Beware of Darkness – Bloodlines

By starrymag | November 26, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I don’t. My job is to create, not describe, label or judge!

 

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Jeff Buckley, Paul Simon, Jack White, Jon Brion.

 

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Bloodlines.” What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) Songs and music mean very different things to different people making the whole art form incredibly subjective and deeply personal. I wouldn’t want to make a blanket statement or begin to imagine how or why I know the song will hold a space in someone’s life. I’m thankful if they connect to it though.

 

 

Q) “Bloodlines” features guitarist Jeff Schroeder (Smashing Pumpkins), bassist Mark Stoermer (The Killers) and drummer Jon Safley (CRX, Bleached). How did come to work with these talents on the track?

 

A) Jeff and I became friends when we toured with the Pumpkins and kept in touch ever since. “Bloodlines” producer Braden Merrick discovered and managed The Killers, which is how he knows Mark and he’s worked with Jon on various projects throughout the years. Braden had the idea of bringing Mark on which turned into the idea of creating this whole “All Star” cast of characters on the song.

 

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

 

A) It’s different every single time. Sometimes lyrics are first, sometimes music is first. Sometimes you don’t need music before you write lyrics. Sometimes you write melodies in the streets. It’s not like being a line chef where the same recipe, heat and cooking times yields the same dish every time. It’s like being a chef and trying to make the same dish, but every time the ingredients, cooking times, your available cutlery and temperatures change without you knowing. So, you really just have to let go and be on your feet and be willing to let it take you wherever you’re meant to go, being open to whatever the end result is. As soon as you think you have it figured it, you realize you have no idea what the hell you’re doing. It’s very mystical and spiritual to me.

 

 

Q) The song was worked on by producer Braden Merrick and mixed by David Sardy. How much of hand do you have, though, in the production of your music? 

 

A) Braden and I actually produced “Bloodlines” together. I co-produced the first two Beware of Darkness records and essentially produced half of our debut album, Orthodox myself with an engineer and a drummer. More often than not I am essentially overly hands-on through every part of the process, writing, arranging, performing, mixing, mastering. I write the song, usually arrange (most times performing everything but drums) every single part, produce and then attend the mixing and mastering session (if I can). I probably just need to learn how to let go.

 

 

Q) You’ve toured with the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, AWOLNATION, The Wombats and Tegan and Sara. What can fans expect from a live Beware of Darkness performance? Will there be a full EP or album coming in the near future?

 

A) It’s going to be a simple 3-piece band, no tracks and no fluff – just a raw rock band set up. Every single band is using tracks right now, so I thought we’d do the opposite, and just be a band. I’m currently writing songs for an EP right now.

 

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

 

A) Chicago has always felt like home and have always embraced us in a heartwarming way. I love Denver, Nashville, Austin and Dallas as well; I go to Angry Dog every single time I’m in town. I think they’re significant because they’re all cities that took a chance on us early on when no one else would and I’ll never forget that. They gave us opportunities to prove ourselves and for that they’ll always hold a space in my heart.

 

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Mike Dean. He’s a legendary producer and I idolize his work on Yeezus and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I’d also love to get in a room with El-P from Run The Jewels and Malay. They’ve both made some of my favorite recordings in the past couple years.

 

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) I’ve been pouring through all The Beatles outtakes on Spotify, specially the Esher Demos from the White Album and the recently released Abbey Road outtakes. It seems an invaluable treasure being offered a glimpse into their writing, demoing and recording process. I’m writing new songs right now and it’s a gift to be able to see how they did it and then adjust my own style accordingly.

 

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) With all sincerity, the only reason I’m on social media is to connect with fans. If I weren’t a musician or doing this band, I’d be off social media completely. Social media has been a struggle for me and connection with fans is the one thing that gives it purpose and meaning for me. I care so much about my fans as people and I know a lot of them on first name basis. I hope they know how inspiring it is to me when I read their messages. It keeps me going. It reminds me I’m part of something bigger. It’s a gift to me and amongst the swamps of social media, I am so thankful to have curated this positive little bubble or safe space where we can connect.

 

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Thank you. Thank you for caring. Thank you for listening. It’s a miracle waking up every day knowing that people care in any way about the music I’ve made. Also, know that I deeply care about you as people and want you to thrive in life and be happy, spiritually, emotionally and physically. It feels more like family to me than an artist fan relationship. Your messages and comments light me up and inspire me more than you’ll ever know.

 

 

 

 

Listen to “Bloodlines”