Page 12 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 102

BV102 crobot interview_BV102 pg12 13/09/2019 23:21 Page 3

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which helps make them feel all the more special. that you are but you never really know and what I tried to do with the words for 'Low Life'."
Crobot also features Dan Ryan on drums, who sometimes you will fall flat on your face because When asked whether they believe it is im-
joined the band in 2017 while more recent addi- it was the wrong decision, but you are always portant as musicians and artists to open cans of
tion Eddie Collins is doing a sterling job on bass. going to regret a decision one way or another, worms such as this and attempt to get people
Altogether, Brandon, Chris, Dan and Eddie are whether it be ‘I wish I hadn't done that’ if it does- thinking and talking about subjects which may
a formidable entity. n't work out, but when it does work out you sure be uncomfortable to talk about even if they are
With 'Motherbrain', the power of their riffs don't say that you had doubts about it! It's al- important ones, Brandon replies, "Yeah, ab-
still remains the most immediate and obvious ways a gamble, but I think so far we have made solutely. We'll never be right on the nose with
thing about their songs and if anything, they the right one." anything. We're not a political band. We don't re-
have only intensified this on 'Motherbrain', but “With these new songs it feels like a much ally delve into social commentary that much but
the biggest adjustment is the subject matter of better show and we feel we have grown in leaps that is because, for me personally, music is my
the songs. “I think it’s a much darker record, mu- and bounds since the last record in the songwrit- escape from all of that so I never want to bring
sically, lyrically, and thematically,” Brandon has ing process and the show wouldn't be the same any of that specifically into what we do so we
said. “It’s some of the heaviest material we’ve without the four or five new songs which are now can be other people's escape from it all. But at
ever done, but it’s also some of the funkiest. a part of it." the same time, we do want to make our music
We’re widening the Crobot spectrum even more. "And you can see the heads bobbing a little more relatable and about things which people
It’s the catchiest too. It’s less about wizards and harder", adds Chris. "Even to the songs which can gain feeling about, but we still want people
dragons and more about everyday turmoil and they've never heard before which is really cool to just enjoy listening to our music and when
the struggles of life. (Producer) Corey Lowery to see." they come and see us live I will still get up on
made it digestible and appealing for not just stage and make a complete ass of myself more
dudes with beards or chicks with dicks.” otherbrain', as mentioned, is the the than you can make an ass out of yourself. I'm
And armed with some more serious subject 'Mband’s first album on Mascot pretty good at that!"
matter, their words have helped give their music Records. They worked with producer Corey
even more oomph and power and this is quickly Lowery and also co-wrote with Brian Vodinh and espite Crobot's comments that their
recognised at their live shows where their new Johnny Andrews. "We'll try anything and every- Dmusic is designed very much with the
material has become an immediate hit with the thing if we feel like we are going to learn some- intention that the listener has a good time while
fanbase, an even more impressive feat given thing from the process," Brandon tells us. "Some the songs are playing, their more serious edge
that several songs made it onto the setlist prior of the writing and co-writing sessions we have to their song writing for 'Motherbrain' has, in turn,
to the album's release and for the majority some done have been the label's idea and some have introduced a certain element to more than one
of the songs have been the first time they have been our ideas and we've been able to take from of the tracks on the record. In songs such as
heard them, but nonetheless the reactions have everything we have learned from the years and 'Drown', 'Stoning The Devil', 'Blackout' and 'After
been just as strong which indicates the Crobot it's also been great to work with people who we Life' there are strong themes about death and
faithful have embraced the tweaks and the boys respect and genuinely look up to as musicians what happens when our time on this Earth
are full of confidence they will appeal to a new so it all helps. Whether we are succeeding or comes to its end.
audience as well. failing, we are always going to try and get better Brandon explains, "We wrote so many
at what we do." songs for this record and it just ended up being
nd among the subject matters covered The opening track of 'Motherbrain' and a re- a constant theme through the demos and the
Aacross 'Motherbrain' is a song title which cent single is 'Burn', a track which contains the songs which we had for the album and these
could be interpreted as being a subtle nod to the volatile lyric ‘got a front row seat to watching the just turned out to be among the best we had so
first eight years of the band with 'Keep Me world burn’, a line which prompts Chris to say they wound up on the album."
