Elliott Waits For No One – You Can’t See Through Me

By starrymag | February 24, 2021

By: Ellie Yates

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound to those who haven’t heard you before?

 

BT: Electrified Poetry.

JF: A lot of mixed musical genres and influences mixed together.

JT: Indie mainstream eclectic interesting folk heavy epic catchy potpourri rock of the sonic variety.

 

 

Q) You’ve had quite the musical careers separately, how did you come together to form Elliot Waits For No One?

 

BT: It was really by chance, Jeff Tortora and I met while playing in Shooting Hemlock. Jenny [Franck] and I were introduced by a mutual friend from our label Dark Star/Sony/ Universal and we just clicked all the way around. We wrote our first song together which was the melancholy number called “Sick of It All” and then after that it was an endless flow of ideas that we couldn’t shut off even if we wanted to. It wasn’t until a little later while I was discussing another project with Jeff that he heard “Sick Of it All” acoustic version and asked, “What is that?” and I told him it was our new project called Elliott Waits For No One and Jeff says, “I want to do that!” That pretty much solidified the core of the band.

JF: Brian [Troch] and I met because we were on the same record label. I met Jeff through Brian. I went to Vegas with Brian to see Jeff perform in the Blue Man Group and after that we went hiking at Red Rock and we’ve been in a band together ever since.

JT: Brian and I were in a band many moons ago called Shooting Hemlock. Fast forward decades later we reconnected once again (we were in contact throughout the years actually). In short, we were going to record one of his other musical projects called My Infected Soul when mapping out the tunes at Red Rock Canyon in Vegas when he showed me some EWFNO demos and I was like, “Hmm, what about this project?” We kinda simultaneously inquired about recording for this as priority, and so went was born!

 

 

Q) How does your songwriting process work? Do you need lyrics before the music or vice versa?

 

BT: It really depends. There is no set formula. Sometimes lyrics come before music and vice versa.

JF: I typically write the lyrics as I’m writing the song and it typically gets changed twenty or thirty times before I would consider the song complete and ready for producing.

JT: It depends. It could work either way. Or simultaneously.  With EWFNO, most of the time Brian or Jenny or combo platter have the tunes mapped out and I’ll add my flavor or suggestions after, or I had a riff and Brian turns it into a song. The tune “Like You,” I actually wrote, and they added a few flavors on that one, so it was a role reversal. [laughs]

 

 

Q) Who are the artists that have influenced your music? 

 

BT: I honestly pull from so many different influences that I would be hard pressed to give specifics. I have rock, blues, jazz, metal, alternative, folk, acoustic and theater roots.

JF:  I have a lot of influences that won’t fit in the space. The thing that influences me the most are lyrics and poetry.

JT: Brian and Jenny I am sure answered this. Here’s an abstract answer – anything and everything! [laughs]

 

 

Q) What is the message behind your latest single “You Can’t See Through Me?”

 

BT: Since Jenny wrote those lyrics, I will defer that question to her. It means something different to everyone I believe. I almost see it as a forbidden love in a cold and empty expressionless worked.

JF: The message is an internal one, stumbling through a lot of dysfunction.

 

 

Q) The video for the single has been selected in the Sci-Fi Short Film Category for the Golden Short Film Festival. Was this the intention when the video was made or was it a total surprise?

 

BT: It actually was a complete surprise! Tim Roth asked us the general meaning of song and then we saw it for the first time two months later. It was a very, very pleasant surprise. It had an unusual beauty and contrast that stood out to me as something very artistic and wonderful.

JF: COVID kept Tim from using real people in the video. So, it was more of a circumstantial video idea which turned out wonderfully.

 

 

Q) How well do you feel the video reflects the meaning of the song?

 

BT: Perfectly, actually better than perfectly!

JF: Extremely well, it couldn’t have gone better. The emotionless faces coupled in every scene depict the message portrayed throughout the song.

 

 

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

 

BT: I’m on the Music end completely 100%. The video end is more Tim’s area. Although, we do come up with concepts and ideas for videos as well.

JF: As much or as little as we want.  We work with a very small select few of people and we have been for years.  It’s become more of an artistic endeavor, a collection of artistic ideas, with all of us working together.

 

 

Q) Do you have a particular favorite song from your self-titled album, or one that you think people can particularly relate to?

