New Fire Music
PLAYING ‘NOCTURNE’
Oct
We love your new fire music! How did you come up with the concept for the song?
I was chasing the feeling of desire. I had the main riff that was the driving, descending guitar line. To me it was like a winding, spiral staircase going down, down, down. There’s a tension and release, and I knew the release had to be big and rewarding, but also noisy and layered. Heavenly, but unclean.
What is your favorite part about the song?
The line, “it’s only you that I adore.” It comes in as a vocal layer in the final build. The core of this song is a fixation, an obsession with one lover. That line is the unwavering devotion.
What were you most meticulous about on your latest song?
For the big build in the ending I was hearing something in my head that I couldn’t quite put a finger on. At first I thought it would be analog synths, like siren wails. We couldn’t find the right sounds, so after a lot of Moog experimentation I settled on various guitar layers which we panned out in different octaves. It provided the noisy chaos I was searching for.
Your latest collaboration, how did this come about?
I’ve been working with Chris Martin at Studio 138 in Cleveland for years, we tracked guitars there, but we wanted to track drums in AZ without him having to travel. That’s how I found Robbie Williamson at Epicentre Studios in Phoenix. Robbie ended up becoming an invaluable part of the process, from tracking bass, to mixing, and now playing live drums in the band.
Who did what on the song?
Bryan Upton played drums, Robbie Williamson played bass, and I did vocals and guitars. I also played Rhodes for a bit of atmosphere. The track was mixed by Robbie and mastered by Chris Martin.
What was the writing process like?
The writing process started as me playing acoustically in my bathroom. That’s how a lot of these songs start. Very stripped down. Chasing a feeling. A longing and a desire. Then I shape that feeling into a story, a narrative. This one is about my one true love and my devotion.
What kind of mood was set in order to create the magic?
There’s a billboard in downtown Phoenix that says, “Shackled by Lust?” The idea is that you call the hotline and Jesus will save you. I drive past it on the way to our rehearsal studio and I like to answer, “yes” out loud. I’m channeling that in a positive way on this song, towards the most receptive person I’ve ever met.
Is there a critique you’ve gotten on the single that you worked through and it’s made the overall work better?
Critiques are meaningless to me. True art has to be selfish—the most raw and unfiltered version of the emotion you want to convey. If you react to anyone’s critique, you’ve compromised purity.
What are you most excited about for fans to hear on your latest single?
I just hope the mood resonates.
What has been the best feedback so far?
The best feedback I’ve gotten is with my JCM800 and a Les Paul Custom through a Boss SD-1. I full stack my two 4×12 vintage cabs and lean into it. I don’t use that amp as much on Some Days Are Darker, but it’s the best.
Leave us with your favorite fire lyrics of the song?
“It’s only you that I adore.”
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