Down'. Black Velvet asks whether they believe ‘Well, it's been a scorcher out there today,’ re- When we ask if they felt there was a reason
Crobot has in any way been held down or held ferring to the record-breaking heatwave which this theme kept cropping up, Brandon replies, "A
back. the band enjoyed during their recent UK tour. lot of life has happened between the albums and
"Well, Bishop held me down one time and Chris explains that ‘Burn’ was created more this period for us is like a rebirth. I think some-
kissed me", Brandon laughs before Chris quickly as an anthem for the band, and one which may times you have to tear things down to rebuild it
speaks up to try and explain and defend himself be looked back upon as one for their new atti- and a lot of that theme played into it. It's a new
saying, "I used to have this thing on tour where tude towards their songs, rather than being a era for Crobot."
I would just try to kiss everybody and also do it deeper outlook on life or the world in general. And perhaps unsurprisingly, the guys are
so they didn't know it was coming. I'd forgotten ‘When we wrote that one with Brian I didn't con- eager to encourage rock lovers who may have
about it until now so maybe I'll start bringing that tribute too much with the lyrics, but from the out- already formed an opinion of Crobot based on
back!" set we just wanted it to be a bad-ass, ripper of a their prior work to give them a new chance and
Steering them back to the serious side of song with bad-ass imagery. It was more about try their new material to see if it is more to their
our question, Chris offers a more insightful reply how it comes across and that song has become taste. Chris tells Black Velvet, "With this album
to the band saying, "There is always that, or bits like our Arnold Schwarzenegger flick. It's just it takes us out of being lumped in with every
of that at least, in every instance of the band, bad-ass." other type of vintage rock band, it makes us a
and life as a whole, whether it be with the label "There's a lot of explosions in that song," little more modern and a little more of our own
who doesn't see things the same as you do or adds Brandon. "The whole armageddon thing is thing and that is important, to not just be stereo-
internally between band members and stuff. something I have been trying to throw into a typed with the stoner rock trend or whatever it
With any relationship you're always going to feel song for a long time now and that whole story is. I love all that stuff but I want us to have our
like that at times. But in the same breath, with arch has kind of crept its way into the Crobot own identity and I think we have done that with
every new album is a chance to try something universe. Well, I kinda forced it in there some- this album."
new and try and overcome or do something bet- how!"
ter than you have done in the past and this Another song on the album to benefit from he song 'After Life' sees Brandon sing
record is much stronger than the ones before it the band's newly-found more meaningful and al- T‘I'm not ready to say goodbye, in no rush
in certain areas where we feel we have been most mature lyric writing is 'Low Life', which, just to get to the other side’.
lacking in the past. 'Motherbrain' is heavier, like 'Burn', was also released as a single prior to "We just want to hang on to what we love,"
catchier and it's going to be more relatable, the release of 'Motherbrain' and also found its Brandon says. "Obviously, saying goodbye is a
which I think will make it better than (2016’s) 'Fat way into the Crobot setlist as well to offer fans a normal thing to do throughout life and that song
City' and (2014’s) 'Something Supernatural'." glimpse of what the album may hold for them. in particular is again about the whole rebuilding
‘Low Life’ boasts the lyrics ‘turn off your televi- process. We're happy with what we have but we
nd having made the changes which sion, they're selling superstition’ and ‘the whole also want to get better and grow. In a way, with
Amany had called for, Crobot have the world's addicted, tangled up and twisted, panic the new album, we're saying goodbye a little to
self-belief they will make a significant difference, running through our veins.’ our old selves, but there is absolutely no saying
although understandably there is an element of "It's one of those songs where I try to make goodbye to Crobot. We're sticking around and
doubt in their (Mother) brains which is to be ex- things as vague as possible so people can find we'll fall flat on our faces and we'll always be
pected whenever you dabble with the unknown. their own personal meaning behind it,” says here doing what we do because, speaking for
When asked what results they feel these adjust- Brandon. “But with this one I also attempted to myself at least, it's all I can do!"
ments will make to Crobot in the long haul, Chris try and make it like one of those great songs Asked if down the road people will look back
tells Black Velvet, "I guess you don't know. You which can be relatable to people no matter what to 'Motherbrain' as a turning point in the careers
always try and make the best decision, you think time it is played in or listened to and that was of Crobot, Brandon takes no time in telling us
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