Since originally forming in 2008, Survay Says! has changed a lot. At the same time, they've also stayed pretty much the same.

Despite multiple lineup changes and going from an internet joke to a veteran of everything from Warped Tour to Riot Fest, Survay Says! has never wavered on its blend of pop punk and ska to create an energetic sound somewhere in the middle of the two genres. Entering its 8th year, the quintet from the Garden State already has four albums, numerous international tours and an unbelievable amount of shows (over 200 in some years) under its belt, so the band's recipe is clearly working.

Myspace chopped it up with founding guitarist and singer Henry Menzel to discuss the past, the future and that second vowel in the first word of the band's name.

Hometown/Homebase: Blairstown, NJ

Which bands have been the biggest influences on you?

I draw from my favorite ska acts (Reel Big Fish, Big D & The Kids Table, Less Than Jake) and from my favorite pop punk bands (The Wonder Years, Set Your Goals, Sum 41) to hopefully create a unique and fun sound for folks!

What do you think is different for a band in 2016 when compared to the past?

It’s tough. There’s so much to compete with for people’s attention, musically and otherwise, that it puts a lot of pressure on bands to stay active, fresh, and confident in what they are creating. 

People must tell you all the time that Survay Says! is technically spelled wrong, would you care to explain that?

I wish people knew that we know Survay is spelled wrong! We did it on purpose. For Myspace, in fact. There were several profiles with it spelled correctly. We used an “A” instead of “E” so it would be different. It was mostly a joke. We weren’t supposed to be a serious band. Our “career” happened by accident.

Survay Says! has been around for several years now (with many different members), but how did the band originally start?

The original members and I started the band to make silly songs we liked and put them on Myspace and pretend we were a “band.” We thought it would be fun if we played a few shows, and after that, I was hooked. I couldn’t stop. A joke became a hobby. A hobby became a passion. Now I can’t picture myself doing anything else.

Not a lot of bands out there are blending pop punk and ska together. How did that sound come about? 

I’ve always just wanted to play music I like the most, so we slammed our favorite things together and some people like it! Again, kind of an accident. I’m not good at gauging what other people think is cool, but I know what I think is cool. And so that’s what this music is.

Over the years, you've played a ton of shows and undoubtedly had some great times, but what's the coolest thing Survay Says! has done as a band?

That’s a tough question. We exist for doing cool things. For the sake of not listing things forever, I’ll go with our UK tour with Goldfinger. What an honor to bring our music to another continent with such a legendary band. It was unbelievable.

What kinds of things inspire you to make music?

It’s a form of therapy. I have a lot to get off my chest; anger, sadness, loneliness and the like. Making a song out of it is the best way I can make sense of things. Sometimes it is the only thing I can do to connect with the outside world in a meaningful way.

Have you learned any valuable life lessons in your time with Survay Says!?

I’ve learned more about the world in my tenure in the band than I would have if I was sitting at home at a day job. I get to explore the country and the world, meet people, and see how things work firsthand. You can’t gather the world from a computer screen alone. Being in this band has shaped who I am, and I don’t think I’m so bad.

What does 2016 look like in the world of Survay Says?!

2016 is going to be a year of change and transition for us. There are big changes to come. If you’re reading this, stay tuned. It won’t be long.

With so many different pieces needing to come together, what's the creative process like for you and the band?

It’s not unlike a putting together a jigsaw puzzle. My ideas are very scattered at first, but over time, they come together with the help of the band. The difference between our songs and a puzzle is we continue to add to the picture.