Any and all artistic projects tend to follow the same anti-directions: Go left at the place. Take a right past the thing. If you reach the question mark you’ve gone too far.

So, for those proclaiming 2015 as their own start-a-band year, we spoke with none other than Brooklyn-based Band Practice, compiling some guidance on the staples of musical onset: name, members, bonding, booking and, of course, practicing.

Having released their debut album Make Nice last month, partners-in-crime Jeanette Wall and Ben Bondy hold credibility beyond their comedic yet fundamental group name. Band Practice is officially standing on discography via Chill Mega Chill records after spending approximately two years as a floating project idea. Needless to say, the duo knows a thing or two about the spice-of-life suggestion: “Let’s start a band or something.”

Allston Pudding: So to start off, can you guys just introduce yourselves? Names? Occupations? Sign? Hometown?

Jeanette Wall: I’m Jeanette, and I play in Band Practice. I sing and write songs. I’m a Libra, and I’ve got a bagel with cream cheese in my life right now.

Ben Bondy: I’m Ben Bondy. I also play in Band Practice. I drive a Honda CR-V. I’m from New Jersey. I like dogs. I have two of them, and yeah. That’s about all there is to know about me.

AP: Before we get to band formation tips, I do want to ask you guys about Make Nice. How did the songwriting process go for this one?

JW: Yeah! The songs are all over the place. There’s one song that Ben wrote and I added some stuff onto it when we were recording because we decided we wanted it different. But some of the songs are songs that I actually wrote two…two years ago? The first sort of “version” of band practice was just me playing with ukulele and acoustic guitar.

BB: It’s been about two years now since Jeanette and I stayed together in London.

JW: We literally had beds pushed together and shared a nightstand.

BB: We could not be apart. Over the past few years she’s been compiling songs and releasing singles and really doing it all herself. Honestly when Band Practice first started, it was Jeanette and I saying, “Oh! We should do this,” and then it ended up just being Jeanette who pursued it for a while since I was doing whatever with other bands.

And then, finally it just came together. So, the songwriting process, for me, was just throwing whatever sounds in that I thought would be good with Jeanette’s songwriting. It was pretty easy and, in fact, came together in like one weekend.

JW: We literally recorded it in two days.

BB: Yeah, two days at my parents’ house.

AP: Really?

JW: Yeah! With one microphone.

AP: If you had to theme the album with one word, what would you pick?

JW: Hindsight. I think? The songs are from all over the past two years. Some of the songs were written close to when the album was recorded, and some of them were recorded from when I was in college. Even if the songs may be about more serious topics, hindsight is 20/20, and, looking back, I try to have a sense of humor about it all.

BB: I was trying to come up with a word, but “hindsight” is way better than what I was thinking. Mine was “retrospect” just because up until this point I think Band Practice has been growing and growing. The album is a collective of all that’s been going on with us.

JW: We’ve always worked together and been really good friends, but we just never really DID this band. So it’s exciting that its come to fruition now. I think this is really good timing.

AP: Do you think being a two-person team as opposed to a larger band influenced how the album was pulled together?

JW: Definitely. Ben just knows me really well, and he knows where I’m coming from. I’ve never really been in a full, four-piece band other than in high school. I know Ben can definitely speak to this more than I can, but I think that, ultimately, communication becomes the central point of a band. You have to make sure everyone’s on the same page. With two people, that’s naturally a lot easier I guess.

BB: Jeanette and I are fabulous at over-sharing our feelings all the time and fabulous at over-listening to each others’ feelings. Up until this point, I’ve always played in bands with more than one other person, and it can be complicated. It’s definitely easier, especially with recording though. We can just ask ourselves, “what do we want this to sound like?” and decide in two seconds. This was the easiest recording process I’ve ever had since we made decisions on the fly.

JW: Yeah, and having done it that way I think the album really sounds like a complete thought, which is something my previous recording never really had. We both recorded it and were like, “Great! We made this thing,” just sort of pushing it out like a baby.

BB: Like a baby?

JW: Yeah. We’re just on the same wavelength all the time. Basically, this is the best band member … ever.

AP: Good to hear. Now, can you explain the corgis all over your album cover and sites?

