Page 12 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 98

BV98 tyler bryant and the shakedown_BV98 pg12 02/08/2018 20:34 Page 3

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them all together.” comic book villain of a president decided to but it stands for a lot of things.”
Noah tells him that he’s pretty good at it single out certain people. None of us are a “Originally, we’d seen a woman in a
already. “Thank you, that’s very kind of you,” fan of anybody stepping on anyone else. wheelchair at a protest rally had been basi-
replies Tyler. We’re all human, man. We’re all on the same cally beaten and was bloody and bruised
“You’re welcome Son,” remarks Noah. rock and we’ve gotta get along with each and she was there for what she believed in
Guitarist Graham, who is the son of other and you shouldn’t be one group of personally, and as horrible as that is, it was
Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford, says that his people down. It was kind of a tumultuous also inspiring to us, going ‘Alright, this per-
positive trait is just that – positivity. “I would time, the beginning of 2017, for Americans. son’s brave enough to take a beating for
say I tend to see the bright side in most sit- There was a lot going on, the pot was boil- their cause’,” says Tyler. “That’s kind of how
uations; it’s kind of in my nature, so… a bit ing, and we wrote that song when the pot things move forward when people are brave
of an equalizer, I guess.” was boiling over a little bit. ‘Don’t Mind The enough to go ‘Yeah, I’m standing right here
Blood’ is not meant to incite violence or any- and I’m not moving.’ And that goes for each
he band became the first signing on thing, it’s about not being afraid to… if side of the equation too, I guess.
TSnakefarm Records, a subsidiary of you’ve got to bleed for what you believe in, “The other thing is, I relate to that song
Spinefarm. They’d previously signed to John for your convictions… personally because it’s like, ‘Yeah man, if
Varvatos Records/Republic, but left the label “For what you love,” Caleb adds. you have a dream, a vision, stick to it. Stand
and found a home in Snakefarm instead. “Sorry,” he says for interrupting. “I think it’s firm, man. Don’t shake when someone
Their self-titled album was released in No- a statement too for what we’re doing now. goes…’” (makes a sharp pushing gesture)
vember 2017 and sees a range of subjects We don’t mind doing the things that are hard “So yeah, I think that song and ‘Heartland’
tackled in lyrics – from personal relation- for us, because we’re doing what we love were written very close to each other. As an
ship-type songs to social commentary. Two and we get to share it with all these people. American, we couldn’t help but go ‘What is
of our favourite songs happen to be opening Being on the road’s not easy and it’s not going on here? Why are people turning on
track ‘Heartland’ and second track, ‘Don’t glamorous, like a lot of people may think it each other?’ which is where the line ‘If it hap-
Mind The Blood’. Noah talks of the latter. is. So I love that song because there are lay- pens to one, it happens to all,’ comes from,
“That song was written on a day when our ers to it. Clearly it came from somewhere, because like Noah said, we’re all on the

TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN