Page 89 - ION Indie Magazine MayJune 2018 Issue
P. 89
BL: I saw the making of the album on YouTube -- BL: How does the songwriting process go with the
you had Mitch Kuman working on it at My Platinum band?
Sound. Was this the first album he had produced?
JW: Usually George or myself come up with a riff or
JW: Yes, he had interned for Paul Lapinski, a two and we decide who’s gonna play lead on it. Even
Platinum producer, and “Change” was his first solo- if I come up with the riff, if it fits George better, then
produced album. he gets lead and I'm rhythm, whatever is best for the
song. Then Darren will kinda hum the melody a bit
BL: Did Paul do any work on the EP? to the song a few times and then figure out the
lyrics. Most of the lyrics Darren writes are from past
JW: He popped in every once in a while, but Mitch life experiences or happenings of his or the band’s -
did most of the mixing and mastering on it. We had - such as “Sleep” and “Breathe” off the newest CD
worked with Paul before, but felt a good vibe “Time & the Hourglass.” Those 2 songs are definitely
working with Mitch. life experiences of Darren's.
BL: Yeah, that is a great EP. A couple of my faves on BL: I saw that you did some of the recording of the
it are “Sleep” and “So Long.” Wasn't “Sleep” new album at your house with George on his
dedicated or a tribute to a close family member? computer.
JW: Yeah, Darren had a close longtime friend die JW: Yeah, we we're working on scratch tracks at my
from domestic violence, so the song was written in house to save a few bucks rather than in studio, then
dedication for her and awareness of the cause. we finished up again with Mitch Kuman at My
Platinum Studio. We also used A1A Audio
BL: So, for “Change” the band was a 4-piece. When Production’s studio to do the drum tracks with Brian
did y'all decide to change to 5-piece band? because they had the more room for his drums.
Funny story, we had just finished tracking drums and
JW: Yeah, we split up again for a while and still went back to the other studio to do some guitar
stayed friends and in touch with each other, and tracks. So, I guess the business next door called up
after a while we decided we wanted to stay a band. and complained they couldn't hear the phones
We knew we wanted to be a 5-piece with 2 guitars ringing. We had the amps cranked to a 11, so we had
this go around. to change up our plans and do some vocal tracking.
Imagine that? What do they expect when their
BL: You were the bassist on “Change,” but now business is next to a recording studio.
you’re on guitar along with George. Whose idea
was that? BL: How long has Brian “Victimeyez” been with the
band?
JW: Well, it was pretty much my insistence.
JW: He joined, I think, in 2011. He’s the 2nd
BL: So, in comes Mr. Knuckles on bass. How did he drummer and was in the band maybe a year before
arrive as bassist? I auditioned and joined. He’s a pretty amazing
drummer. When we were recording “Time & the
JW: He and Darren had worked on another project Hourglass,” he was having trouble with this one
together. We tried out a few different bassists, but song. He was missing parts he shouldn’t, coming in
eventually he became the bassist. early at certain spots and at one point said, “F***
this, turn off the music and just give me a click!”
