Although Case Study was formed in Pomona, vocalist and lead guitarist Ben Villa is from the Coachella Valley. The band experiments with everything from sparkly indie rock—see “Fool (From the Start)”—all the way to crunchy, driving, pop-punk (“Whiplash”). In 2023, the band has released eight singles and one album. Villa describes the writing process as “indie rock therapy,” which makes sense, considering the lyrical tales of lost love and emotional experiences. For more, visit instagram.com/casestudybnd. He is the latest to answer the Lucky 13; here are his answers.
What was the first concert you attended?
With Confidence.
What was the first album you owned?
American Football (1999).
What bands are you listening to right now?
Waterparks, Hot Mulligan, Deftones, The 1975, and Motion City Soundtrack.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
Pop music. It all sounds the same and sometimes can lack creativity.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
The 1975.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Rap. I love the poetry and storytelling from ’90s hip-hop.
What’s your favorite music venue?
The Glass House, Pomona.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“Here’s a plaque on your wall, for the hall of fame of fucking off,” Waterparks, “High Definition.”
What band or artist changed your life? How?
Waterparks. Their songwriting and ability to cross over multiple genres is amazing.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
Awsten Knight (of Waterparks): What goes through your mind when creating the lyrics for your songs?
What song would you like played at your funeral?
“I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Commit This to Memory, Motion City Soundtrack.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Brainwashed” by Waterparks.
