Page 10 - RockRevoltMagazine-Summer2019
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depression.                                                                                                                                                                                          I like the way you’re thinking
            Yes, it’s all physical. Like                                                                                                                                                                      there and that makes total
            my stomach is destroyed                                                                                                                                                                          sense.
            from it. Like acids come                                                                                                                                                                             No, it’s a real thing. It’s -- we
            into my throat. It causes                                                                                                                                                                            talk about how contrived pop
            acid reflux disease and                                                                                                                                                                              songs are these days. A lot of
            irritable bowel. Like all                                                                                                                                                                            people think that it’s a machine
            of the worst physical                                                                                                                                                                                like there are all these writers
            things   that   happen.                                                                                                                                                                              who are just writing these pop
            Yes, I’ve seen multiple                                                                                                   Europe for like five or  six         think she is amazing without          songs that they know are going
            doctors and a therapist                                                                                                   festivals around  Europe.  And       my intervention  and she             to sell and that may be true to
            and I’m on medication                Yeah,  I think he’s a lot more  Tell me about your tour life                         then back to the States  for         should keep it that way and I        a degree, but the other  thing
            and I’m  doing all of  th e          proud now that I’ve made the  and just what you’ve learned                           a tour with Shinedown  and           should stay as far away and I        that’s true and the reason that
            things that are necessary. And       decisions I’ve made.             about being on tour.                                then everything  from that           should just be a spectator. So,      happens  is because you take
            it helps, but it’s something I’m                                          I’ve learned to do laundry to                   point,  I can’t talk about  that.    like my ego wants to say I want      like five writers and you end
            going  to be struggling  with  Your lyrics are very real and              do as often as possible. Socks                  But I can tell you that we are       to collaborate with her, then        up with the lowest  common
            possibly my whole life.          emotional and very deep and              are disposable. Just  accept                    not releasing any new music          if I’m being real, she doesn’t       denominator of ideas and you
                                             they touch on subjects that              it. They’re  disposable.  Don’t                 anytime soon because that’s          need  me. She should  do her         end up with really boring basic
         Right. But it sounds like you’re  are potentially uncomfortable.             sleep too much. When  we                        just the last thing on my mind       own thing.                           songs. And that’s really what it
         dealing with it well.               Is there anything that you’ve            started, obviously for years                    is making  another  record.                                               is, it’s not like there’s conceptual
            I  am now.  I  wasn’t  in the  written that you’ve felt was               and years, we rode a small 15                   That’s just impossible  at this  Well she probably doesn’t                ideas like we’re going to write
            beginning.  In  the  beginning,  too far out there for human              passenger van, and we would                     point. But we  will be  putting  need you either and you don’t            something  that’s boring and
            I didn’t see doctors. I was  consumption?                                 find hotels and finish the show                 out some more content  and  need her but I think together,                done before because we know
            self-medicating,  I  was  really     No. I mean before “Ghost” was        at like midnight - 1 a.m., and                  music videos and new singles  it would be a powerhouse.                   it’s going to sell, it’s like this is
            considering  quitting  music.        a single, I was afraid of how        get to the hotel to sleep for like              things like that.                    I  don’t  know,  that’s  what  we    just what everybody accepted.
            Like deeply  considering  it.        people  might  react. I didn’t       a couple of hours and then get                                                       always want. Like you take           This is what we came out with
            Right before  we  wrote  the         know that it was going to work       up to drive  the next city too               Perfect. We’ll be looking               two artists  that you really         because we  didn’t  have  any
            album, that’s kind of where          on a mainstream platform. I          early. Now that we’re on a bus,              forward to that. Who would              like and you put them in a           like amazing ideas that weren’t
            my head was at. It was either        initially, we weren’t even sure      it’s really easy to just like check          you play with or tour with              room together, you imagine           being stifled by all these other
            like dive in deep and make an        if we should put that song on        out and wake up at  3  p.m.                  that you’ve never toured with           something brilliant is going to      people  in  the  room  who are
            album  and  write some songs,        the album. And then when we          when you have to go sound                    before?                                 come out of it, but here’s what      just trying to get a song.
