A Light Chat with Featherweight

Hailing from Akron, Ohio, Featherweight blends heavy guitar composition with atmospheric melodies and emotionally honest lyrics. I got the chance to walk to their vocalist, Richie Dolbow, about the band and his journey in music. 

What got you into music? 

My father gave me a Slipknot CD when I was a kid. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into when I realized that playing heavy-ish music would be my path for the rest of my life. I’ve never looked back since.

How was Featherweight conceived? 

Featherweight used to be called Sorry Mom, and we leaned into the heavy side of Pop Punk. After we started taking things more seriously in the writing along with some lineup changes, so would the name.

What’s the creative process like? Lyrics or Music first?

A lot of our creativity is at home alone. We each write song skeletons or riffs to present when we gather, and if we’re feeling one, we’ll work on it as a unit to become a more fleshed out piece.

Who would you like to collaborate with?

Holding Absence would be a wild collaboration. Or have Andy Cizek on a track of ours. Something like that; or have Will Putney produce a record with us. There’re too many people and artists that we draw influence from to properly answer that one.

Do you have a favorite song to perform live? 

Our favorite song to perform is probably “In Ember”. It’s a Featherweight classic that has elements of every side of us combined. It just has a special place in our hearts.

Any words you would like to share with your fans? 

We appreciate and love everyone that has been helping us grow and thrive. We will continue to deliver and hope you continue to come with us.