JW: His name is Chad… My friend Ian who runs Chill Mega Chill wanted to put out a Band Practice record, and I was like “Oh shit! This will be an actual thing.”

At that point, I knew we had to have funny album art. I wanted something that I would really love on it. Something that if I ever get really wasted I can get it tattooed on me. So, I employed Joel and my friend Lizzie who does this magazine called The Miscreant with me. These are two of the best visual artists I know, and I made them help decide what should be on the album. I think some combination of all of us decided that we had to have a corgi as the Band Practice animal.

BB: And it’s really just Jeanette. Jeanette is a corgi.

AP: That’s adorable.

JW: I am a corgi. It’s not that we don’t take things seriously, it’s that this band purely exists to have fun. We could dig deeper into the philosophy surrounding the corgi, but it’s really just a self-portrait.

AP: Now, for more how-to guidance on starting/maintaining a band, I’m just going to list off some topics that you guys can give tips for. Sound good?

JW: Definitely.

AP: Band name:

BB: Oh man. Anything that sounds sad or evil is usually the way I go.

JW: Yeah like Friendless Bummer?

BB: Yes. Anything that sounds like a bit of a horror soundtrack works.

JW: I would have to agree, but how did I come up with Band Practice Ben? Do you remember?

BB: All I remember is that we were in my dorm, and you said you wanted to have a band called Band Practice so you could have Band Practice band practice.

JW: Yeah! So you want to either have something evil or have a really bad joke.

AP: Band members:

BB: Your friends. Hands down.

JW: I was actually talking about this with Joel. We were talking about finding drummers since he’s in a band called Advertising. He mentioned that with writing, it’s extremely important to feel comfortable with everyone so that you can be confident sharing even stupid ideas.

BB: You need people that you can thoroughly embarrass yourself in front of. I know a lot of people in bands that try people out that they know through distant connections, and, for me, that’s never worked. Even if that means sacrificing somebody who’s the best at something, it’s worth it for the comfort level.

AP: Band Bonding:

JW: Smoke a ton of weed. No …but kind of!

BB: Yeah kind of. Snacks too. Have some snacks… Bonding at practice just means letting yourselves be goofy with one another and getting food before and after.

JW: Yeah, and at our last practice Ben, Ricky and Joel all just started jamming. I was confused, but Ben said we needed to jam first. There’s that too.

BB: You gotta feel it out. That’s the most important thing.

AP: Band Booking:

JW: I used to work at Silent Barn, and when I was working there I felt a lot more in tune with things going on at all these other DIY spaces. I think having a foot in the door helps.

But we’re also pretty rational too. Band Practice probably isn’t gonna do some big national tour anytime soon. However, if you have a friend that goes to college within driving distance, go visit. Check out new spaces. Especially make an effort to check out new DIY spaces.

BB: I think a lot of people are obsessed with the idea of trying to “network your way” and “meet the right people,” but when we’re trying to book shows it’s easy to just set something up with friends. Building a supportive circle of friends is important.

JW: That’s all we did at Syracuse. We were all getting our bands together to do mostly house shows.

BB: Also it’s just important to make shows happen. If no one is booking your band, book your own band. Have a show in your living room, and book your friends to come play too.

AP: Band social media:

JW: I’ve just been posting pictures that Joel has texted me of him holding his dog. That’s my idea of monopolizing under social media platforms. I don’t know. I guess you just… gotta be you! And post shit semi-regularly.

I co-manage an artist called Mitski, and she was told me she only posts stuff if she has tour dates to add below it. So that’s a more meticulous way. I, personally, try not to take it too seriously.

AP: Band practice:

JW: Ben, you should definitely take this one.

BB: Honestly, I think you should always get food before. Eat before, so that nobody’s crabby. Crabby people are the worst, especially when they need to eat. Get your eat on.

Take your time setting up. Hang out for a while. I think rushing things makes it all harder. Get into your comfort zone. Jam. Jamming, it’s essential. I don’t really know how to do it, but I like to pretend I can and just make sounds.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a break. The most important thing is to make sure that everyone is happy, because you should never let being in band stress you out. It’s about doing what you like to do.