Dizzy Bats

Managing, singing, writing, playing, and producing your own music takes a lot of time, effort, and creativity. What is the process for producing an album? How does one become a professional musician and artist? How do you stay confident in front of crowds night after night? Connor Frost, who manages, sings, writes, and plays his own music with his band, Dizzy Bats, explains, “Just go out there and do it, repetition really helps.”

Having grown up playing music and being surrounded by a musically-talented family, standing in front of an audience is nothing new to Connor, but he continues to channel all of his energy into his performances and he makes sure he is always learning something from each new experience. Fresh off the release of his new EP, Appendectomy, Connor has a lot to share about his experiences pursuing music full-time and how he got to where he is today.

Name: Connor Frost
Age: 25
Education: B.A. from Connecticut College
Follow: Twitter | Facebook | Dizzy Bats | Take a Listen/Download

How do you define ‘seizing your youth’?

Following your passion. I do my best not to worry about the different molds that society has created for us, and instead just roll with it and ride that passion wave.

What did you major in at Connecticut College and how did you determine what to study?

Going into Connecticut College I knew that I wanted to study Chinese, so when I was applying to colleges, I looked for programs that had strong Chinese programs. I also knew that I wanted to study music but I wasn’t really trying to dive into a conservatory atmosphere. I was, however, looking for schools that would allow me to be involved musically, so the small liberal arts college system appealed to me.

Did you study abroad? What was your big takeaway from studying abroad and do you think it was worth it?

I studied in Beijing for the spring semester of my junior year. There are so many takeaways, but I would say by the end of that experience, I considered myself “fluent” in the Chinese language, which was ultimately my goal. I think it was also an incredible cultural learning experience. Just crossing the street in China is an adventure every day. Immersing myself in that type of environment that was totally different from what I grew up in was pretty great.

What or who inspired you to become a musician/artist?

I grew up playing music. My mom is a professional pianist. My dad is a singer. They’re both teachers, they both teach music. My mom works at Sacred Heart University as a teacher there, she’s also an organist at a church. My dad also teaches. So I grew up around music, but it wasn’t until college that I realized that music is what I want to do. My parents made me continue music up to a certain age, but I never felt like they forced it on me. It was a mix of being surrounded by it, but also the great experiences that I had in college and starting my own band made me realize that this is what I want to do.

How did you know you wanted to be a musician/artist professionally?

I didn’t really know. Out of college I was a full-time teacher for 2 years, the first year in Connecticut and then in North Jersey, and my reasoning for that was that I wanted to be in or around New York because that’s where my band was and still is. I really love teaching, realized that teaching full-time and doing the music thing full-time just wasn’t a healthy lifestyle and it was causing a lot of unneeded stress. I ultimately decided last February that I wanted to remove myself from full-time teaching and dedicate that time to music.

You recently went on a national tour. When on tour, how do you stay motivated on-stage night after night of performing?

I put all of my energy into the performance. Seeing the country is great, but at the end of the day, you’re on the road for one reason and that’s the performance. I try not to worry about things that are out of my control, which is easier said than done. Seeing different cities is pretty cool, too, but I put everything into the show. Whether I’m playing for 1 person or for 50 people, it doesn’t matter, I just try to make the performance the best it can be.

Have you ever forgotten a song lyric on-stage and what do you do when that happens?

Short answer, yes. I’ve mixed up verses. I think only the really hardcore Dizzy Bats fans notice, so it’s not a really big thing. I’ll definitely laugh about it, though.

Do you have a pre-show ritual?

I don’t really, but I probably should. I just try to eat well and not right before performing.

What is one of the greatest lessons you have learned from being a musician/artist?

I think throughout all of my song-writing, I was really concerned with how my music would be received amongst my friends, new fans, and family. In the beginning, it was as if I was trying to write for someone else. I was trying to write to this group of people – whoever they were, and I wasn’t even sure who they were really. Lyri - Carpe Juvenis

Managing, singing, writing, playing, and producing your own music takes a lot of time, effort, and creativity. What is the process for producing an album? How does one become a professional musician and artist? How do you stay confident in front of crowds night after night? Connor Frost, who manages, sings, writes, and plays his own music with his band, Dizzy Bats, explains, “Just go out there and do it, repetition really helps.”

