Asbury Jams Interview Series: Hotel Fiction

Ever listen to a band and think, “Well, there’s big things ahead for this band.”

Hotel Fiction — comprised of best friends Jade Long and Jessica Thompson — is one of those bands. Their keyboard-driven sound combined with their enchanting vocals deliver an undeniable pop sound that are bolstered hints of blues, jazz and indie rock. It’s a sound you can see scoring the band spots on festivals and big tours in the years to come.

Recently, Pop Break caught up with the band to talk about touring in their band Maggie May, new music on the horizon and what they love about being in this band. Tonight, Hotel Fiction takes the stage at The Wonder Bar along with Quinn Sullivan and Happy Landing as a part of Asbury Jams.

Hotel Fiction is (Band Members & Instruments They Play): Jade Long: keyboard, vocals; Jessica Thompson: electric guitar, vocals; Aaron Daugherty: electric guitar, synth; Lucas LoPiccolo: bass; Karmen Smith: drums and Gideon Johnston: drums.

Year We Formed In: We met each other in 2019 and formed a band almost immediately after becoming friends! 

The Story Behind Our Name: We actually used to have an old band name, Tomorrow Today, but before we released our first song we wanted to re-evaluate and make sure it was the perfect name. We spent the summer brainstorming different words we liked and different names. Hotel Fiction is what we landed on, and it’s come to mean many things to us since! 

Bands That Inspired Our Sound: The Beatles, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, The Strokes.

You’ve Seen Us in Other Bans Before Such As: Jessica used to play in her middle school and high school band No Komment. Lucas used to play in Everyday Dogs. Karmen plays drums in the band Cloudland. 

Famous/Awesome Bands We’ve Shared the Stage With: We are about to go on tour with the coolest girl band ever the Beaches. We have played with Flipturn, Adam Melchor, Beach Fossils, the Brook and the Bluff, The Hails, and Susto to name a few!

“Astronaut Kids” is your first single which you released in 2019. Since then you’ve released a full length record and toured the country — how do you feel Hotel Fiction has evolved as performers and songwriters since the release of the first single?

It feels like so long ago that we wrote and recorded “Astronaut Kids.” At the time we had just started a band and knew nothing about recording. Since then we’ve learned so much just by writing more, playing more shows, and being in the studio. We also took a few production classes in college. When we recorded this new EP in the studio, we took all of the lessons we’ve learned on the road and in the studio and we both agree it’s our best work yet. 

In 2021 you released Soft Focus — are there any plans for a new full length or EP on the horizon?

We actually just finished up our next EP yesterday! We will be releasing it in the fall and we’re so excited for everyone to hear it. 

If someone wanted come out to Asbury Jams at Wonder Bar to hear you guys play – what song of yours would you suggest they “pre-game” with (listen to before they come to the show) in order to fully get what Hotel Fiction is all about? 

“Think Twice” is one of our favorites! It’s a good one to dance to. 

What do you love about being in this band?

We all try to stay positive and have fun with each other. The band feels like family and our deepest support system. It’s wonderful to create art with people you connect so deeply with. 

You’ve hit the road in your van, Maggie May, this year — what’s been one of your favorite experiences on the road so far this year?

Maggie Mae is our trusty steed, but one time in Wisconsin she was not so trusty and we broke down on the side of the road. We ended up getting her towed back to this beautiful farm we were staying at in Wisconsin (shoutout Beth and Will for housing us!) and we fixed her ourselves the next day. It was just a really fun weekend full of teamwork, laughing, and good food. We took a seemingly bad experience and turned it into one of our favorite times on tour. 

What are you most excited about for the band in 2022?

We’re most excited to release our new EP, go on tour with the Beaches, and keep writing songs!

Hotel Fiction performs tonight at Asbury Jams at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, New Jersey with Quinn Sullivan and Happy Landing. Tickets are $10.