The Artist Interrogations podcast. Hello. Hey, Rory. How's it going? It's good, man.
Thanks for your patience. Sorry. Sorry about that. My kids started preschool today, and we we adopted a puppy a few days ago. So just a very It's been hectic for you.
Yeah. Yeah. I don't know why. I thought that was a good idea, but, she's all good. Yeah.
Was it a was it a huge moment to watch her go to preschool? Yeah. She's been in a couple of times, but she we found, like, a really, really, really great one that we're we're excited about. So, yeah, you'll you always get a little emotional when you kinda just hand your kid off to strangers and hope they, hope they're good people and take care of your kid. But the, we we only send her for, like, half the day, which is also why, because she she should go until, like, three or four usually, but we're just starting her until, like, noon or 12:30 for, like, a week or two just so she kinda, like, gets the hang of it.
You know? But, yeah, it's it's an interesting time. Do do you have kids? I don't know. I was just, I know you have a young daughter, so I was like, okay.
Well, I can see about asking questions about parenting and stuff and how maybe even down the line when she's older, maybe you'll write even like, songs about her or something. I don't know. It's like to have the whole, like, with arms wide open thing from Creed, that's what it reminded me of. Yeah. Yeah.
Maybe. Yeah. Maybe one day. But so yeah, man. It's great to have you here.
Thank you so much. I mean, I've been, yeah, trying to get you as an interview guest for the longest time. I was immediately hooked on to Dark Sun when that, when that came out. And then I found out shortly that you guys, of course, were, out of Orange County, which is where I'm from. So it's such a weird thing that I'm like, oh, I just now found out about these guys, and they're from the same neck of the woods I was born and raised in.
Cool. Where where are you from in Orange County? Seal Beach. Oh, okay. Yeah.
Yeah. I'm, I live in Long Beach right now, so I'm pretty pretty close to that area. Yeah. I miss the weather. I was just there for a week, and I was visiting my whole friends and family.
I'm like, man, I miss the whole thing all the things to do, the people out here, everything. And so it's I was moved my way to Idaho about four years ago to do this, and it's been great here too. But but I just missed that that weather and the, the choices of entertainment, to be quite honest, over there. It's crazy. It is very different in Idaho, so I I I feel where you're coming from.
Yeah. Well, you guys obviously have the new single Pale Moonlight. I spun it on the new music feature last Friday. I've we got the radio edit, and I was like, okay. We can't we can't just do them just a service and play the radio edit.
We gotta play the full thing so that we played it with the break down and everything. It's such a great track. And it's, it's it's it's we're I mean, I'm super excited for this upcoming album, man. Really, it's gonna be great to hear. I hope so.
Yeah. I I was so, like, so confident in everything, when we were making it. And, you know, it's I think it's just a part of it. You put out new music, and you just have, like you have old fans who, you know, like, they they get used to you sounding a certain way. And if you try something different, they they don't like it.
It or, you know, or you have people who are new fans who are like, I don't get it. But, it's and it's funny too because I'll you can read, like, thousands of comments of people saying how much they love a song. And sometimes, like, one or two negative comments will kinda they just kinda stick, and sometimes it makes you go like, oh, man. Is this, like did I did we write, like, a a bad song or a bad album? But I I think, truthfully, I'm, like, really, I feel, like, better about this album than anything we've ever written before, and and it's it's streaming.
Granted, I think it's almost at, like, a million streams in a couple days, and the video's almost at a million views. So I'll I'll take it, man. We're we're excited. You know? Yeah.
Absolutely. So you actually do dive into, like, people's comments, like, the same way I do because I'll see one comment about, like, oh, that peaches guy on K Bear sucks, and it sticks with in my head, and I think about it all the time. I yeah. I I wish I didn't. I I actually I feel like this, I feel like this song release actually really made me try and, like, take a step back and and maybe really try and be like, I think I need to, like, consciously not do that anymore.
Like, sort of just put something out into the ether and just not not look through comments. But I think it's because you you work on something for so long and you care about it so much. I I think it's kinda natural just to wanna see, like, what's the general vibe when in the comment section. Do people really like it? Or and I mean, like I said, it's, you know, 98% of things are really great.
