By: Lisa Steinberg
Photo By Mark Stern
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Operation Ivy, DJ Krush, MELT-BANANA, Mr. Bungle, Beastie Boys and Trojan Records
Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Scatterbrain.”
A) I’m so old school that when I was diagnosed with ADD we didn’t even have the “H” yet. “SCATTERBRAIN” is about me growing up with dyslexia and ADHD. For the record, the person who titled this gift of ADHD obviously didn’t have it. There is no “Disorder” with ADHD. In fact, I call it A.T.C. – Attention to Creativity. It’s a gift. All the little bullying scenes in the music video actually did happen to me. My backpack was tossed out of the school bus window by a kid in a Cinderella shirt. The story behind the song basically explains how society negatively treats creative people, but it is us who bring all the color and music to the world.
Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) Well, the record is so new that I don’t know if anyone is connected with it. If someone does connect with it, it’s probably because they too, feel like an outsider, just because they are positive and creative. In today’s American culture I believe people accidentally believe that if you are negative, you are smart and if you are positive, you are sophomoric, but I believe it is the other way around.
Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) Well, in this video we are animating the lyrical imagery.
Q) Your album The Good Ole American Saturday Night is out now! What are some themes you explore on it?
A) We explore exercising optimism in a world of endless dilemmas. It’s time to love yourself even if you’ve found that no one else will love you. And I would say that we explore the understanding that we are all doing a lot better in today’s America than we give ourselves credit for.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) Every song is different. Sometimes a song can simply start with a message or sometimes I hear a drum beat or feel or groove and I think, “I wanna sing over this type of momentum”. BIG D plays a lot of different styles, so each song knocks at my brain door differently.
Q) How did the guidance of producers of Joe Gittleman and Matt Appleton take the album to the next level?
A) Well, it’s funny…often times you look at a song and think, ‘I don’t know that’s perfect; I don’t think anything could be improved’ and then BLAMO For and/or Matt will make a suggestion and you’re like – ‘Oh my God that’s so true; that is what should happen there’. It’s uncanny. BIG D loves music and we always want to learn. So doing The Good Ole American Saturday Night with them was a blast, because the entire time we were learning and getting better, by just being with and working with Joe & Matt.
Q) My favorite tracks on the album are “Whiplash” and “Scatterbrain.” What song(s) holds a special place in your heart and makes it such a standout?
A) I like “OPPORTUNITY” a bunch because it’s a little different from us. I also like “SLOP” a lot because I get to fake puke in the song. I also very much like “ALLSTON STORM” as it showcases everyone involved on the album.
Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to this new album as a whole – either as an emotion or message?
A) I want them to feel strong inside, empowered, and I hope this album can bring them joy and hope. I hope this album brightens their day and creates wonderful memories for them and their friends.
Q) The album also is released on three limited edition vinyl. Why was that an important option for you to share with fans?
A) That’s because vinyl enthusiasts freakin’ love having different versions. I mean, I think that’s why we do it. Sometimes different distributors want something original, so you can have a few different versions to make everyone feel like they have got something different and special. I like doing it because it’s always so hard to choose one style.
Q) You’ll be appearing at A Nightmare Before Halloween and hitting the road through Fall. What can fans expect from a live Big D and The Kids Table performance?
A) People can expect a lot of fun-fun-fun music, explosive lives shows and an all-around guaranteed good ole American Saturday night.
Q) What songs the album are you looking forward to performing live?
A) I believe we are going to do most of them but change them up each night. We are geeking out to play these tunes live! So, I think we will play about five or so a night and then also play about ten of our most favored tunes, probably take about five requests and sprinkle in a few deep cuts for even more fun.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) Well, I have two answers for this…my favorite place to play is always a new country and that is because my mind is blown that they even know us. However, I can see how that doesn’t really answer the question. I like London a lot, Montreal a ton, Toronto and anywhere in Scotland.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) Well, I did collab with my all-time heroes Yako & Agata of the Japanese noice-core band MELT-BANANA. And it wasn’t just a guest vocal, Agata also played guitar, so it’s a collab much like the old Judgment Night soundtrack. Our song is called “You Buggin’” and I really, really can’t believe it really happened. I am super humbled by it; it’s such a life’s dream come true. But if I could do it again, maybe Jesse Michaels or Mike D.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) I am playing a lot of DJ Krush as he has a new album. I like him because he creates music no one else does and as a drummer, he creates beats that no one else does. I have also been playing a lot of the 90’s hip-hop group Das EFX because it’s so bouncy, happy and awesome. And I am always on a strict, strict diet of all the Trojan Record box sets. I basically play them constantly throughout every day.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thank you for enjoying the music. We are super addicted to music, while not being very attracted to writing hit pop songs, so thank you for liking a band such as us. A few of you out there live very far away from Boston and my greatest joy is that people way across the globe actually play our music, sing along, dance to it and all around feel it the way we do…and I simply can’t believe that fact! All you BIG D’er out there are the flippin’ the best…!!!
All Questions Answered By Vocalist David McWane