[Photo courtesy of Ethan Herx]
By Kate Tocke, Contributor

Spilt is one of the newest additions to the Athens music scene, and the winner of this year’s Battle of the Bands. They have garnered quite a crowd in the short amount of time they have been in the spotlight. Composed of Ella Franks on the bass, Ethan Shatz and Harrison Smith on guitar, Calvin Whipple on drums, and Jacob Dickey on lead vocals, they’re known primarily for their covers of “Freaking Out On the Interstate” by Briston Maroney and “Maple Syrup” by The Backseat Lovers. I met with them after their performance to discuss their experience in the music scene so far and what the future holds for them.

[This interview has been edited for length and clarity.]

Kate Tocke (KT): What made you guys want to enter Battle of the Bands?  

Franks: I am a part of ACRN and I went last year and thought it was so cool. When I think of Battle of the Bands, I think of School of Rock. And that is so awesome. 

Dickey: I just kind of opened my phone to (a) text that said, ‘We are in Battle of the Bands.’ 

Shatz: Any opportunity for us to play and we are free, we are going to do it. 

KT: You guys are pretty fresh in the Athens music scene, was it intimidating entering the scene? 

Smith: I don’t really know anything about the music scene here, so I didn’t think it was too intimidating.

Franks: It kind of was, but we built up a decent following of our friends pretty quick. We didn’t have that time or leeway. But it was kind of intimidating. For the first two shows, I was pretty nervous. Then I eventually was like, ‘This is fun.’ 

Dickey: Before we got in the music scene, I saw Rent Free and Judge Russo, and they were just nuts, so I was intimidated, but I am happy we did it. 

Whipple: I was really nervous (for) the first show. It was my first time playing in a band. Then I told myself the only people who are here are my friends so if we screw up really bad, how bad can it be? It still can be nerve racking. 

Shatz: Our first show ever was with our friends in Saddlebags. We met Roman Candle who are also new. It helped us get warmed up to the crowd. It was a good first experience. 

KT: What is your favorite song to play live?

Whipple: For sure “Freakin Out On the Interstate.”

Franks: I like “Should I Stay or Should I Go” even though it is scary to play. And “Stacy’s Mom” because the crowd gets the most hype for that one. 

Dickey: I say it every single show, but “Maple Syrup” has my heart.

Smith: “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” I screwed it up the second time we played it and I can’t mess it up again. I just want to play it all the time. 

Shatz: My favorite song is “Maple Syrup” instrumentally, but “Freakin Out On The Interstate” has the best vibes. 

KT: This question is for Ella, what is it like being the only girl in the band? 

Franks: It is an interesting dynamic. Sometimes I feel like a mother in a sense. I like the guys. They are fun. It’s comfortable. It’s good. I was intimidated at first—being in my first band with all guys. We all get along well and I think they like me. They are awesome. 

KT: My final question is, what is in the near future for Spilt?

Shatz: Tomorrow, we are going into a studio for the first time to try and record some of our stuff. We are really excited about it.