And then you you get a few comments that, yeah, kinda sting, but it's also sometimes it's like it depends on the person. Like, it's these old school metal heads who just don't wanna accept anything new or different. But, yeah, it's it's I yeah. I hate admitting that I I even pay attention to that stuff, but I really feel like, actually, this last release we just did. I I think I'm consciously gonna try and not do that in the future because I I just don't think it serves me well at all.
You know? Yeah. I think the the whole hate train right now is on sleep token. I feel bad for those poor guys. They probably get so many comments they see that are just like, man, sleep token sucks and this whole thing, and they're they're awesome.
And same with you guys too. So it's like, who cares about the one person that says something bad on the show? I but I feel like everybody loves Sleep Token. I feel like, again, it's the majority is everybody loves that band, and I I think, you know, it's the reason why they'll announce the tour and, you know, playing 10 to 20,000 count venues, and they sell it out in, like, a day or two. Like, obviously yeah.
I I think it's you you can pay a lot less attention to the negative comments you get when your your band is that successful. But Yeah. It's everybody's gonna get it. You know? It's just kind of a part of what we do, unfortunately.
Right. No kidding. No kidding. So with with Dark Sun, there was that the whole album was about your dad's passing, and that whole album is just a masterpiece. And you guys had this eighties sound to it, especially with Crying While You're Dancing.
It's one of my favorite songs. Did you guys just decide as a whole band to really aim towards that sound? Because, like, I know the previous albums, they didn't sound like that. That was just that one standout album all of a sudden that was, like, this great sounding, very heavily produced eighties influenced record. Yeah.
I think, we had a record before Dark Sun called Sleep Talk, and it felt like we kinda were leaning into some, like, eighties cent choices on, like, a few songs on that record. And it felt like, when we did dark sun, it was kind of like it was like a conscious choice of, like it felt like people pointed that out to us a lot that they really enjoyed this sort of Spentwave eighties nostalgia kinda synthesizers over post hardcore rock, and that there weren't, like, a ton of bands doing that. So we definitely lean into it quite a bit more on that album for sure. It just I don't know. Something that felt cool and original about it at that time, but it it definitely feels a little different on the new record for sure.
Yeah. I was taking a deep dive once again recently from of of your guys' discography, and I really like the, what's the oh, I I forget the name of it. It's like Vultures is I forget. The one that has Vultures on it. It's a great album.
I love that one. Oh, yeah. It's, dreaming is sinking, waking is rising. Yeah. That was our, like, last attempt at trying to be metalcore, I think.
Yeah. Because I I love that. And then I love the the the the difference in dark sun. But then with pale moonlight, you guys definitely mixed the two. And, like, what you said in the previous interview, you have at least like, you're you're, like, addressing the old school fans where you're, like, at least six songs have me screaming in them, and there's still, like, the new sound too.
Which is it's cool that you guys are also looking at the fans, but also, like, do fans for the most part influence a lot of what you guys do or are you just like, hey, like, we'll we'll put out what we wanna put out and then you guys can either enjoy it or not like it either way. Kind of. Yeah. I think, I think I used to get caught up in that. Like, I think for a long time, like, in that dreaming is sinking, era, we we actually felt kinda scared to, like, abandon, like, the metal you know, like, the heavy metal and the screaming aspects of our band.
Because but I think as we got older, we just leaned more into enjoying pop structured music and just, like, really memorable hooks and choruses. And, yeah, I I think when we did sleep talk, we were kinda nervous because it was more of a, like, slightly commercial sound, like a little bit more leaning into pop structured rock, and our career flourished so much. So I I think we we kinda learned that we just have to write what what we enjoy and what we think is good, and we just hope people feel the same when it comes out. But it's, yeah, sometimes you think about that stuff. I I pointed out too.
I just I think when we were making Dark Sun, it was kind of a slower record overall. It's just I think with my dad passing, I just I wasn't I just wasn't going into the studio every day. Like, let's like, I'm ready to go. Like, let's make an upbeat rock album. I just I was I I was just kinda going through it, and so I think that record I'm really proud of it.