            or call  it  quits  now.  Write up   did  put it on  the album, we        check and that hasn’t been                      Some kind of collaboration           I’ve learned because I  have
            the email, send it to everybody,     thought, “well it  won’t  be a       very healthy. Like sleeping 10                  with Billie Eilish, that would       collaborated with other artists  And nobody wants to take a
            this is it! I don’t like this lifestyle,   single, it will just be something   -12 hours because I can. The               be it.                               that I respect that I really like  risk so you just kind of agree
            this is not healthy for me, it’s     that people  sort of find on         kick that I’m on now is to set                                                       and I think they’re so talented  on it.
            not  working. I mean  I was          their own and it’ll become sort      an  alarm even  though  I can                Musically or visually? Because          and I’m a fan of. I found that       Right. Well individuals  take
            really teetering on the edge         of a cult thing that only certain    sleep. I’m not touring the way               she’s amazing but I think               a lot of times, not every time       risks but groups  don’t, that’s
            and I decided to -- I had the        people enjoy and most people         that I used to where I have to               where she really stands is her          but  a lot of  times  when you       what it is.
            thought, “If  my 13-year-old         won’t get it.” And then the          be the driver and I have to do               imagery.                                collaborate  with somebody,
            self could like see me now and       decision was  made to make           all this, I still shouldn’t take                Her videos are phenomenal            it’s not both  of your  best  That’s right.
            see that I’ve come this far and      it a single and there was fear       advantage of that.                              and then the opposite, it’s like     ideas combined. Its whichever        Wow,  that’s  actually really
            I’m about  to quit, he  would        for sure. But I don’t think I’m                                                      truly the opposite of what our       ideas are good enough for            good, I got to write that down,
            slap me across the face?” So,        saying anything that people  Right. Yeah, sleep hygiene is                           band does which is we’re very        each other so it’s really each       I like that. I’ll use it in a later
            I’m doing it for him.                aren’t thinking themselves.      a thing.                                             story-telly and she’s very like     person’s  worst  idea that was       song.
                                                                                      Those  are very basic human                      visual art. Like all of our music   just acceptable, you know
         Is that what stopped you from                                                things that I’ve learned. On a                   videos  are all like beginning,     what I mean? Like the lowest
         just outright quitting?                   Individuals                        spiritual  and emotional  level                  middle,    end.   There’s    a      common denominator  ends
            Yeah, it was a big part of it. It                                         I’ve just found that people are                  protagonist,    there’s    like     up being the song and those
            was sort of just like -- I don’t        take risks,                       really cool. Large groups of                     characters  and  hers  are just     collaborations don’t  go well.
            know. I don’t know how many                                               people  who enjoy the same                       very stark art pieces that are      That’s my experience. I think if
            lives we have. As far as we                                               things that you enjoy are very                   just  incredible. But I’m  more     I’m not controlling every little
            know, we have one and if I                 groups                         cool and it’s really special that                about the music, I’m just a fan     piece of it, I’m not allowed
            have the opportunity to do                                                we  have this community  to                      of her lyrics and a fan of her      to make like really ridiculous
            something really special with               don’t.                        play for and to entertain and                    songs and the production, all       revisions with someone else
            my one, it’s  stupid to waste                                             to connect with.                                 of it. I don’t know, I say that I   in the room stifling that, then
            and I shouldn’t waste it.                                                                                                  want to collaborate with Billie     that’s when  my best art is
                                                                                  What’s up next for                                   Eilish, but then when I really      going to come out.
        Absolutely. I think you make                                              Badflower?                                           think about it, I don’t think I
        your 13-year-old-self proud.                                                  We’re about to head  to                          belong  anywhere near her. I

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11 //  RockRevolt Magazine
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