Having grown up playing music and being surrounded by a musically-talented family, standing in front of an audience is nothing new to Connor, but he continues to channel all of his energy into his performances and he makes sure he is always learning something from each new experience. Fresh off the release of his new EP, Appendectomy, Connor has a lot to share about his experiences pursuing music full-time and how he got to where he is today.

Name: Connor Frost
Age: 25
Education: B.A. from Connecticut College
Follow: Twitter | Facebook | Dizzy Bats | Take a Listen/Download

How do you define ‘seizing your youth’?

Following your passion. I do my best not to worry about the different molds that society has created for us, and instead just roll with it and ride that passion wave.

What did you major in at Connecticut College and how did you determine what to study?

Going into Connecticut College I knew that I wanted to study Chinese, so when I was applying to colleges, I looked for programs that had strong Chinese programs. I also knew that I wanted to study music but I wasn’t really trying to dive into a conservatory atmosphere. I was, however, looking for schools that would allow me to be involved musically, so the small liberal arts college system appealed to me.

Did you study abroad? What was your big takeaway from studying abroad and do you think it was worth it?

I studied in Beijing for the spring semester of my junior year. There are so many takeaways, but I would say by the end of that experience, I considered myself “fluent” in the Chinese language, which was ultimately my goal. I think it was also an incredible cultural learning experience. Just crossing the street in China is an adventure every day. Immersing myself in that type of environment that was totally different from what I grew up in was pretty great.

What or who inspired you to become a musician/artist?

I grew up playing music. My mom is a professional pianist. My dad is a singer. They’re both teachers, they both teach music. My mom works at Sacred Heart University as a teacher there, she’s also an organist at a church. My dad also teaches. So I grew up around music, but it wasn’t until college that I realized that music is what I want to do. My parents made me continue music up to a certain age, but I never felt like they forced it on me. It was a mix of being surrounded by it, but also the great experiences that I had in college and starting my own band made me realize that this is what I want to do.

How did you know you wanted to be a musician/artist professionally?

I didn’t really know. Out of college I was a full-time teacher for 2 years, the first year in Connecticut and then in North Jersey, and my reasoning for that was that I wanted to be in or around New York because that’s where my band was and still is. I really love teaching, realized that teaching full-time and doing the music thing full-time just wasn’t a healthy lifestyle and it was causing a lot of unneeded stress. I ultimately decided last February that I wanted to remove myself from full-time teaching and dedicate that time to music.

You recently went on a national tour. When on tour, how do you stay motivated on-stage night after night of performing?

I put all of my energy into the performance. Seeing the country is great, but at the end of the day, you’re on the road for one reason and that’s the performance. I try not to worry about things that are out of my control, which is easier said than done. Seeing different cities is pretty cool, too, but I put everything into the show. Whether I’m playing for 1 person or for 50 people, it doesn’t matter, I just try to make the performance the best it can be.

Have you ever forgotten a song lyric on-stage and what do you do when that happens?

Short answer, yes. I’ve mixed up verses. I think only the really hardcore Dizzy Bats fans notice, so it’s not a really big thing. I’ll definitely laugh about it, though.

Do you have a pre-show ritual?

I don’t really, but I probably should. I just try to eat well and not right before performing.

What is one of the greatest lessons you have learned from being a musician/artist?

