The LIPPs, a little-known band composed of current and former Timpview High School students, features Leo Auernig and Peter Snow, both seniors who play guitar, and recently graduated Isaac Page, who plays drums. I had the opportunity to spend a day with the LIPPs while they were recording their new EP, which they plan to release in 2-4 weeks. During my visit, I got the chance to interview the band members.
Q: Where did the band name LIPPs come from?
Leo: “So basically, we couldn’t figure out a name for it. I think we were stalling a little bit trying to find something meaningful to all of us. We took the letters of all our first names: L for Leo, I for Isaac, P for Peter, and the final P for another band mate Peter DeGuzman, and that’s how we became the LIPPs.”
Q: What brought the group together?
Peter: “There was a battle of bands that our church was putting on. Isaac, our drummer, sent out a text to us. At that point, we didn’t have a set for what instruments people were going to play.”
Leo: “I didn’t even know you guys at that point.”
Peter: “When we got together, I was playing the drums, and then Isaac and Leo were both playing guitar.”
Leo: “Even though you [Peter] were the best guitar player out of all of us.”
Peter: “Then I wanted to play guitar, so one band practice, Isaac wanted to try out my drum set. I said, ‘Ok, let’s see if you can do it. It’s pretty hard.’ It clicked in less than a minute.”
Leo: “Yeah, it was about a minute. It was insane.”
Peter: “It was like a chef’s kiss because then I could play the guitar, which is what I am best at. Then it all came together.”
Q: Where does your music come from, and how do you approach playing style and lyric composition?
Leo: “The great part about it is that we all have pretty different musical backgrounds, which is why it’s unique. For example, Peter has been really into some Italian stuff. Last night he called me and said we needed to incorporate it, so we were figuring out chords for an Italian song. We also just make what we like and what sounds good.”
Q: Where do you see the band in the next few months, and what are your goals as a group?
Peter: “We should state the obvious.”
Leo: “That is that our drummer Isaac is leaving on his LDS mission on Sunday. We’re going to try to figure out where to go after this because we’re going to mourn the loss of him since he’s a really important piece of our trio.”
Peter: “It’s going to be tricky trying to replace Isaac. As I said before, he just clicked with us so well.”
Leo: “We’ll still be playing and writing, and now that we have this recording aspect, who knows where it will take us. Our main goal right now is to get this two-song EP out.”
Q: What has been your most memorable performance and why?
Leo: “My favorite was the school battle of the bands. I had never played live music before, so all the anticipation leading up to it was amazing. There were way more people there than we thought, which was so fun.”
Peter: “I like that one as well because it was our first, which makes it very meaningful. All my friends were there watching. Even though I didn’t play my best and we didn’t really like the song we played, it was still so fun. But I would have to say our most recent performance at Kiwanis Park was the most memorable for me. It was with other music artists, and it wasn’t a competition. I played really well, and it was a super good environment. It was also our last show before Isaac leaves.”
Q: Can you tell us the name of your upcoming EP, along with the meaning behind it and where you drew your inspiration from?
Leo: “We really like ‘Out Of Hand.’ It has a nice ring.”
Peter: “We’re really into old surfer rock stuff, and ‘Out Of Hand’ is a common term surfers use for big waves.”
Leo: “We didn’t really know where to put the name at the time. Once we started recording, the name fit right in with the vibe of the songs we are going to release, so then we knew it had to be the title.”
I loved interviewing the band and can’t wait for the upcoming LIPPs’ EP, “Out Of Hand,” releasing on all streaming platforms in 2-3 weeks.
