Review Fix Exclusive: Sully Banger Talks ‘Providence’ EP

Review Fix chats with professional wrestler and musician Sully Banger, who discusses his influences in music and his new Providence EP.

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?

Sully Banger: I’ve been playing music in bands since I was maybe 14/15, I typically played in  punk and hardcore bands. I toured a bunch, and used to play every weekend, but becoming a wrestler, band practice turned into training, and punk shows turned into wrestling shows. I dove back in recently and came up with this album.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Banger: I hear songs and melodies in my head. I think most people do. Once I build a backbone to the songs I take that initial emotion and flow with it. I think most of the songs have a blatant feel to them, and every instrument builds off the others to make it even more in-depth. 

Review Fix: What inspires you?

Banger: Lately I found myself wanting to make music that was calming, and laid back. Times are so crazy and scary right now, I think I needed an escape from that, I wanted to help set the mood for myself to be in a better headspace and then I wanted to do that for others as well, so I made this.

Review Fix: How doe your other life as a pro wrestler affect your music?

Banger: I think I learned how to brand myself really well. I don’t think it directly affects the music, only because I played music long before I wrestled. But it taught me to be confident with my product, and market myself, since that’s 80% of the wrestling business nowadays. 

Review Fix: What does music mean to you?

Banger: Music can be anything for anyone, it just depends how they want to take it in. It can make your day, or ruin your day. It’s a mood setter, it can enhance or seize your productivity. This album is something I’d recommend in the background, when you’re drawing, or reading, or doing something new. That’s the goal of this music. But sometimes music is to make you dance, or party, or cry. Hopefully no one cries to this music, but if someone does. PLEASE email me.

Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

Banger: This is Lofi Chill Hip Hop. There’s a beat, and a groove. There are pretty chords, nothing is too harsh. It feels nostalgic, and it brings up memories of watching anime on Toonami after dinner on the tv in your parents room. 

Review Fix: What wrestlers do you think would love your tunes as entrance music?

Banger: Haha maybe someone ripping on Orange Cassidy. I think it’s decidedly not entrance music, too chill. But it could make for some good vignette material, especially the track Fight Forever.

Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?

Banger: I haven’t had a chance to play these live yet, but when I do, I assume there’ll be some uncomfortable eye contact, and a few more noodley electric piano solos.

Review Fix: What inspired your latest single?

Banger: Being cooped up, I played video games and sat on my butt for the first while, and it bummed me out. I beat Jedi Fallen order in 2 days, I beat GTA V in one. I played No Mans Sky until I realized how repetitive it is. And all that BUMMED ME OUT. My wonderful partner encouraged me to do something productive, she’s so productive all the time. I was just content zoning out during the pandemic, but that was one of the more unhealthy things I’ve done lately. Once I got inspired and encouraged, I thrived with my music.

Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2020?

Banger: I want to get in as good of shape as I was a few years ago. I want to ride my bike everywhere and get more involved in local politics and community action. Music-wise, I just want people to hear me as much as possible.

Review Fix: How has COVID-19 affected your life in music?

Banger: I wrote an album, that’s more productive than I’ve been in a while, so oddly in a positive way, yes. 

Review Fix: What’s next?

Banger: I’m working on new stuff everyday, I hope to have a few singles lined up in the coming months, one of which I’m collaborating with some local rappers so I can release both an instrumental and rap track together.

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Banger: Keep your heads up. Use this time to do exactly what YOU need to do right now. I see a lot of people beating themselves up for now being productive, but if that’s not what you need right now, remember, this is a crazy, scary, chaotic time right now. There is no one way to cope with the unprecedented situation and stress we’re all feeling right now. Be you, just be safe. Call a friend, I bet you both need to talk right now.