 

BT:  I have a few actually: “Loathing,” “Megalomaniac,” “Ball and Chain,” “Sick Of It All,” “Original Sin,” “Everyone Knows,” “Bleed Me.” I suppose I should have just said, “All of them.” 😆

JF: Sometimes I do think I have a favorite based off my mood but… I don’t want to name any favorites because I would feel like I’m doing injustice to the other songs.  They are all so special and uniquely done!

JT: Favorite song I would have to say is “Sick Of It All.” (It struck me from the beginning, vibe, lyrics, melody. Others I do love, this one has a sweet spot for me even though it’s not the most uplifting ha, but its real and ended up with a happy ending.)

 

 

Q) What do you hope fans take away from the album? 

 

BT: An introspective look into the complexities and the Id that is within us all.

JF: I just want them to relate to the album and look forward to listening to the songs and the meanings, the tones, the music, different instrumentation and the words and feel the depth in them as I do.

JT: That variety is the spice of life! [laughs] As in while this album stylistically goes into the Rock category, there is a variety of moods and styles within the framework so enjoy the journey…

 

 

Q) What artist(s) are you currently listening to?

 

BT: This past month was a lot of Otis Redding, Tom Waits, System of a Down, Bob Dylan, Elliott Smith, UFO, Pantera, Howlin Wolf, various Motown and 60s, Bad Brains, Van Morrison, Doors, Fishbone, classical, Nirvana, Kings X, etc., etc.

JF: Currently, like this week?  I’ve been into the band Highly Suspect, Jewel’s reissue of Pieces of You. Sheryl Crow’s self-titled album.  Those are my music bines for the week so far.

JT: Vevesi, my other original band as I am working on material.  Otherwise, it varies, from metal to singer/songwriter to etc., yup, etc. [laughs]

 

 

Q) Are there any artists in particular you would like to collaborate with in the future?

 

BT: As long as they are into collaborating with me then I’m into dipping my toes in the water.

JF: Really, I am not sure.

JT: With EWFNO that is TBD…a symphony?

 

 

Q) The current pandemic has halted many a live performance, what do you miss most about performing? 

 

BT: The live interaction with the crowd and the real time response.

JF: Playing in front of people!

JT: The untouchable high of exchange and release of energy.

 

 

Q) You rang in the New Year working on a future release “Flame.” What are you able to tell us about this? 

 

BT: Very cool acoustically driven number with a fantastic percussive vibe and loose feel on the kit by Jeff. Very folk/alternative vibe and Jenny’s vocals are great! Catchy number.

JF: It’s very interesting song. Brian is in charge of the production. More acoustic, with Jeff doing a lot of different percussive sounds throughout. To me, it’s very minor sounding with a walking acoustic guitar in the verses.

JT: I had unlimited freedom to play as many percussion and miscellaneous items as possible to help fill in the canvas. The tune, written by Jenny, absolutely stands on its own, but adding special little ingredients I believe is what can take a piece in whatever art form to a higher plateau.

 

 

Q) You’re quite active on social media. How important do you think it is as a way of keeping in touch with fans?

 

BT: I have many thoughts about social media and there isn’t enough room here for me to bloviating about it. I would say this, nothing replaces real contact or real thought and interaction.

JF: Social media has been a very important tool for artists up to this point.  The future of social media aligned with the success of a career as an artist is questionable. There are a lot of moving parts to this question that, in time, will be answered. As the social media platforms change, so will the way the artists use them to get their work out.

JT: Next question (😁) I have a love/hate relationship with social media. It obviously has its benefits and can be cool to be able to interact with people/fans for sure. At the same time, I don’t want to be on the phone (which I already am way too much) /computer constantly having to post/reply and figure out algorithms the proper way to reach people and filter through the spam etc. It can be too much. There’s real life going on out there and social media interactions can be this fantasy land of ‘’friendships.’’ I mean, everyone is too accessible. It’s impossible to keep up and it’s not meant to be like this. It’s not really real. I will admit that it can be fun and enjoyable at the same time. There’s gotta be a balance and someone else taking care of that biz, too! [laughs] Oops, most of this is relating to non-band social media.

 

 

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and those who have supported you throughout your career so far? 

 

BT: I would like to say, thank you for never giving up on me. ❤️

JF: THANK YOU. You guys have great taste in music!

JT: Thank you very much for listening, watching, supporting and hopefully enjoying! I hope it makes your experience in life that more enjoyable.

 

 

 

All Questions Answered By Brian Troch, Jenny Franck and Jeff Totora