes I wish we were a three-piece again. Don’t have to worry about anything. I’m like, wow, I’m better at guitar now, I wanna be able to make it work.
J: I know, it’s irreversible. Me too.
K: So, you’ve changed a lot over the past few years, from lessons to the band going to a three-piece. What’s the biggest way you think you’ve grown or come into yourselves as a band?
G: I think we’ve gotten better at writing, because before, we would just play something at practice, oh this song’s done, next. We would never go back and revise things. So I feel like you can tell between our last EP and this one we just released, like, the songwriting, the instrumentation, it’s a lot more thought out. We really took time to dissect a lot of things. What do you think, Josh?
J: Yeah, definitely, the writing aspect and, you know, I feel like the band is the influence of the people in it.
G: One hundred percent. Yeah, I feel like it’s the company you keep and the mindset that you have.
J: Yeah, because we’ve had so many members pass through, and I just feel like each time somebody was in there it was a whole new take on whatever we were doing. Which is to be expected, but I just think it’s interesting how it changes the sound of the band. Like, writing now compared to writing for the EP I just noticed a lot of differences. It’s not bad, but it’s definitely an interesting progression. You know, it just kind of makes you wonder when bands are together and they change sound, and you’re like oh, wow, all the members are different.
G: I feel like it’s gotten a lot easier. I feel like things are easier with certain personalities, and when you go to do something together where everyone is so on the same page, it just makes being in a band so much better. I was talking to Josh about this, I was like, it’s such a day and night difference from last year to this year. I’m enjoying every second of it because I feel like everything’s easier. And I feel like the things that we’re making are kind of different, but I feel like it’s organically coming out and there’s no, like, force. I feel like everyone’s more open to different things. I think it really is the company you keep and mindset. I was really happy when the EP came out so I feel like we kind of took a step up in our career in this band.
J: Also, I already kind of mentioned working with other people, but the EP was the first time we didn’t produce it, you know, because we worked with Nick. We did pre-production with him, and he didn’t do writing, but he would direct some sections that weren’t that way before we had started recording. Just having somebody else put their sound on your arrangement creates a ton of depth that you will never hear because you wrote the song, listened to it a million times writing it, practicing it, and demoing it, so to work with somebody else who, like, sees the vision and then puts their own take on it definitely helps you expand your own sound. So that was definitely something very new for us.
G: Yeah, I loved it. Nick, mixed and mastered our singles “Fake Nice” and “But I’m Not” and I knew going to the next project I did not want us to mix it. I did not want us to track it. I just knew we weren’t going to get something good. I’m not saying it’s our capabilities. Just going off what you said, working with the producer, someone who’s not with you all the time and hasn’t really heard you really play these songs I think upped our game. We’re gonna do it again with our album because I do not want any part of tracking. I just wanna be like, alright tune your guitar cool. Track. Okay, cool. Unplug. You’re done. I just wanna do that cause when you have everything else, like, I can’t focus when we’re tracking stuff. I’m like, okay, mic placement. Should we use this mic? Should we use this compressor? You just have all these other thoughts besides playing, and that’s where I feel like you lose the shine. I like doing that when we’re demoing, but I don’t wanna track all our stuff and hear no one else’s opinion on what we should try.
J: It’s a lot, yeah. I agree.
G: So yeah, shout out to Nick. Nicholas Starrantino. Dead End Studio. Long Island. Our boy.
K: Yeah, the EP feels very cohesive. Like, the way first and last lyrics connect.
G: Yeah, it was actually gonna be an album. We were writing for an album and then we just had such a crazy timeline. We had nine songs, we were trying to write ten, then we ended up doing six. I’m happy we picked these six because that was my first thought, like, Does this make sense? Does this flow? Or will people be like what the fuck? Are we gonna lose people when they listen to the whole thing? Yeah, I forgot about that- “Good Grief” and “Stand.” That’s an Easter egg.
K: So there’s a new album in the works?
G: We are not sure what we’re doing with the album. We have to finish writing and like, really figure out what we’re doing first. We aren’t even close to being anywhere near finished. I mean, we have like six song demos, but not anywhere near being finished. There’s so much we have to do and, because this is our first album, I really want to take my time. We kind of have a schedule planned out for the rest of the year of where we want to be and stuff. But I don’t wanna rush it. I really want this album to do well. So if that means waiting for two years, but it’s like the best we’ve ever written, then I’ll wait. But yeah, it’s a little stressful. It’s a long process. And we’re still playing shows too, which we kind of cut back on shows a little bit to really write, but it’s like, we gotta make money for this album, so we gotta play shows, we have vinyl to sell.
J: It’s so hard when you don’t do it full time. You have to really prioritize your time. So it’s like, you have to cut out some things.
