cliffdiver – Birdwatching

By starrymag | October 9, 2024

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

Joey: I like to think we’re alternative rock. It’s nostalgic but in a new way, although I think we would’ve been a great early 2000s warped tour band. Please bring back Warped Tour.

Bri: I don’t know, man. It’s not for people who hate fun.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

Joey: senses fail, blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, The Early November, Four Years Strong, Bowling for Soup, Motion City Soundtrack, Ben Folds, The Phantom of the Opera (original London cast recording), The Cure, 90s Disney Movies, DC Talk, Say Anything, Dashboard Confessional

Q) Your album Birdwatching came out in September. What are some themes you explore on it?

Joey: What does it mean to live after you’ve decided you don’t want to die is a big part of it. The last album was about that struggle to survive, to decide if you even want to. That existential introspective will only get you so far, you have to actually heal. So, how do you deal with a manic episode when you’re sober? How do we let go of relationships that no longer serve us, ending cycles of abuse that we grew up thinking we somehow deserved? All the fun stuff of being in your mid-30s.

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

Joey: Usually, Matt [Ehler] will come to Bri and I with an idea he has for the music side of things, and we try to figure out how it makes us feel. Once we get a feeling or a vibe, we try and find a line or melody that fits it. Sometimes we have lines written down we use as a jumping off point, but most of the time the three of us just start spit balling. It’s very collaborative the whole way. Even if someone writes a full song lyrically, we all have the chance to say, “This line hits weird, can you try this?” Especially with this last album, where we wrote a good portion of the album in the studio, we spent hours just brainstorming and building together. That’s the advantage of having seven members with incredibly diverse musical backgrounds and tastes, if all seven of us agree that something rules, it can’t be TOTALLY awful.

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

Joey: Working with Brett Romnes at Barbershop was a total dream. He brought us into every part of the process. He is truly a genius so for the most part we had a saying, “Let go and let Brett.” We had created the songs together with him, and he set out the plans for his post-production as we built. We were in the studio for thirty straight fifteen hour plus days, so we spent so much time bringing all the ideas together as a unit. It was definitely a hands on experience.

Q) What songs off the album are you looking forward to performing live?

Joey: All of them, honestly! A big part of creating the album was, “Are these songs gonna go hard live?” So, there was a lot of intentionality of making songs we were going to enjoy playing. There’s so much variety on the album, but if I had to pick the one, I’m most excited for it’s gotta be “I Reckon You Might Could I Spose.” The ending is just so massive, I think people are going to love singing along with us

Q) Is there a track on the album that holds a particular special significance for you and why?

Joey: Probably “Midnight Mass.” This was my first album to write since I quit drinking, and this song is a reflection on that. I just really enjoyed the process

Bri: “Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers” is probably it for me. I’ve never written about spiritual abuse and hypocrisy in the American church, but it’s something I know a lot about. It’s a classic case of getting it off my chest.

Q) Matthew, I have to ask, with the album out have you now become an avid birdwatcher?

Matt: Now that the album is done, I’ll definitely have more time to spend watching birds. That’s great.

Q) What do you hope people take away from listening to Birdwatching as whole – either an emotion or message?

Joey: That nobody has it all figured out. I think a big part of growing up is realizing that all you can do is your best to let go of those things and people and behaviors that no longer serve you. To forgive yourself when you mess up, and to remember the most important thing is that you don’t quit. Somedays are gonna suck, but not all of them.

Bri: I feel like in general, what we’re saying is that you get to decide what your peace looks like, and you’re allowed to call shit what it is.

Q) Will there be a tour coming up to promote all of this wonderful new music?

Bri: God, I hope so

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

Joey: Cains Ballroom in Tulsa is one of my absolute favorites! It’s such a legendary local spot, so many massive bands have played there!

Bri: Asbury Park, NJ is probably my favorite place to play other than home. People show up and out and we always have the most amazing time.

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

Joey: Say Anything or Senses Fail would be the dream. [laughs] But I’d also love to do more features myself! I love creating with homies.

Bri: In general, I’m on a sort of mission to do as many features and collabs as I can this next year. I love working with other artists and getting a look into how other people do this thing. In my dreams I would get to work with Jimmy Eat World on something.

Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

Joey: Chappell Roan has been on repeat lately. Bri got me into her, and she makes the best pop music out there (also Sabrina Carpenter’s new album rips). I love the latest Riley! Album. I feel like they are doing something really special in the alternative genre! Plus, all the Oklahomies: Red Sun, Ben Quad, Goodridge, When the Clock Strikes, Photocopy, Babies on a Halfpipe, Downward, A Mixtape Catastrophe, Outline in Color, SUNFO, Morris Village and Team Chino to name a few

Bri: I’ve been listening to a lot of Drug Church – they’re cool in ways I don’t understand.

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

Joey: We love y’all so much. To be able to chase this dream at this level has been so unbelievably beautiful and I can’t wait for y’all to hear this new album.

Bri: Thank you forever and ever – I hope we continue to make it worth all the time and love