Brought together through every conceivable social fabric (longtime friends, coworkers, dating apps). Under one roof, their combined musical sensibilities take them from riotous punk, foot-stomping power pop, to tender ballads. Indoor Friends is Amanda Bysheim (lead vocals), Kat Delitto (lead guitar), Krista Marie Setera (ukulele and backing vocals), Ben Bonadies (bass), and Matt Wilson (drums).
With “Fired Up” out now, we took some time to hear from Indoor Friends. Read below to learn more about Indoor Friends, the story behind “Fired Up,” and what’s to come.
Hi Indoor Friends! Let’s start with how did you guys choose the band name?
Hi! We chose the name, Indoor Friends, as nod to a running joke we had: friendships are a bit like cats, you’ve got your ‘outdoor friends,’ the ones you might grab a drink with, but keep at a bit of a distance, and then there are your ‘indoor friends,’ the ones that you truly let into your life. The fact that Indoor Friends sounds a little like ‘endorphins’ didn’t hurt either.
What city are you all from and where are you all based now?
Amanda and Krista are both from Maryland, Ben’s from Connecticut, Kat’s from New Jersey, and Matt is originally from Maine. We started the band in Boston and are mostly based there, but since Matt moved back to Maine a few years ago and some of us moved further out of the city, things have gotten a little more spread out. Our ‘home base’ is a bit nebulous these days.
How and when did the band form?
We came together after an ill-advised outdoor cover band show that ended with us getting absolutely drenched. Honestly, if musicians played outside every day, we’d probably solve the drought problem. While we were drying off and having a few beers, someone floated the idea of starting a real band. We had a few practices and it took off from there.
How would you all describe your group’s sound to readers who may not be familiar with you all?
We are alt rock with a strong mix of pop punk and early 2000s alternative influences. We’re still exploring and refining what exactly ‘our sound’ really is, but that blend of energy and emotion is at the heart of it.
Who are some of your band’s main musical influences?
It’s hard to pinpoint a single influence since we all have wildly different musical tastes, with just enough overlap to keep things from falling into total chaos. This mix makes being in a band together a bit like herding cats (don’t worry, that’s the last time we will mention cats). But honestly, those differences are exactly what keep things exciting.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your band’s music career so far?
We were played on an Australian radio station once which was pretty rad. Hearing our music reach all the way across the world was an incredible feeling. Plus, it gave us a fun excuse to daydream about touring down under someday and maybe even perfecting our Aussie accents. Though Kat’s attempt is by far the worst, so we might have to veto hers.
What would you all say are the greatest lessons that you’ve all learned so far?
When you mess up on stage during a live show, just laugh it off. Nobody came to watch you sulk and act like it’s the world’s biggest tragedy. Most people won’t even notice the mistake unless you make a big production out of it.
Now onto ‘Fired Up.’ What inspired this song?
Sometimes you just need a song that feels good, sounds good, and makes you forget about whatever you were overthinking five minutes ago. That was the vibe that we were going for: fun, catchy, and maybe even something that you’d willingly play at a party without apologizing first. We wanted it to be uplifting, something that motivates you to keep going through life’s challenges.
How did the name, ‘Fired Up,’ come about?
The song actually started out with the working title, ‘Party Punk,’ mostly just so we could keep track of it during the writing process. Once we landed on the hook, someone floated the idea of calling it ‘Bring It On,’ but Kat gave us a hard time about that one, so it went nameless for a bit. Eventually, we landed on ‘Fired Up.’ Not only is it the name of a much less iconic cheerleading movie, but it also perfectly captures the energy of the track. We hope it gets you fired up!
What is ‘Fired Up’ about?
‘Fired Up’ is a reflection on growing up and a look at how our idea of being ‘young’ shifts over time. The things that we used to think only ‘old people’ did back in high school are quite different from what we believed in our early 20s, and completely different from how we see things now. The same goes for what ‘partying’ means; it’s evolved from house parties filled with questionable decisions to small gatherings where everyone is in bed by 10:30.
The first verse, we wanted to capture that strange, in-between feeling at the end of high school. When the future’s wide open, but also totally uncertain. Whether you’re headed to college, jumping into a job, or figuring it out day by day, there’s this mix of excitement and anxiety that comes with that transition. The second verse shifts into early adulthood, when you start realizing that the stuff you once rolled your eyes at (like therapy or self-reflection) is actually crucial. Friendships that felt like everything at seventeen might not have lasted, while unexpected ones have endured and grown stronger. It’s a time that really shapes who you are, but that underlying sense of uncertainty still lingers as you try to figure out your place in this world.
The chorus is kind of our rallying cry that ties all of this together. No matter what stage of life you’re in, whatever life throws at you, bring it on. Keep going.
What was the creative process like when making ‘Fired Up?’
The instrumental was already pretty far along by the time it was brought to the full band, so after that it was mostly about jamming on different parts and making tweaks here and there. Amanda wrote the hook, which really sticks, and Kat handled most of the verses. It definitely wasn’t always easy working on this one, there were some tricky moments, but in the end, we’re really happy with how it turned out.
How long did it take to complete ‘Fired Up?’
Kat: I actually started working on this track a few years ago. Back then, it was inspired by a friend that I felt I was drifting away from. Musically, it was built from a mix of my favorite guitar riffs pulled from some old, scrapped song ideas. After a long break, I finally brought it to the band, and that’s when things really shifted. We rewrote the lyrics and reshaped the whole theme to capture a timeline of what being ‘young’ and having fun has meant at different stages of life. It took about a year or so before we really could play it together as a band and then we tracked it.
What message do you all hope fans take away from your band’s music and from ‘Fired Up?’
Hopefully, listeners can get a sense of the direction that we’re heading (both sonically and thematically) with this song. Tracks like ‘Fired Up’ and our last single, ‘Psyayayduck,’ still touch on serious topics, but with a more playful tone than what we explored on our EP. In short, we’re aiming to write music that feels lighter and more fun, without losing the core of what makes us who we are.
What’s next for you all? Are you all working on any upcoming projects, or do you all have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
We’re back in the studio working on new music and plan to drop another single before the end of the year. In the meantime, you can catch us playing shows all around the greater New England area. We post all our upcoming gigs on social media, so follow along and if you’re in the area come hang out!
Where can we follow you all on social media?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/indoorfriendsma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indoorfriendsma
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@indoorfriendsma
Bandcamp: https://indoorfriendsma.bandcamp.com/music
Thank you all for the great interview; wish you all much continued success!
