When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens,
Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkel, the first time I ever heard Kiss's
"Detroit Rock City,"
it was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and
mean. It changed the way I listened to music. I've had a few minor epiphanies
since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and
revolutionary to your ears.
What have been your musical epiphany moments?
Jaybee: When I heard X Japan’s “Kurenai” from their Last Live in 1997, it really changed the way I saw guitar playing and music writing in general. I wanted to do something much grander after that, and it really changed the way I saw music.
Kenny: I discovered blast beats and it was all over from there.
Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?
Jaybee: It really depends, it changes per the song. Most of our songs usually start from a piano melody or something atmospheric and then I write all the heavy stuff on top of that.
Who has influenced you the most?
Jaybee: Probably Moi Dix Moi or Luna Sea. I like extravagant, in your face, rock n’ roll. I’m all about the memorable.
Kenny: Make Them Suffer and Kanye West.
Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
Jaybee: I really like the personalized playlists and song radios on Spotify. They’re really great for finding new stuff to listen to that's right up your alley.
We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about the band's hometown and how that reflects in the music?
Jaybee: We grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey, and the extreme boredom led us to need a hobby, and it ended up being music.
Where'd the band name come from?
Jaybee: I thought it sounded spooky and fun, so I named the band that.
You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for?
Jaybee: The Rugrats Movie on VHS. Specifically the orange tape.
You now write for a music publication (The Ripple Effect?). You're going to write a 1,000 word essay on one song. Which would it be and why?
Jaybee: I would write it about the genius that is Lipslap by Kero Kero Bonito. The hard part would be staying under the 1,000 word limit. Hear me out, Sarah Bonito plans to tie a string to her goldfish tank via tin can and COMMUNICATE. We’re blessed with such magnificent scientific discoveries and underrate them terribly.
Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?
Jaybee: One time I had to play a whole show missing a string and I also forgot a pick and had to play with a quarter. Coincidentally, one of the better shows we’ve had.
Tell us about playing live and the live experience for you and for your fans?
Jaybee: I have a good time, and I hope the crowd does too. We have a lot of cool backing tracks and crowd participation and what not. I think people usually have a pretty good time.
What makes a great song?
Jaybee: Sarah Bonito singing about aquatic life. No one else can make a good song.
Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?
Jaybee: It was a song called Crazy Car and it would have been a major hit if my band at the time Tormented Dragons wasn’t torn apart by drugs and the wild world of the music industry. We’re looking to do a reunion tour one day though, with as close to the original lineup as we possibly can.
Kenny: Yeah, third grade just hit us too hard and we were not able to continue. We will for sure play our terrible cover of Smoke on the Water on this tour.
What piece of your music are you particularly proud of?
Kenny: Definitely So Below. I think this is the song where a lot of our best ideas came together. Our creative side really came out on this one with all the wacky ideas that we’re thrown in there. The outro specifically is where it really shines. It’s a two minute section with countless layers of various instruments and vocals on top.
Jaybee: I like Wick because it makes me happy, and I get to tap.
Who today writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?
Jaybee: Kero Kero Bonito, Death Grips, 100 Gecs and Health are at the forefront of modern music writing. No one else is doing it better. If there’s no static and yelling, it’s gonna get left in the past.
Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
Kenny: Digital for casual listening because of the convenience but obviously vinyls for overall quality. Nothing beats it.
Jaybee: I only really listen on Spotify. I’m truly a patrician savant.
Whiskey or beer? And defend your choice
Kenny: This is a tough one but I’ll have to go with beer since it’s better for more frequent consumption. Whiskey is super tasty but only for sipping once in a while.
Jaybee: House tequila shots please. But after those I like a few beers.
We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your hometown, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?
Kenny: Josh and I are from Hillsborough, NJ which used to be a farming town but is now a suburb that I’m pretty sure they’re trying to form into a mini city (I wanna leave). The closest well known record store is The Princeton Record Exchange. It’s a nice place that I’ve been to a few times and they have a variety of different music which is nice.
Jaybee: Hillsborough is stinky, there is no music. Check out Big Bang Music though for all your music gear purchasing needs.
What's next for the band?
Kenny: We are currently in the process of writing our debut full length album which is coming out very well so far. It has a long way to come but so far it’s definitely the best material we have conjured up to this point. Stay tuned.
Any final comments or thoughts you'd like to share with our readers, the waveriders?
Thank you to anyone reading and thanks for having us! Be sure to follow us on our social media to keep up with what we’re doing.
