The Shelters had a pretty awesome 2015, come to think of it. Chase Simpson (vocals and guitar), Josh Jove (vocals and guitar), Sebastian Harris (drums) and Jacob Pillot (bass) didn’t just get signed by Warner Bros. Records, their debut also got co-produced by Tom Petty. When the Los Angeles-based band came together in 2014, they developed a signature sound—bluesy, spacey, fuzzy and melodic rock 'n roll that’s contemporary and classic at the same time.

Simpson, who says he was 10 years old when his first band started practicing in his parents’ living room, talks to Myspace about their name and how living in Los Angeles is integral to their sound.

Hometown: We all are actually from different towns. Sebastian was born in Durban, South Africa. Josh is from Orlando, Florida, and Jacob and I are from L.A., born and raised.

Homebase: Los Angeles

Why are you called The Shelters?

We had been working on the project for a couple years just spending our time recording songs and perfecting our craft as songwriters, never really lifting our heads up for air. All that time we hadn't ever really cared to search for a name. When the time came where we really needed one because we were about to start playing, we came up with The Shelters. We liked it because during those years we really found shelter in our lives working on that music, being in the studio and being together everyday. It just felt like it was meant to be.

How did everyone in the Shelters meet?

Sebastian and I grew up in the same area, and had mutual friends. At the time I was trying to start a band, and we needed a drummer so I asked Sebastian one day if he'd be interested in coming up. I think our connection was just so strong that I really never thought about playing or looking for another drummer since then.

Anyway, we started a band with those guys and through the bass player we met Josh. When Josh came into the picture that's when things started to light up. Together we knew we were doing something special.

Unfortunately as bands do, that band hit a wall and kinda deteriorated. There was a bit of a hiatus but I think that Josh, Sebastian and I felt like we had to keep going somehow. I called Josh up one day and said let's start a new band, and that was really the beginning of what would become The Shelters. Jacob joined us a couple years later when we were first gearing up to start playing shows. He’s been great, he really just kind of fell into the band.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

We all love the greats like The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley … we've all been inspired by and learnt from all of them in so many different ways it's hard to see who's affected us the most.

Describe your music to someone who's never heard you before.

That’s always an impossible question for me! I guess I describe it as what I hope people hear it as. We're a guitar and vocal oriented contemporary rock band, drawing influences from British Invasion music, blues, surf and classic rock, with a modern edge, and heavy emphasis on songs.

You’re said to have a quintessential Los Angeles sound that spans decades. How exactly does LA influence your music creation?

I would say it's completely responsible for it, at least for me. We're all products of our environment. Everything I write about is from my life growing up where I did, and the experiences I've had. I think The Shelters couldn't exist in any other city at any other time than now. LA is definitely a big part of who we are.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

There are so many great people, but a few off the top of my head would be Jeff Lynne, Daniel Lanois, Rick Rubin, Glyn Johns, T-Bone Burnett.

What's the craziest thing that’s happened to you as a band so far?

Hmm - we haven't had our clothes ripped off of us while on stage yet, unfortunately. It's been relatively well behaved on the road thus far. I think one of the cooler things I heard was that a group of kids travelled all the way from Mexico to come see us, which we all were so touched by. Definitely made our night.

Why is your debut self-titled?

We just wanted to be simple. I think it's a good idea for a band like us who no one’s heard of, to have a self titled as their first release. That way people aren't distracted and have a chance to really catch the name of the band.