I think throughout all of my song-writing, I was really concerned with how my music would be received amongst my friends, new fans, and family. In the beginning, it was as if I was trying to write for someone else. I was trying to write to this group of people – whoever they were, and I wasn’t even sure who they were really. Lyri - Carpe Juvenis

Very much in the mold of 90's era Weezer with a touch of Nirvana, the punk pop of Dizzy Bats does a good job on its opener “Angry Eyes” full of churning chords and hummable choruses. ”

These Kids I Teach.” is a bit more chaotic, a long rant to authority (I guess) in response to a slack teacher who “won’t let you f*ck with me.” It’s almost like a different band on the acoustic and horn “The Batman and the Joker,” very much in the style of The Barenaked Ladies. The title track takes us back to the punk pop world, and each track is enjoyable on its own. A worthy download. - Powerpopaholic

Very much in the mold of 90's era Weezer with a touch of Nirvana, the punk pop of Dizzy Bats does a good job on its opener “Angry Eyes” full of churning chords and hummable choruses. ”

These Kids I Teach.” is a bit more chaotic, a long rant to authority (I guess) in response to a slack teacher who “won’t let you f*ck with me.” It’s almost like a different band on the acoustic and horn “The Batman and the Joker,” very much in the style of The Barenaked Ladies. The title track takes us back to the punk pop world, and each track is enjoyable on its own. A worthy download. - Powerpopaholic

As the Dizzy Bats prepare to release their new album, Appendectomy, Surviving the Golden Age is pleased to bring you a sneak peak of the band’s new single “Angry Eyes.” Utilizing the pop punk power of bands like Ruth’s Hat, “Angry Eyes” proves to be a true earworm, getting stuck in your head for hours if not days. It seems like a sign of good things to come for the New York band. - Surviving the Golden Age

When I first listened to Appendectomy, the second release from New York’s Dizzy Bats, I thought StGA had found this EP in a time capsule. It’s a perfect replica of 1990s pop-punk, complete with nasally vocals and some horns thrown in for good measure. You can imagine my relief when I found out that this sound was recreated on purpose (somehow, the idea of accidentally recreating ‘90s pop-punk and thinking it’s groundbreaking stuff disturbed me.) It turns out that Dizzy Bats’ frontman Connor Frost just loves the 1990s; the band’s Facebook page describes their sound as “new music from a different era” and “pop-rock like it’s 1995.” They’re pretty committed to the decade: their cover art screams early ‘90s and one of the lines in “Appendectomy” goes “Cyber me and say it’s okay.” Since I haven’t heard anyone use “cyber” as a verb in about a decade, I’ve got to give Dizzy Bats extra props on their commitment to ‘90s vintage.

This album borrows heavily from ‘90s punk-pop, since that is essentially what it is (except for the small detail of not having been made in the 1990s.) Much of it sounds heavily influenced by Green Day; it’s got that late-‘90s, early-2000s three-piece sound on “Appendectomy” and “Angry Eyes.” There are even ‘90s-friendly distorted vocals on “Angry Eyes.” The nasally vocals at times bring to mind They Might Be Giants (especially on “These Kids I Teach.”) There are plenty of anti-authoritarian-ish lyrics that teenagers love, especially on “These Kids I Teach.” The song seems to be sung to someone who is treating the singer like a child, expects him to grow, wants a gift-wrapped apology, and will lead him to his teaching job. The lyrics touch on a popular punk theme when they compare teaching to “molding the minds of future cogs.” Sound familiar from your adolescent pop-punk phase?

“The Batman and the Joker” is quite different from the other tracks; the acoustic instruments, shared lead vocals, and prominent horns all make the song different enough, but the attitude of the song is what really sets it apart. The other songs have the pop-punk frustration and peppy aggression. There’s something more mature about this track (even though in the lyrics I could clearly make out, they were quoting The Dark Knight.) As far as ‘90s band comparisons go, “The Batman and the Joker” has similarities to early Barenaked Ladies – the percussion screams BNL, but the dual lead vocals, use of bass, and ending with plenty of backing vocals are all reminiscent of this not-so-punk group. It’s a weird fit with the rest of the album, but it’s such an interesting song that you won’t question its inclusion.

