Callout: A Female Fronted Band From NJ

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There is more then one band from NJ

Lead Singer/Guitar- Becky Khusidman.

Interview conducted by Dan Locke onAugust 14, 2018

Callout is a four piece Female Fronted Alt Rock band from Watchung, NJ. The band’s sound has a unique mixture of Hard Rock and Classic Rock roots mixed with a modernized version of Alternative Rock. Callout has performed with bands such as Hollywood Undead, Butcher Babies, Palaye Royale, Four Year Strong, September Mourning and has made an appearance at 2017’s Musikfest in Allentown, PA.

Band Members

Lead Singer/Guitar- Becky Khusidman.
Lead Guitar – Jake Feldman.
Drums – Brian Carter.
Bass Guitar – Anthony Sabino.

How do you describe yourself and your band?

First word that comes to mind is family. I love my guys, there’s nothing better than being able to write songs with your best friends. We hope that those who support us feel as though they’re part of the family too.

What was your background growing up? As I understand it your mom had a master in music. Did you study any particular discipline?

Yes! Mama is classically trained (mezzo-soprano). Most of the time passion can’t really be taught but the time I spent with her sitting on the floor with our eyes closed listening to tapes and CD’s of Beethoven, Vivaldi, or Tchaikovsky… she taught me how to, not just hear the music, but to listen to it and feel it. She also got me started on piano at a very young age, it’s the first instrument I learned. She also taught me how to sing. Then when I reached the age of 9/10 I lost iWhat do you think of the music on the radio today?nterest in music and didn’t get back into it until the age of 15.

What do you think of the music on the radio today?

I think it’s always changing. I also don’t believe in guilty pleasures when it comes to listening to music, I love all of it. So as for mainstream, I do appreciate the works of Sia, Pink, Kesha, and Lady Gaga. I also love a few Cardi B songs. Super cool to see how down to earth she is for a well known musician and how much she genuinely cares about family and her fans.

What style of guitar playing did you learn growing up?

Callout

At 16 I got my first guitar and picked up classical guitar with a very talented teacher by the name of Joseph Blumetti. I learned pieces from bands like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin to composers such as Bach and Villa Lobos.

How did you start your band?

Jake is one of my best friends from high school. I met him in French class my Freshman year. When I turned 16, he and I jammed acoustically even though he was in another band. We clicked musically and what was supposed to be a side acoustic project, turned into what is now Callout. He met Brian (drums) and Anthony (bass) at college. They were originally supposed to fill in until we were able to find permanent musicians. The four of us vibed very well together and they became permanent.

How did you get the bands name?

We find it important to talk about issues or topics that most people are either afraid to speak out about or we wish were more in the light. So in other words, we fearlessly call out topics that are difficult to talk about or we find important. Our new album holds a lot of that. Reasons we’re Callout.

What is the music scene like in Watchung, NJ?

It’s super passionate! There are so bands within the rock genre, pop, indie, and even rap performing here.

You are from Watchung, NJ. Have you ever seen any of these people on the street? Laura Prepon (born 1980), actress best known for playing the character of Donna Pinciotti on That ’70s Show?

Never ran into Laura Prepon, I would love to meet her one day though! It is cool to know that she went to mine and Jake’s High School! Even if it was for a short period of time. She’s very talented.

How do you describe yourself and your band?

Callout

First word that comes to mind is family. I love my guys, there’s nothing better than being able to write songs with your best friends. We hope that those who support us feel as though they’re part of the family too.

What was your background growing up? As I understand it your mom had a master in music. Did you study any particular discipline?

Yes! Mama is classically trained (mezzo-soprano). Most of the time passion can’t really be taught but the time I spent with her sitting on the floor with our eyes closed listening to tapes and CD’s of Beethoven, Vivaldi, or Tchaikovsky… she taught me how to, not just hear the music, but to listen to it and feel it. She also got me started on piano at a very young age, it’s the first instrument I learned. She also taught me how to sing. Then when I reached the age of 9/10 I lost interest in music and didn’t get back into it until the age of 15.

What do you think of the music on the radio today?

I think it’s always changing. I also don’t believe in guilty pleasures when it comes to listening to music, I love all of it. So as for mainstream, I do appreciate the works of Sia, Pink, Kesha, and Lady Gaga. I also love a few Cardi B songs. Super cool to see how down to earth she is for a well known musician and how much she genuinely cares about family and her fans.

What style of guitar playing did you learn growing up?

