Call in Artillery – This is Temporary

By starrymag | August 6, 2016

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) When I write I try to put beauty in everything! I think beauty is what my ears crave when I listen to music so it’s important for me to put that into my music. If I had to define us to one genre, I would say pop. We covered all kinds of genres on the album, but it’s all pop to me!

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) I was a really big fan of early 2000’s pop punk growing up so stuff like Sugarcult, Bowling for Soup, Sum 41, Relient K and New Found Glory. But being a 90s kid, I also have to credit some of the rad 90’s bands like Third Eye Blind, Alanis Morissette and Matchbox Twenty.

 

Q) How did the band get the name Call in Artillery?

 

A) Actually, around the time the band formed we played an on online computer game called Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, which was a WW2 themed first person shooter game. On the game there was a list of voice commands you could use to say things like, “Yes,” “No,” “Enemy in Disguise,” etc. and all you did was press a sequence of buttons and a guy with a German accent said them in global chat. One of the voice commands said “Call in Artillery.” We thought that would make a rad band name.

 

Q) What is the song writing process like for you? Do you need music before you create the lyrics? 

 

A) All my songs start out with just a simple melody. Most of the time it starts out as just a hum. Sometimes there a line or two, but most of the time it starts out simple. I then add on to it until I have an entire verse or chorus. That’s when I pick up the acoustic guitar and find the chord progression it follows and after I have the cord progression, I write the rest of the song. I then take that acoustic song into the studio and that’s when the real magic happens. We build everything from the ground up starting with drums on top of the original acoustic song, then bass, guitar, synths and finally we add the vocals on top of everything. I have a huge team involved in this and each song is an amazing experience.

 

Q) What have been some of the fans favorite songs off the album This is Temporary?

 

A) I think the fan favorite on the album would be “Blackout.” It was the first single we released and has by far gotten the most attention. “Care Free Living” is another one that was pretty popular. Anything I do with PIR or Tommy, their lead singer, gets a good amount of love, too. They have such an awesome fan base!

 

Q) What do you think it is about your song “Blackout” that fans are really connecting to?

 

A) It is just a very relatable song. I think everyone goes through tough times, no matter what it is dragging you through them. And that’s what “Blackout” is about, just being down on your luck, nothing going your way, even when you’re doing or at least think you’re doing everything right. I think a lot of fans have listened to it and felt very similar about a situation they were going through.

 

Q) How does the video play into the message of the song?

 

A) The video was a run through of a photoshoot I did for “Blackout.” The art and fashion of the shoot really fit the image of the music behind “Blackout” I thought. The camera we used was a 35mm from the 60s and it has got amazing color and personality to it. There was really no editing done on any of the pictures. We took them in a parking garage in downtown St. Louis and in the outdoor elevator lobby. I think the scenery and fashion in the photos really mix well with the music.

 

Q) Will there be a full video for “Care Free Living”?

 

A) I don’t think so. I think the picture of me walking through downtown St. Louis layered below the lyric video is enough imagery to get the emotion of the song.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you personally have in the production of your music?

 

A) I’m the main guy. I oversee everything. I give a lot of credit to my producer Jon Heisserer. He is an amazing musician and guitar player. I’ve been playing guitar for 15 years and I’m still nowhere close to being as good as he is so with honor I let him play some of my guitar parts along with helping me write them. I do all of the synth and vocals. We hire a professional drummer. So, besides drums and some guitar parts, I’m pretty much right there co-producing everything. I even get in there when it’s time to mix! I’d say I have a pretty big hand in it.

 

Q) What are some of your favorite songs off This is Temporary to perform live?

 

A) I would say my favorite to perform live is “Hands To The Sky.” Playing with PIR is such a good time and they are such an awesome talented band filled with super cool dudes.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Call In Artillery performance?

 

A) High energy, lots of jokes in between songs, lots of crowd engagement and awesome merchandise! You’ll have to come down and check one out!

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from checking out the album?

 

A) The worst feeling in the world is feeling alone. I want people to be able to relate my music in whatever they are going through and know they are not the only ones in the world who feel that way. I try cover a broad span of emotions and I’ve been through a lot myself.

 

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

 

A) I would really like to do a split album or EP with another band from St. Louis or even maybe do a cover show where we do a show covering each other’s songs. I have no idea who, but I always thought that would be a ton of fun. I’ve also been in search for a female singer to do some songs with, but I think if I could collab with any artist on a song it would be Matt Skiba. Either we could write a song together or he could play guitar on a track for me. Something. Big fan of all of his work.

 

Q) What can fans do to help promote your music?

 

A) If you like a song of ours share it. Tell your friends what you’re listening to. Burn our cd’s. Share the press we get online!

 

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

 

A) Because its 2016. Playing shows hardly gets you anywhere anymore. Unless your city has a booming music scene that everyone is involved in, playing shows is almost obsolete for promo. People don’t go to shows the way they used to. Everyone wants a dope record online to share with their friends and listen to in their car. So, that’s what we do. We have kind of skipped the whole live performance thing for now and heavily rely on our social media to keep the hype going.

 

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

 

A) You guys are worth all of the hard work I put into this.