Dizzy Bats do ‘90s pop-punk justice. They also have a well-produced sound that typically comes with experience; I was surprised to find out that this is only their second release. Does the world need more 1990s pop-punk? Maybe, maybe not. The fact is that Dizzy Bats are able to put together a better ‘90s pop-punk EP than some actual ‘90s pop-punk bands. It’s all been done before, but there’s a big nostalgia factor for anyone who was going through an angsty puberty (but hadn’t found the heavy stuff yet) in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. This record probably won’t be life affirming if you’re no longer mad at your parents; it won’t have nostalgia value if you’re too young to have downloaded a Blink-182 song on Napster or if you never bounced up and down on the spot at an Mx-Px concert. Still, it’s fun. - Surviving the Golden Age

The last week of new releases for the month of July spawned a number of standout singles from artists and bands that we’ve enjoyed in the past – such as Merge recording artist, The Love Language, or the popular indie rock band Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros (who just released their self-titled debut on Vagrant; even though it’s not their debut album) – and new, promising DIY and under-the-radar bands that we had never heard of before until recently, like The Cairo Gang or Dizzy Bats.

There were a number of self releases that had a fair amount of publicity behind them. First up is the band Filigar, which we’ve posted about in recent years, and who now have a terrific new single, “New Local,” that starts out with a piano introduction, and is followed by an immediate launch into a full-fledged power pop track with heavily melodic hooks, harmonica infusions and an excellent interplay between the bass and drums. Dizzy Bats presents the single “Batman and the Joker” and “Photographs,” from the band Fialta, is one of the best singles for the final week of July. Plus, listen to the garage rock of Kid Karate,. Diggin’ that. - Indie Rock Cafe

In Riffraf’s Indie Spotlight, we feature talented indie artists from around the world who create music, record, and tour without the support of a major label or financial backing.

Dizzy Bats began with an unabashed love of 90s pop-punk. With their new single, “Batman and the Joker,” the band takes a more collaborative route, expanding their sound to include rock and Americana.

Today we’re talking to band members Connor Frost, Dave Castillo, and Eric Segerstrom about their influences, experimenting with new sounds and a strange gig with drunken Coast Guard cadets.

What inspired the band name Dizzy Bats?

Connor: For my 23rd birthday, Dave, for whatever reason REALLY wanted to play Dizzy Bat. We didn’t have a bat so we used an old broom handle. It didn’t really register until a few minutes later that I had just drank from a disgusting broom handle. We needed to come up with a band name and that experience was still fresh in my mind.

Dave: For the record, I proposed the name “The Full Benefits,” but it didn’t test well with our friends and family focus group. I think it made the band sound a little too much like a male escort service.

946617_468139723267865_921016125_nWhat are some of your biggest influences, music or otherwise?

Connor: In terms of songwriting and style, if I’m going to keep it simple and pick just one person, it would have to be Rivers Cuomo. There is something so beautiful about catchy melodies over driving power chords. It’s impossible for me to separate musical influences from other aspects of life.

Eric: I’m at school for classical composition. My biggest musical inspirations are classical composers. But if we’re bringing it to drums, no one shreds more than Zach Hill or Buddy Rich. I could also be a little corny and say my parents are a huge influence.

You’re a self-proclaimed fan of 90s pop punk, which is definitely reflected in Sundial and Gallery Sessions, but your new single, “Batman and the Joker” features horns with an Americana feel. Will you be experimenting with different sounds and styles on your new EP?

Connor: The new EP definitely sticks to the roots, but our sound has developed and evolved a lot since Sundial. The additions of our guitarist, Kyle, and our kid drummer, Eric, are the main reasons for this maturity. This album was much more collaborative which led to a lot of various sound experiments.

Dave: The new EP is pretty similar to our previous material, but we had a little more time to flesh out each song as a band than we did with the Sundial and Gallery Sessions. The new recordings just seem more multi-dimensional. The band’s sound as a whole has developed organically.

Is it true “Batman and the Joker” was partially inspired by the Aurora shooting in 2012?

Connor: I wanted to do something to bring myself closer to the event so that I wouldn’t forget about it and have it just be another story. I’m not into politics really, so I didn’t want to make it a preachy tune. It’s simply a reflection on the event and a tribute to the victims and heroes.

Do you think being an independent artist offers more freedom in what you write and record?

Connor: We have been able to be an efficient and productive band simply because we have this freedom. When we put songs together and create a final product, we make the decisions. There is no third party involved. We don’t have to worry about boxing ourselves into a particular sound and our recent release is evidence of that. We’re able to record music that the four of us like, and that complete creative control is a beautiful thing. Running the business and PR end of Dizzy Bats can be extremely difficult and frustrating. I often fantasize about what it would be like if someone else did it for us.



