Meet Route 1!

Musical duo LastMile and Suzo discuss their stage name, the artists and shows that have inspired them the most, and more!

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? 

Our music has a good vibe to enjoy together. We think this composition makes Route 1's music more empathetic, not only [in] happy and exciting moments, but also [in moments when people] have to endure it alone. [It is] music that is exciting but sympathizes [with] tragedy or sadness at the same time. To sum it up in one sentence, [we] want Route 1's music to be good to listen to during the day and at night. 

What does the name “Route 1” mean to you?

As he passed through the “Route 1” highway of California, producer LastMile thought it was so beautiful. We thought it was great, because “National Route 1” also means that it was the first road built in the area. It was named after the nuance of creating and pioneering a path. 

What different strengths do you each add to Route 1? Do you view your strengths and weaknesses as balancing each other’s out?

First of all, we think the biggest advantage is each other's position. LastMile, [who] makes the tracks, and Suzo, who is in charge of song lyrics, always communicate to make music. If LastMile is bread, then Suzo is jam! When Suzo's emotional elements are added to the unique, faint mood of LastMile’s tracks, it becomes the unique sound of Route 1. Second, there are many similarities [between us], but it seems that the team itself [helps us be] responsible and rely on each other to [handle] moments of frustration. 

Do you remember when you first wanted to become musicians and what sparked that interest?

It [is] difficult to pick one moment, because both of us learned to play an instrument when we were young; the element of music was already in our lives. However, recently, both of us watched The Chainsmokers’ stage. Our hearts were racing, watching their performance [and] the heat and energy of the festival. We want to be a musician who [can make] “The Moment.” 

What careers would you be pursuing if you were not musicians? What are you passionate about besides music?

LastMile dreamed of becoming a pilot. He was very happy [to be] transformed into an airplane in the “Flowering” music video! Suzo would have become a poet or writer. There are many things she wants to [express] about life itself: communication, comfort... [And] she is already telling us via singing her songs.   

Please share some information about each of these songs:

“Flowering”: This song was written [when we were] 25 and 26. We thought the first half of our twenties passed too fast, so we expressed our desire to work harder and live without hesitation. 

“Peter Pan” ft. Zizubaby: We finished the vocal line and lyrics in the rough sketch stage of this song. At that time, Suzo herself was heartbroken from love, so the song came out very quickly! Zizubaby is an old colleague who has been working [with a] hip-hop crew since 2013. 

“Bad Vibes”: This was the first song after we formed Route 1. Surprisingly, with amazing support from our acquaintances, [we were] able to film the music video, and through this process, we were able to share tracks [with] DJ Juncoco, who is [a] musical mentor to us. Since then, we’ve received a lot of help and support from Juncoco.

What songs do you have on loop these days? 

While preparing the [newest release, we] mainly listened to tracks by The Chainsmokers and Zedd, who we were worshiping as idols. Suzo has recently been very into J-pop, and [she] loves and is inspired by Vaundy and Kenshi Yonezu. 

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

We are currently learning a lot while preparing for [a] mini-album, and we still think we are not good enough. We are doing our best to make our first full studio album by next year. Our long-term goal is to perform live on a large scale with an orchestra. Since we [were] extremely touched by the Avicii tribute concert, we [have wanted] to share the sensitivity of live instruments with [an] audience. 

Where can people follow you on social media to stay updated about your new music?

News for upcoming albums and shows can be found on Instagram and YouTube. We also post covers of our favorite songs. Please give us a lot of support. 

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourselves or your music?

It was such a valuable experience to organize our thoughts and look back on ourselves while having [this] interview. We hope our music can exist in someone's precious [memories] in the future.

Check out Route 1’s new single here!

Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity. Photo credit: Instagram.