Buffalo’s Not Normal Drops Textured, High-Energy Debut EP ‘Furnish the World’

(EDITOR’S NOTES — 1120 Press had the pleasure recently to speak with Not Normal — a spirted Buffalo rock band made up of four dynamic multi-instrumentalists — which released its debut EP, ‘Furnish the World,’ today on streaming platforms (Click HERE to listen). The band worked with well-known engineer Doug White in making the five-track EP, which features well-crafted songs rich with vivid imagery and blended with skilled musicianship. Self-described as a “high-energy” band “on a mission to bring fun back to the Buffalo music scene,” Not Normal is comprised of Jen Karlis (vocals and bass), Josh Link (guitar), Mike Bermel (drums) and James Brennan (vocals and guitar). The band will celebrate the drop of ‘Furnish the World’ with an 8 p.m. release show Friday, April 4, at Central Park Grill.)

(Photo by MC Costanza)

And all those times we said we'd blow out our brains

Take a toaster bath in the ocean in Delray

You gotta remember all the things to make you stay

You gotta push thru the rain for brighter days

— Push Thru the Rain (from Furnish the World’)

1120 PRESS: Thank you for speaking with us and congratulations on the new EP! How’s everyone feeling about it and is there anything of which your particularly proud?

JOSH: I'm proud of everyone for sticking with it. Everyone had some crazy stuff happening in their lives the past year and the fact we were able to keep it together and get it done is amazing.

MIKE: We're really excited! We're very proud of how much we've accomplished in only a year with the amount of shows we played in 2024 and the amount of people we reached. 

JAMES: Thank you! It feels incredible to be able to share our songs and have them readily available to be accessed/found. I am truly proud of how much positive reception we have received in this past year off of shows and word of mouth alone, even without a release.

JEN: I'm just really proud of the amount of passion each of us have put into these songs. The four of us always seemed to be on the same page of what the songs needed to be when the ideas were presented and they all came together seemingly effortlessly. I feel we all really "serve the song." It's honestly a little nerve-wracking (too). It's the feeling of the unknown about how it'll be received. I'm obviously proud of the work we put into this but it's difficult being critiqued as a band/unit if I'm being honest. It was a lot easier to be a solo artist because I was only accountable for myself and now I'm also representing a lot more than that, which is an honor. It also doesn't feel done and it's a hard thing to describe. The songs feel complete and done, but I think the collective work being finished is odd because it truly feels like the start of new possibilities for us, which is one of the newest and best feelings I've ever had.

(Cover art by Aaron Gordon)

1120: Doug White is a very well-respected engineer who’s especially renowned for his work with bands from more heavy genres. Why did you choose to work with Doug and what do you think he did for you in terms of the band’s sound on the record?

MIKE: Doug is a great engineer. I had worked with Doug before and recommended him. He had a lot of great ideas with production and different input for gear and effects throughout the recording process.

JAMES: Wowwww is he efficient at tracking! He made the whole process from click-track to mixed song feel great! There were some moments in tracking where he had fun tips/tricks that really added some flair. I think he really understood the outcome and helped us get there.

JEN: Doug was not only the master of tone, but he really helped us stay on track in the recording process. The main goal was to finally get the music out there and that kind of workflow allowed us to not dwell on small mistakes. We were able to crank out five fully completed songs in two-and-a-half days, which in my experience is unheard of for the quality we got out of it.  

1120: With vocals coming from both James and Jen, what do you think that offers the band in terms of opportunity? For instance, there’s an interesting interplay/mix between them on the song ‘FAFO.’ We’re wondering: With both a male and female vocalist, and each bringing different abilities and styles, what do you think the range of possibilities might be for the band as it moves forward?

JOSH: I think the dynamics between Jen and James are creative but coherent. They can keep the song moving fluently even when switching lead parts like in FAFO. 

MIKE: Having male and female vocals offers a range of dynamics and genres. There's no limit to possibilities for key signatures in the writing process or covers we can perform. I think it'll capture a wider audience than it would if we were another four-piece rock band with all dudes.

JAMES: I think having more voices/styles/textures gives us more range and versatility with expression. Eventually, I would love to have each of our voices featured in our original songs to give everyone a chance for the spotlight. We already incorporate that concept into our cover sets and it's really special having four competent multi-instrumentalists who are also vocalists, including our drummer.

JEN: When I joined the band, I did not expect to be singing lead in the sense that I am. I expected to just sing some harmonies where needed. Being pushed to step outside of that comfort zone has helped me grow SO MUCH as a performer and musician this past year and faster than I ever had before. We really are growing together. Pushing Josh and Mike to sing and contribute to the writing process as much as they do has noticeably increased their confidence as well and it's so cool to see. Having all four voices in the mix of originals is the ultimate goal and it's so fun having absolutely no limits creatively. 

1120: There’s a very ‘craftsman-like’ approach, it seems, to the songwriting on this EP. There’s a storytelling element to these songs — ‘Pawns in a Game,’ and ‘Push through the Rain,’ for instance, are not only catchy but contain imagery coupled with really great musicianship. What’s the band’s philosophy in terms of musical direction?

JOSH: I think we want to be upbeat and uplifting and continuing to make music that rocks the house.

MIKE: First of all, thank you for that compliment. We do try to paint a picture and get the listener to really feel the songs. In terms of philosophy, we want to brighten peoples' day/ be a silver lining/not take ourselves too seriously. Also, we don't want to put ourselves in a box and want to feel free to write whatever comes to mind and not try to fit in a certain genre. We just want to lift people up.

JAMES: I think first and foremost, we prioritize having fun with it. I personally love having themes/concepts — most of my favorite albums are concept-based — and feel that it really helps writing in and around the world when you can already visualize it.

JEN: The band is composed of four songwriters and the input and communication, both verbal and non-verbal, as far as imagery and overall direction for songs is unmatched. I love the energy everyone brings to the songwriting process. It's frustrating at times but the ideas always flow with excitement and I've never felt more comfortable writing or trying new things than I do with these guys. We've managed to find a balance between self-expression, catharsis, and having fun like a bunch of kids. There isn't a specific direction I'd want to go in except to keep growing and getting better as musicians and individuals. Being in a rock band is a dream I never thought would come true and I just love that I get to keep making cool music with my best friends.

1120: What else is planned for 2025?

MIKE: We really just want to keep playing shows, maybe record a couple singles, and branch out to different venues and cities. 

JAMES: We would love to perform in new venues, and with new bands and continue to grow! We would love to play some out-of-town shows! Definitely continue to work on new material. 

JEN: My main goal is to connect with new people. Buffalo is so small, but there are so many people I'd love to meet and share experiences with and other people I'd love to continue to foster relationships with. This band has already helped so much with that.