What has been your strangest and/or most interesting gig?

Connor: We played a date in Bensalem, PA. Our set was at 1 AM. We played for a large biker crowd. It ended up being an unbelievable gig with the nicest bands and individuals. Some guy liked our set so much that he gave me a balloon before I walked off stage. That gesture was weird but also beautiful.

Dave: We also played a show in New London, CT. New London is also home to the Coast Guard Academy, and before our set, a 30-40 drunk cadets stormed the bar and demanded to hear Third Eye Blind covers.

Eric: I forget where it was, but there where a bunch of new coast guards doing a bar crawl, and they had dragged along some random 55-year-old guy. I talked to him for a while, and learned that the happiest moment of his life was when he made his second child. I also learned that he can’t remember the name of the mom of said child. He also told me he has a horse-like-penis. Weird.

What’s the most random cover you’ve played live?

Connor: ”Downtown” by Petula Clark. Our version is stupid fast, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

What’s next?

Connor: Our single “Batman and the Joker” dropped on 7/21. We released its lyric - Riffraf

NYC folk/rock trio the dizzy bats combine the driving catchiness of pop punk with the acoustic guitars and swelling horn laden choruses of the nu-folk sonic descendants of neutral milk hotel such as the decemberists. erudite lyrics and a chorus that takes you along in the undertow of its heavy, nearly orchestral momentum are the calling cards of their newest tune. - The Modern Folk Music of America

A song with lyrics that I did grasp right away was "Batman and the Joker" by Dizzy Bats. It uses those two comic book characters to spring off into a variety of other subjects, all coming to us over a rousing Americana backdrop. The harmonies and horns really work for me. There's an acoustic tour in the works that will criss-cross the nation, so look out for the Dizzy Bats in your town. - Those Who Dig

The Dizzy Bats come with the tagline “pop punk like its 1995,” but their new single shows that they have moved past the genre. The track is called “Batman and the Joker.” While the title sounds pop punk the track definitively does not. The track features acoustic guitars playing something close to folk with soaring horns and dueling vocals. The track sounds more befit of the Lumineers than Blink 182 but it works. - Surviving the Golden Age

Dizzy Bats’ front man, Connor Frost, never could kick his addiction to 90’s Pop Punk. Raised in the thicket of Westchester, NY by the sound of Billy Joe Armstrong’s nasal yelp, Frost’s childhood musical obsessions have sustained him into adulthood.

It comes as no surprise that “Sundial”, Dizzy Bats’ debut record, presents thick layers of distortion balanced by the twang of acoustic guitar while walking basslines carry home driving drum beats. Frost isn’t content with merely paying an homage to a classic sound. Dizzy Bats boast an honest reflection on times past and transitions at hand. The power trio will live on. - kit21.com

Dizzy Bats's song "Sundial", simply put, is a tribute to the college years. The "Sundial" refers to a place on campus at Connecticut College, frontman Connor Frost's alma mater, where he and his friends would often gather to reflect and unwind, usually in the early AM hours. The song brings the listener through specific events, including Freshman Orientation, Graduation, and the infamous Johnson fire of 2008. The tune also refers to everyday happenings, such as the perpetual struggle of waking up for class as well as other completely legal and harmless activities that took place behind the closed doors of Larrabee 309. Like at the time the song was written, Frost transitions into the "real world" fiercely and abruptly. "Welcome home, son, you've received a package, it's not money or that western tree" references that daunting stack of paperwork that marked the end to the collegiate years and the beginning of the dreaded post-graduation life. Despite this reality, these friends and years are never forgotten, as Frost sings: "Won't forget these campfire moments, and all that you taught me."

