Page 30 - Black Velvet Issue 84

BV84 set it off:BV84 pg30 20/03/2015 02:47 Page 3

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 30
rom the get go, we were impressed. The moment we first saw Set It
FOff in concert, they blew us away. They had what most other bands
needed. Everything. Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing the band re-
turn to the UK with new album ‘Duality’ under their belts. It is pristine. It
sparkles, it glitters, it sneers in your face with a wicked glint in its eye. And
here we are with the band, putting them on the cover because they’re just

so damn awesome. But this isn’t just about the music. This is more. They
chat about having a movement – and it’s a movement you will want to be a
part of. If you haven’t realized that yet, you soon will.

o what is Set It Off’s movement like, like you have to be a perfect person, and Aside from ‘Tomorrow’, the Florida band
Swe hear you ask. Frontman Cody that’s what I’m talking about. Not so much be have a song called ‘Dreamcatcher’ on the
Carson begins, “What our movement is reckless, but just be comfortable. It really is new album, which is also about following
about, especially with this album, is kind of just like that. Stop worrying about perfection, your dreams and never giving up. Maxx
realizing who you are and not being afraid to just be yourself, and if you have issues as says, “It’s a lot easier said than done. And
hide your flaws from everybody. When serious as that obviously talk to somebody. being in a band is very scary. You get a lot of
you’re growing up you kind of realize that But I’m talking more about personal flaws flack for it. People say, ‘You need to go to
there’s this pressure put on you, whether it that you can overcome.” college, you need to do this, and do that’,
be at school, from your peers, maybe by Maxx adds, “There are certain things that and I’m really proud of not only me but
adults, maybe parents that raised you, to act other people would consider flaws that you everyone in the band for committing to it,
a certain way, to be a certain way and when might not have thought were and are a part and saying ‘This is what I want to do, I’m not
you realize that you can let it all go and you of you, and the fact that someone was able going to let anyone else change my mind’
can actually just live in the moment, you can to change that… again, as long as it’s not and for anyone who’s in a band or doing any-
just be yourself, you can just not give a fuck something like killing people or anything like thing that other people told them not to do,
what anyone thinks about you. And you ac- that, but there are certain things that… you so I’m really proud of that.”
tually feel free. And I see that as a move- know, like your sexual orientation or some- Cody in particular has fought hard to be
ment… because not everyone feels thing like that where other people would look where he is. He studied clarinet for 11 years,
comfortable doing that. Not everyone feels at it as a flaw but to you, you say ‘this is me’. but then chose to put it down and focus on
comfortable in their own shoes. And that’s Do not be afraid to stand up for yourself and being in a pop/rock band.
what we encourage people to do. When you truly be you.” “Everyone in my family wanted me to be
come to a Set It Off show, you’re able to let The band made a video for the song ‘To- a classical clarinetist and it felt like I was al-
go. You’re able to stop thinking about your morrow’, which is a tribute to their fan base most being depended on to become a suc-
problems. You’re able to be encouraged, – who the band call Dreamcatchers. The cessful clarinetist by my family. I had an
hopefully by us, to be exactly who you are. video includes fans holding up signs of what experience over in the States that clicked
And that’s the movement we’re talking they’d like to be able to do. with me that I shouldn’t be doing that, I
about.” Cody says, “At the end we have ‘Tomor- should be doing what I love the most which
New album ‘Duality’ relates to how as row I will this’ and ‘Tomorrow I will do this’ was being in a band. I think I’m most proud
people we all have two sides, the side we and one of them was ‘forget my self doubt’, of myself for going against 11 years of expe-
show and the side we hide. Cody sings, ‘I am ‘I will be more confident’, ‘I will chase my rience in one field and just saying, ‘I’m going
human, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to be’. dreams’, ‘I will be successful’ and that’s the to drop it all and do this instead, because I
He has urged fans, “Be human with us and sort of duality we want to see. Because know that in the endgame I’ll be happier.
show us your true duality”. They have en- they’re starting able to realize who they are Luckily my family turned around and were “If
couraged their fans to open up to them and as they’re growing. They realize they can ac- you really want this then...” My mom has my
have seen some positive results. Drummer complish these goals.” back, she’s our biggest fan… or my biggest
Maxx Danziger tells Black Velvet, “It’s scary Cody says that a flaw he has which has fan, and everyone else in the band like Maxx
to admit to certain things, but every now and helped him is stubbornness. “I’m a very said, did the same sort of thing. It is scary
then, yeah, a fan has come up and said, stubborn person but that has also helped me but once you take that leap of faith, starting
“Hey, I’ve always wanted to do this,” or “I’ve fight for what I want in the music industry something from absolutely nothing to what
always wanted to do this or that,” and they and I think it’s helped us get to where we are we’ve created today, it’s a really proud mo-
were able to share it with us, and not only us today. Stubbornness is probably the biggest ment.”
but their family and friends, and everyone in pro and con flaw that I have.”
their lives, and the fact that we were able to Maxx says that his own flaw is a sense he band have big goals. They have
give them the confidence to truly be them- of revenge. He has used feeling a sense of Tsaid they want to be bigger than My
selves was huge.” revenge or feeling the need to prove others Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Justin Tim-
They’ve said ‘Don’t be afraid of your wrong to get where he is today. “There are a berlake and the Beatles. Not every band
flaws’ - but Black Velvet wonders if there are lot of people who either said that I wouldn’t would openly admit this, but then they are
some flaws that are just too bad to accept. be able to do things or band drama in the American and the United States has an ethos
“Oh yeah, if you’re a serial killer you past with other bands, and being able to say, known as the American Dream. Cody ex-
don’t want to be like “Don’t be afraid! Kill ‘I’m going to prove you wrong, I’m going to plains why he wants to be so big. “Because
everyone!” laughs Cody. “No, it depends make you feel bad by how I’m doing’. And I of what we just mentioned I think. We gave
what it is. If you’re a violent person, I’m not ended up turning it into a positive thing but everything up. If we went by the general
saying accept that you’re violent and go and in the beginning it felt very, very negative.” standard of what the American Dream is;
fight people, I’m hoping people don’t take it So readers, if you have any negative feel- graduate high school, go to college, get a de-
that way, I’m hoping people just realize… the ings, look for how you can turn them around gree, get a job, 9-5, get a house, have a fam-
way I see it is this… I have crazy anxiety. The into a more positive trait and use them to ily, and then you die! If we did that then yeah,
way I deal with my issues, I go to the worst succeed in life. Not by doing anything bad, we’d say we’d done something, and nothing
possible thing in my head, I used to not talk but by just using them to focus on bettering against anyone that does that, if that’s what
about it, but as soon as I was able to bring it yourself. As Midtown once stated, ‘Living you want to do then do that, but if I can say
out into song, or just talk about it in general well is the best revenge’, and not giving up with my life, I had this whole thing planned
I became more confident in who I am and re- on dreams and working hard to make them out for me, I dropped out of college, I started
alized that I wasn’t alone for being that way. come true can lift you up the ladder of suc- the thing that I wanted to do from nothing
Everyone has flaws. And also you’re held cess.” with my best friends, and then got to the
under such scrutiny sometimes that you feel point where our message got reached to

SET IT OFF