Interview: On Better Terms

On Better Terms is a band based out of Dallas, TX. OBT fuses groovy melodies, and jazzy-driven rhythms with harsh yells and spoken word vocals. With influences such as La Dispute, Troubled Coast, and Touche Amore, they look to bring a unique vibe to the DFW scene.OBT formed in 2013 when vocalist Andrew Kuehm brought his poems to guitarist Alex Rincon to read one day. They immediately began writing music as much as possible, whilst seeking full time members. The band has been playing shows consistently in the DFW area and surrounding states since forming, playing with notable bands including Glassjaw, A Lot Like Birds, Belmont, Quicksand, Sianvar, Hotel Books, and moreThe band released their self-titled EP in 2015, and followed it up with their second record “Superbloom” in May 2017. OBT also released an acoustic stripped down version of their popular songs, with the in-studio live record “The Attic Suite Sessions”, released in Fall 2017. The band emphasizes subjects such as accepting death, their struggles with religion and spirituality, enjoying youth, depression, and hope. OBT aims to fully transform their sound with their first full-length album, “Waves,” out now, whilst consistently touring nationwide.

We caught up with the band for an interview!

So how has your latest album/EP gone so far with fans then?

We just released our first full-length record Waves on January 8th, and so far the feedback has been great. We were really worried how our fans would receive this music because we really tried to take our music in a new direction, so it’s satisfying to hear good feedback as an artist. This is the album we are most proud of.

Tell us something about the release no one knows?

There’s a Patton Oswalt reference on our record. We’ll let you find it. ☺

If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?

La Dispute. We would love to sit down with Jordan (vocalist) and see how he approaches writing his brilliant lyrics.

How has your latest single been received? 

We released a single/music video off the record called Peaks, and people loved it. It’s definitely a more mature direction that we want to take our music to.

Can you tell us about the meaning behind the track? 

Peaks is about climbing a mountain, and it’s analogous meaning is about being able to accomplish something that you once thought you were incapable of. We feel it’s a positive message of never giving up, and grinding to get the results you want in your life.

What tours do you have coming up, and what can you tell us about them?

We have a few runs planned for the spring and summer of 2019 with our friends Town Destroyer from Houston, TX. We also have a bigger run planned for the Fall of 2019 as well. We’re excited to play our record on the road to new fans.

What venue are you most looking forward to playing the most, and why?

We would love to play Chain Reaction in LA one day because of the legendary status it carries in our music scene.

What else can we expect from in 2019?

We plan on touring and playing local shows in support of our new record. We also plan to continue to write new music for the future.