This nostalgic piece serves as a dedication to friends and commemorates an incredible time. No matter what happens in the next ten, twenty years, we can always go back to the Sundial. - Round Magazine

Dizzy Bats's song "Sundial", simply put, is a tribute to the college years. The "Sundial" refers to a place on campus at Connecticut College, frontman Connor Frost's alma mater, where he and his friends would often gather to reflect and unwind, usually in the early AM hours. The song brings the listener through specific events, including Freshman Orientation, Graduation, and the infamous Johnson fire of 2008. The tune also refers to everyday happenings, such as the perpetual struggle of waking up for class as well as other completely legal and harmless activities that took place behind the closed doors of Larrabee 309. Like at the time the song was written, Frost transitions into the "real world" fiercely and abruptly. "Welcome home, son, you've received a package, it's not money or that western tree" references that daunting stack of paperwork that marked the end to the collegiate years and the beginning of the dreaded post-graduation life. Despite this reality, these friends and years are never forgotten, as Frost sings: "Won't forget these campfire moments, and all that you taught me."

This nostalgic piece serves as a dedication to friends and commemorates an incredible time. No matter what happens in the next ten, twenty years, we can always go back to the Sundial. - Round Magazine

Pop punk has become a term with a certain stigma to it. Most people shy away from the label but not Dizzy Bats. They, lead by frontman Connor Frost, embrace the label and even promote it. I got a chance to talk with Frost about the band’s new record, Sundial, his love for pop punk, and his recent appendectomy.


I heard you were in the hospital recently to get your appendix removed. How are you recovering?
Thanks for asking! I am doing much better. I actually had to go back to the hospital for a few nights for a second surgery due to complications that came up after the appendectomy (I’ll spare you the details). All is well, though, and I should be out of the house soon!

Where did the name Dizzy Bats come from?
The story behind the naming of this band cannot be published here, but I will say it was between Dizzy Bats and Frost Bite. I thought Frost Bite was too self-centered and sounded too much like an 80s glam metal band.

You describe your music as pop punk which is a label many bands shy away from. Why do you embrace it?
I think there are different types of pop punk. The pop punk I’m referring to is that nostalgic 90s sound where straight power chords and simple chord progressions provide accompaniment for the vox. That’s our sound, so embrace it we must!

Do you listen to much modern pop punk or are most of your influences from the 90s pop punk boom?
Definitely still stuck in the 90s. I can’t seem to find a modern group that mirrors the sound of my childhood favorites. I don’t wanna grow up! The new stuff that I listen to now is definitely more on the folk side of things, another genre I draw inspiration from.

You recently released your debut album, Sundial. What were the recording sessions like?
Such an amazing experience. We recorded in two locations, The Gallery Recording Studio in Brooklyn as well as my alma mater, Connecticut College. We had the privilege of working with my buddy Jon Markson who is the most talented and down to earth dude you will ever meet. To be able to collaborate with him and all of the musicians who helped out with the project was a real treat. I thought the sessions would be tedious, but we ended up motoring through in just a few days. Can’t wait for the next one.

Finally, what’s next for Dizzy Bats?
We have a ton of stuff coming up! We’re coming out with a live performance video of our tune “This Lovely Dancer” in November and I’m currently planning out our 2013 show schedule. Down the road we’re looking to release our second single and music video as well as an acoustic video mini-series and EP. In between all of that, we’ll be writing for the sophomore record! - Surviving the Golden Age

New York Alt. Rock Dizzy Bats Debut First Singles

Just a year since their formation, the New York City DIY alternative/nerd rock band Dizzy Bats got our attention with their light and playful style, sounding very much like college indie rock – with touches of punk pop – that was so popular in the 1990s. “Please Stall” sounds a lot like Weezer, as does the second, more uptempo, single, “Sundial,” with an added touch of They Might Be Giants. So it’s no surprise that lead vocalist Connor Frost told IRC that Dizzy Bats model their music after bands like Weezer, Green Day and Dinosaur Jr. Their album cover looks like it was illustrated by Keith Haring. - Indie Rock Cafe

New York self-aggrandized pop punk band, Dizzy Bats released their debut album, Sundial today. The album’s lead single is “Please Stall,” a dynamic track that sounds somewhere between the 90s output of Green Day and Dinosaur Jr. - Surviving the Golden Age