At 16 I got my first guitar and picked up classical guitar with a very talented teacher by the name of Joseph Blumetti. I learned pieces from bands like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin to composers such as Bach and Villa Lobos.

How did you start your band?

Jake is one of my best friends from high school. I met him in French class my Freshman year. When I turned 16, he and I jammed acoustically even though he was in another band. We clicked musically and what was supposed to be a side acoustic project, turned into what is now Callout. He met Brian (drums) and Anthony (bass) at college. They were originally supposed to fill in until we were able to find permanent musicians. The four of us vibed very well together and they became permanent.

How did you get the bands name?

We find it important to talk about issues or topics that most people are either afraid to speak out about or we wish were more in the light. So in other words, we fearlessly call out topics that are difficult to talk about or we find important. Our new album holds a lot of that. Reasons we’re Callout.

What is the music scene like in Watchung, NJ?

It’s super passionate! There are so bands within the rock genre, pop, indie, and even rap performing here.

How did you developed your sound with the mix of Nirvana and Halestorm?

Back when Jake and I started the band, those were the two bands that we listened to mainly and we keep coming back to them even now. Jake listened to a lot of Nirvana, I listened to a lot of Halestorm. We were inspired by the dynamic in their music. No songs are exactly alike but down to the techniques they use, you know its them. They just have their sound. We loved the energy. We loved the songwriting behind their work, so whenever we get stuck we always go back to what they’ve done and we try to put our own spin on it.

What is your favorite guitar you have? And what modifications were done to it?

Callout

My favorite guitar is either my PRS SE245 or my white Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro. My 245 was my very first electric guitar so it will always feel like home to me and it’s got a bit of a warmer tone than my Les Paul. It’s still beefy though which is something I look for with rhythm. My Les Paul I adore due to the tones that I can get out of it. It’s plekd, has 2 push/pull coil splits, and a phase switch.

Who is your favorite female guitar player?

I don’t have only one favorite… I admire Lzzy Hale from Halestorm, Nita Strauss of Alice Cooper and Orianthi.

You have opened for bands like Hollywood Undead, Butcher Babies and September Mourning. How was it to open for these band?

It felt like a dream. We got to open for Hollywood Undead twice. Once at Sherman Theater in PA as direct support and once in Jersey at Starland when they toured with Butcher Babies. We played with September Mourning in Jersey too. It’s humbling to be able to play with musicians who have put so much work and time into their craft, it shows during their performance. We’re very grateful that they gave us the opportunity to open for them.

If you could open up for any band who would it be and why?

I’d love to open for Halestorm. They’re not only absolutely wonderful people but they’re also talented musicians. I learn a lot from them every time I see them. I think our live show energy would go hand in hand with them very well too. To throw in a few others, I would also love to play with Bayside or Emarosa.

How do you prepare for a show?

My band does squats before a show and just a general chant of “Let’s kick butt!”

It seems to me that your band has a very caring heart with helping out many different causes. How do you pick the causes you are going to help?

We go for the causes that hit home. For example, when the Vegas shooting happened, our hearts broke and online there’s always talk of sending prayers. We’re far, but we still wanted to be a little more active in helping so we raised money for the victims. No one should ever feel threatened going to a show, movie theater, mall, even school. I think heartbreaking is an understatement to events such as these and I wish people would be a little more active in helping.

If a band was going to do something like what you are doing to help organizations how would they start to do this?

Find something that you genuinely care about, that you are passionate about/for. Try to bring light to something that might not be spoken out about enough. But don’t do it for personal gain.

How did you come up with the title of “Nevermore”?

We didn’t want to name the song with a lyric from the song. It was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.”

What are your feelings about streaming music?

It’s known for its advantages and disadvantages. I think it’s a great way for newer bands to push their material out to the world. We’re happy that those that support us can find and listen to our music so quickly and easily.

How did you come up with the name Becky Bex?

I came up with it more-so for facebook. When we’re playing shows, I love adding people I meet on there. My last name is Khusidman (Ku-seed-man), which is not easy to spell and most people don’t know how to pronounce it. When I talk to someone at a show, it’s quickly in passing or when they’re leaving. It’s more memorable and easier to say “Hey! Add me on Facebook, it’s Becky Bex.” It has a ring.

How was it to play Musikfest in Allentown PA?

It was such an awesome experience! Some well known names have played there over the years so it was humbling to be a part of something that’s been going on for years and the people that help put it together and run it put so much heart into it. There’s a lot of talent performing there all day for I think it’s 2 weeks. And the food is great too! We’d love to play there again in the future.