Versus – The Cardinal

By starrymag | December 28, 2016

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) This is never an easy question. I feel like the answer comes out different every time. We have strong nu metal influences like bands such as ten years, but also hold on to those 2007 scene days with bands like Saosin and 30 Seconds to Mars. We have formatted somewhat of a pretty grunge like nu-metal sound. It’s organic. Our sound is us.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Like I was talking about before, we are influenced on a big scale by big nu metal bands from the past. We love the melody and raw feel of it. We are huge fans of Breaking Benjamin and 10 Years. We actually did a 10 Years cover on the 20th anniversary darkest hour tour in Seattle. It just felt right!

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “No Safety.”

 

A) There isn’t a simple way to break this down. This song was written in memory of and complete thought of my step father who passed away due to suicide. It’s about how mental illness can pull the rug out from under you without notice. We live in a world today where people with real illnesses that they have no control over are look upon as weak. It’s the opposite. They are quite strong for carrying their illness and the weight of the worlds judgments. I (Joe Taylor) am one of those individuals. I’m not afraid to tell people. A lot of people are and never seek the help they need because they simply don’t feel the support system around them they need to continue. I got lucky. I went through some of the hardest years of my life and had the support of family and my best friends in this band. We are so quick to judge and now motivate and support. You can be the deciding factor whether someone decides to give it another day and feel safety because in a world with no love and support we would all feel “no safety.”

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans will connect to?

 

A) There is an obvious problem with our mental health system and our society in general when it comes to mental health. To see visual imagery of the hell many people live in everyday just inside their own head…The world can be a messed up place, but nowhere near as messed up as things that can go through one’s head. This video isn’t just entertainment for a mass. This video is a piece of awareness. There is value in this message. We want people to take away passion for a movement and join us in our efforts to give those who need hope another day.

 

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

 

A) The concept of the video really plays on the mental health system and its way of pushing patients under the rug, giving them a few pills and hoping for the best. Pure laziness and neglect took someone we loved dearly away from us. They will change. We will make a statement. No longer will this go unnoticed. Here is a question that you all can think on until you read this interview. How big of a deal did you think mental health is? How aware are you of how the system would treat you under that same circumstances?

 

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

 

A) Our process has many parts to it. It usually starts with Josh [Kendrick], Mack [Newman] or Brandon [Boylan] writing an instrumental. Then, Josh and I will start tearing it down vocally and adding and taking away. Once we get the vocals set the boys will start to tighten the song around the vocals. It’s a process we’ve used for years and it helps to have the rock star producer Casey Bates overseeing the whole process.

 

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

 

A) We take pride in the production process. With a few of our members being audio engineers, I’d say we are more involved than most. It allows us to not have a lot of throw away songs. We really plug at a song until we like the direction. No one is scared to say “that sounds like poop,” that’s for sure.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Versus performance?

 

A) This is my favorite part. You can expect a high charge of emotional imagery and sound. If you come through that door we will make you feel something. We tell a story and push a movement that makes a room unite. It’s really the most beautiful part about our job – that we get to watch what our message does to a whole room. We get to be boots on the ground in the war on mental health. There is no better place to be then a show with Versus on the bill. It’s just down right good for your health!

 

Q) Tell us about the process for naming your upcoming album The Cardinal. 

 

A) I don’t think we have ever spent as much time putting together all the pieces as we have with this record. It was just emotional tasking to get the words out sometimes. It was an extremely organic way of pulling out the rawness of the message. The record talks about struggles with mental health in all forms whether you are talking about love, loss or lack thereof. The Cardinal is something we are extremely proud of. We did the whole record in Seattle, Washington with Casey Bates and engineering by Brandon Boylan as well. Living your everyday life while doing a record is for sure a way to get some raw emotions. It was good to be home and create it in our city!

 

Q) What songs off your new album are you most looking forward to performing live?

 

A) One of the songs I’m most looking forward to playing is “Zig-Zag.” It has a lot of those nu metal roots I was talking about. It has such a different feel from the rest of the record, but of course “The Cardinal” will be a fun one to play as well. Honestly, I’m just looking forward to blasting this whole record!

 

Q) How do you plan to celebrate the album’s release?

 

A) No plan in stone just yet, but we will probably do a big hometown show on the release date as well as some online live stuff to give those people in other parts of the country a chance to be a part of the launch of our message. And, of course, will be coming to see everyone shortly after!

 

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

 

A) Honestly, sharing the music videos and tagging friends to watch it are some of the most effective ways today. We want everyone to be able to experience us at least once, but we aren’t against old school posturing.

 

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

 

A) The internet is how everything is done today. I miss the face to face days and organic fan making. Luckily, tour is still there for that, but social media is an extremely important tool to keep your fans updated and what is going on. People get updates at their fingertips. In the end, this does allow for more people to hear our message so support the interwebzz fully.

 

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

 

A) You matter. Thank you for existing. We are here for you. If you feel like you have nothing, look us up. We will prove that wrong. We have your back. Let’s show the world what #theversusmovement can do!

 

 

ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY VOCALIST JOE TAYLOR