G: Yeah, this is all I do. I just go to work. I go to practice. That’s it. I really don’t do anything else. I mean, we’ll go to shows and stuff, but I’ve slowed down collective shows too because last year I literally did a show, I shit you not, it was probably every weekend. Every weekend. I burnt myself out, so I’ve been slowing down collective shows. Now I’m doing like two shows a month because it’s like, I don’t have a crew of people. Josh helps me, but if Josh is busy, then it’s like, okay, cool. I need to run sound. Okay, cool. Who am I asking to run doors? Like, it just adds more things, so I’ve just been really slowing down doing it, which has been great for my mental health. It’s fun when you’re at a show that you’re throwing and it’s packed and everyone’s having a good time, but the actual breaking down, setting up, making sure people are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, like, you really have to find reliable people and I feel like I haven’t been finding reliable enough people that can handle money. Moreso count money. I don’t know why that’s hard, I couldn’t even tell you. It’s just interesting. Entertaining at times. But yeah.
K: What are your inspirations for the upcoming album? Or for this last EP?
G: I know when we were writing Where I Stand I was listening to a lot of Adventures. Like a lot. I was like, I wanna be the next Adventures. Tigers Jaw. I’m a huge fan of Movements. I feel like those three for me while writing. Oh, and I think we were listening to Basement.
J: Always.
G: Yeah, we always listen to Basement. But those are my three.
J: Gleamer.
G: Oh, yeah! Forgot about Gleamer. A lot of Arm’s Length. We had a whole playlist of things.
J: Do we have any this time? I feel like I don’t know.
G: I’ve been listening to a lot of Mannequin Pussy. Like a lot. A lot of Mannequin Pussy. A lot of Stars Hollow. Maybe some old Balance And Composure. That’s it. And Charmer. Pool Kids.
J: Pool Kids, yeah. They’re so good.
G: Their album is so good and it’s so well produced. I listen to it pretty often. I’m like, damn, they really did this. I feel like when I listen to a lot of the same genre of bands, I’ll make that, and I’ll listen to our demos and be like, I know exactly who I was listening to. I feel like we’re also trying to find, not like find our sound, but really define our sound. If It were up to me, our new stuff would be a mix between “Mouth Shut” and “Through My Veins,” like if they had a baby. But then I’ve also been listening to heavy shit, like Knocked Loose.
J: Also, Alec has done a lot of writing, and he likes a lot of hard or prog rock, so it’s definitely getting, like, twisted.
G: Yeah, it’s gonna be so weird, but I feel like it’s gonna be so good.
J: It’s funny, he’ll come up with a cool idea, and we’ll be like, how can we make this a little more within the genre?
G: Or, Alec plays with us, but sometimes we need to fill in. So I’m like, when we write stuff, I have to be able to play it or someone else. If I could play it, I could show someone. Because Alec is so talented.
J: He is a guitar prodigy, like, not even overselling it. He’ll write something crazy, and we’re like, you can’t do that.
G: And he’s like, “Yeah, Gab, you could play this.” I’m like, I can’t play that and sing, though. Yeah, the new stuff definitely has some like, prog math parts.
J: And like a lot of Andrew. I feel like he’s very classic.
G: Yeah, Andrew I feel like, he likes classic rock. So it’s an interesting blend.
J: And he has a jazz background.
G: Yeah, so we don’t know what this is gonna sound like. We might create a genre or a subgenre or something.
J: That’d be great.
G: Prog jazz.
J: Oh my lord.
K: It’s cool to hear your inspirations because I do feel like you have curated a unique sound for yourselves.
G: Thank you. Maybe there will be a subgenre. I don’t know, I don’t feel like we’re Midwest emo. I feel like we’re a little emo. I feel like we’re like emo-rock/emo-alt, to an extent. I really like Midwest emo, but I don’t know if it’s us. Like, I like doing some twinkly parts, but I can’t do that a whole song. It kind of loses me.
J: Just sprinkle it in.
G: Yeah, I just do a little tap in there and I’m like, yeah, that’s good.
K: Is there anything else you wanted to plug for Afloat?
G: Right now it’s just the anniversary. The one year of the EP in September, that’s what we’re trying to push, and selling some more vinyl.
K: The vinyl is so pretty. All of the artwork is really cool. I dig it.
G: Thank you. Thanks. Yeah, the green splatter looks really cool. We had one of our friends shoot everything to keep it all cohesive, which is pretty cool. But yeah, I think that’s all. Thank you for having us.
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of Where I Stand, Afloat has released a merch bundle you can check out on their Bandcamp! Be sure to keep up to date on future releases through their website, Facebook, and Youtube. You can also follow them on Instagram @afloatband and TikTok or Twitter @afloatbandnj. Thanks so much again to Gabby and Josh for taking the time to talk, and happy one-year to Where I Stand!
Written by Kaitlyn Boykin