Yeah. But it I remember we finished it, and I listened back to it. I was like, oh, man. It gets kinda, like, it's kinda, like, slow in in the in the back half of the record. And I I remembered on, like, Sleep Talk, we made sure to throw in, like, a couple metal songs on the back half of the record to, like, keep the energy up.
And I I think we kind of we were intentional with our with the the new album that isn't out yet, but it it will be out later this year. Like, we it has, I think, a bit more energy and a little bit more, like, metal components to it, but we're still kind of honing in that, like, pop structuring in the music and, kinda the experimental, like, been the, you know, electronic beats kinda all over the place, but it's definitely, like, a darker sort of eerier kind of vibe, I think, than what what we've ever put out before. But I I'd like to feel like it's a nice blend of a lot of our old stuff where where there's, like, hopefully, something people can find to enjoy if they've liked our band at any point in time. Do you often find yourself overthinking this stuff of, like, when you put out when you're recording these tracks, you're writing these tracks, you're like, do would fans actually like this? Or is this, like, something we we should edit at some point or get other people's opinions on it?
Yeah. I think, I definitely overthink for sure. I I I wouldn't say so much during the recording process because it does it does just feel like when a song is when a song feels like it's done, then it's good, it it's just you just listen back and you're like, this is this is great. Or and there's times where, you know, we would work on a song all day, and I I would listen again in the morning and be like, this is not good, or we we have to change something about it. Like, it's not there's something about it that's not finished yet.
And, but I feel like once we finish the songs, it's always, like, I think they're good, and I'm proud of them. I'd say the overthinking probably comes, again, more around when the songs actually get out into, like, the world and then, like, people's reactions and opinions are they're, like, real things. And as much as you're confident in, like, I think the music is good, and I I feel like it's the best stuff we've ever written. Everybody has their own opinion. So I feel like the overthinking comes more after it's out because any vulnerability I have is just on display, and, you know, it's like you can it was like Pale Moon Light.
We spent, like, you know, you know, I spent a few months writing the lyrics for that. We recorded it pretty quick. It came out really cool, and then we did the music video, and we you know, it was it was two nights back to back shooting from 5PM to 6AM to get it done. And you spend all this time, like, putting your effort into something, and then you put it out. And then it's, like, three minutes.
Somebody would just be like, this sucks. And it's like, alright. But it's, so, yeah, I think that's more where the overthinking comes in. During the making of it, I'm having a lot I'm having a lot of fun, truthfully, because it's it's just cool to, I don't know, put ideas from, like, pen to paper, like, into, like, real tangible music and and feel proud of it. Like, you're like, I think this is an evolution and, like, a step up from our older music.
You know? When you guys were recording Dark Sun, I could only imagine, like, you have, like, these really, like, just down feelings because of what happened, but then you're also like, how can I make this record at the same like, it's hard to even explain? It's almost like you have this feeling where, like, you're saddened by everything, but then also, like, you're putting that emotion onto the paper, and then you're like, well, fans like this? I mean, that's a hard thing to get over, man. But it's, like, it's funny because that's, like, one of my favorite albums, and I often interpret when I first heard it, I interpreted it as, like, a like, almost like a relationship loss type of thing.
And I'll like, the versus, like, a a dad passing away type of thing. So there's been plenty of times where I've walked, like, the downtown Green Belt and listened to that in its entirety, and it's just a a great emotional record for sure. Thanks, man. It's, I think, like, half of the I think, like, five or six six of the tracks on the album are about my dad. And then some other songs do veer off into, like, personal relationships and, yeah, dealing with, like, you know, love and, you know, past past relationships with, like, former former partners.
But, yeah, it's it's tough for sure. It's it's hard to it's it's therapeutic making a record like that because I I I feel like I really needed a lot of that writing when I was going through it. Because I I was only planning to write, like, one song about my dad's passing, which was I think Neon Grave was the first one. And then as we kept working on the record, I was like, man, there's so many, like, there's so many parts and things that encompass death and what that experience is like, especially a parent. And it felt like I had to write, like, five or six things to really get everything out I was feeling, but, you know, it's it's, it's something I feel like it's a special record because I feel like it's it's specifically for people who have who have gone through, like, losing like, somebody dying very close to them.
