Categories
Features Interviews

Animals As Leaders Interview: Javier Reyes on The Joy of Motion

There’s no doubt that Animals As Leaders have taken heavy music to a new plateau. What started out as Tosin Abasi’s outlet to express his creativity has turned into a global sensation, resonating in the bloodstream of today’s youth. But the road to fame and success hasn’t come without its trials and tribulations. As guitarist Javier Reyes points out, the journey thus far has been full of surprises.

Since our last interview with AAL a few years ago, the band have hit numerous road blocks on the highway to prominence. We invited Reyes over to our Haus to talk about what they’ve been through over the years — the Boston case, the time their home got burglarized, and everything that went into to making their chart-topping new album The Joy of Motion.

Here’s what’s covered:

  • 00:04 playing a burnt down church w/ Deftones
  • 01:20 Thrice’s farewell tour
  • 02:23 the Boston case
  • 03:03 getting their house burglarized
  • 04:06 producing hip hop
  • 05:02 evolving as a musician
  • 05:49 The Joy of Motion
  • 07:55 on mastery
  • 08:54 T.R.A.M. & Mestis
  • 09:53 how AAL’s fame affects creativity
  • 11:14 advice to young musicians
Categories
Features Interviews

Deafheaven Interview: George Clarke & Kerry McCoy on their Success & The World of Blogging

It’s hard to imagine that Deafheaven’s success all spawned off the release of their 2010 demo. Even frontman George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy are among the disbelievers, especially since they recorded the four-track effort out of boredom.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of events for the San Francisco black metal/post rock phenomenon. Praised by the press, hated by black metal purists — you either love ’em or you don’t. And according to McCoy, that’s the way they like it.

We sat down with Clarke and McCoy to talk about the band’s seemingly overnight rise to prominence, how the world of blogging impacts bands today, and how the desire for success can often be detrimental to success itself.

We know you’re busy. Here’s what’s covered:

  • 00:03 Memorable intimate shows
  • 00:58 Lessons learned from Russian Circles
  • 01:51 Rules of shows/venues
  • 02:33 Critical praise
  • 03:18 How blogging affects success of bands
  • 05:02 Dealing with haters & internet trolls
  • 06:00 Previous jobs
  • 06:18 The writing process
  • 07:20 How desire for success can be detrimental
  • 08:01 Advice to young musicians
  • 09:47 Thoughts on their own success
Categories
Features Interviews

An Interview with Norma Jean’s Cory Brandan on Wrongdoers

Norma Jean’s fall tour with Vanna and KEN mode has been a hectic one. The other week while passing through Chicago somebody broke into their van and took a bunch of their personal belongings. “Someone broke into our van and stole a lot from us,” the group said on Facebook. “Not sure what to think right now.”

But in the midst of turmoil frontman Cory Brandan has a way of keeping his mind tight, to where even petty thieves from the Windy City cant stop the turning gears of the Normachine. “We will live and our belongings and the money that was stolen can be replaced,” he later commented about the incident. “We know that things like this happen but we love music and playing for you guys.”

Perhaps that’s the kind of attitude that has allowed Norma Jean to maintain their longevity over the past decade. On the LA stop of their current tour we caught up with Cory Brandan to talk about the band’s lengthy career and everything that went into their new record Wrongdoers.

Norma Jean remaining tour dates:

Dec 12 Harrisonburg, VA @ Blue Nile
Dec 13 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

Categories
Features Interviews

The Safety Fire Interview: Derya “Dez” Nagle on Setting the Music Scene Ablaze

Just weeks before The Safety Fire’s sophomore album, Mouth Of Swords, came out in September, guitarist Derya “Dez” Nagle was involved in a cycling accident and had to undergo surgery. “Few weeks of rest and all will be well,” he said back in late July about the incident.

Categories
Features Interviews

Beartooth Interview: Ex-Attack Attack!’s Caleb Shomo Reemerges with a Sharper Bite

When Caleb Shomo quit Attack Attack! last December he was in the darkest year of his life. “Having thousands of people tell you you’re a ‘fat piece of shit’ isn’t exactly the easiest thing to deal with at 17,” he said in his farewell post. Haunted by inner demons, panic attacks and mental breakdowns put Shomo in a downward spiral for much of 2012. “I had a lot of stress in my life,” he added in his departure note, “and in no way wanted to face it head on and deal with it.”