And I I think that's why even when we put that record out, there were some people who were like, I don't get it. And then I or I'd I'd see kind of a negative comment, and then they'd message me again, like, a year later and be like, hey. So, like, my my sister or my, you know, parent died, and I I, like, relisten relisten to that album, and it it all kinda makes a lot more sense to me. So but I'm very proud of it. But it's it's a it's a dark record for sure.
Yeah. And on on a more positive note, you said in a previous interview that, like, life will hit you with these different situations. You've had some of the best times in your life in, like, the last year. Do you when these certain situations pop up both positive and negative, do you, like, kind of think about of a song right away or, like, a song something, like, related to a song and, like, write it down or open up the notes app on your phone and, like, put something like, maybe I should make a song about this thing that just happened or something like that. Yeah.
Absolutely. I wouldn't say so much in happy moments because it's just I feel like when you're happy, you don't need, like, therapy in a way. So when I'm happy, I'm just grateful that my life feels good. But definitely when I I'm always yeah. If I if I feel like I've moved to the point of happy anxiety or tears, I usually am I usually tell myself that there's something there worth exploring and and writing about.
Like, it's funny. I wrote I wrote a song on our new album, and it was kind of about, like it seems like a funny thing, but my my daughter is four now. And, and, we we have a great relationship. But every once in a while, I can tell that, like, she's, like, annoyed with me or so. You know?
Like, it'll like, I'll be, like, trying to kid around with her, and she'll, like, roll her eyes and just kinda be, and I'm it's like and it's it's just it's funny to see in your kid, and that's it's so rare that that happens, but I I kinda took that, like, it's just a thing parents experience or you expect to experience is, like, your kids eventually turn into teenagers. I mean, they don't wanna hang around you much anymore because they get their own life and their own friends. And so I I kinda wrote this interesting song on our new album, just about kind of, like it's it's like it leans definitely into, like, the the negative side of that feeling, but just kind of about, like, how you you know a person that you you would do anything for will eventually get tired of you one day. But it's, yeah, it's it's, but it's kinda interesting. It's kind of about, like, from my perspective, if I was, like, dead and how you would go to, like, you know, like, the ends of the universe basically to, you know, to to be on good terms with the person even though they might be tired of you one day.
But it's a it's a it's a cool it's a weirder song on our new record, but I'm I'm really proud of it. But yeah. Anyways yeah. But definitely that I'm lucky I have music as that therapy. Because anytime I feel sad or an or, like, I'm going through something in my life, I I have that option to sit down and kinda write about it and put it into a song.
And it always makes me feel like, like, life being painful sometimes is not in vain. Like, there's a reason that I get to experience it, and it's to put it on the, you know, pen and paper, record it, and hope that somebody else feels the same way. Our our morning show host, Victor, he, has two daughters himself and they're both grown now. They're both 21 and or 21 and 19. And he recently watched because he has this YouTube series on our YouTube channel which, like, he he does, like, a one take reaction to certain songs.
And someone suggested to him the new Eminem track that's about his daughter and, like, he wants her to re rewatch that music video when he passes away and he just starts crying. And so I was thinking about that. I'm like, Rory's gonna do a reaction to that or something or watch that music video if you haven't seen that already. It's a it's and then, like, the very end of the music video, like, he the the daughter announces that she's pregnant with the grandkid and all that stuff, and he's, like, all shocked and it's a crazy emotional music video for sure. I'll have to check that out.
I was I was a big Eminem fan, when I was a teenager. I wouldn't say I listened to him a ton anymore, but that that sounds that sounds interesting. But if I cry, I'm gonna I'm gonna let you know. Well, sounds thank you so much, dude, for joining me today. I'm I'm really happy that I was able to get this done with you and everything.
I'm really looking forward to the, the new album coming out whenever that will be, man. I'm excited to see, hear all the other tracks on that album for sure. Thanks, man. I I appreciate you. Appreciate your time.
Thanks thanks for having me. The artist's interrogations podcast is a production of Riverbend Media Group. For more information or to contact the show, visit riverbandmediagroup.com.