Page 15 - RockRevoltMagazine-Summer2019
P. 15

AN INTERVIEW WITH CROWN THE EMPIRE         were like oh this is an idea, lets run  but  just  watching it -- nothing
                                            with it. I was really into like “Sin  surprises me anymore. At one
 by Devon Anderson  Are we human?           City,” so it was like a comic book  point, this festival was  going to
                                            movie that was all black white  live on forever, but musically and
 rown the Empire are having,  was this internal conflict that was  Crown the Empire definitely takes   Are we programmed   and red; we  kind of  balanced  culturally,  everything is  so  shifty
 by all accounts, an amazing  stirring and brewing over the  their hearts and cracks them wide   a few  colors in that realm of a  and wonky right now.  I  think
 C2019. With  a new  album  course of us -- I guess we were just  open  in  Sudden Sky, and there   beyond our control?  comic book. Then, Shawn kind  we’re trying to figure out this ever
 out now that you have GOT  to  getting  kind  of caught  up in  the  is a strong  sense of vulnerability   of ran off with it and did his own  glowing  path that everybody is
 get your ears on (Sudden  Sky,  lifestyle more than like actually  and openness  with their lyrics,   You wanna FInd out?  thing. Kind of animated with 3D  trying to chase down and take
 available wherever you get your  addressing things, and finally  it  more so than  ever before. Leo   at the same time. He was great,  their own routes to try and carve
 music kicks) and a headlining tour  just all caught up and imploded at  said that they realized that “being   Pay attention, the   and it was awesome.  their own ways through it, I think.
 with Attila, Veil of Maya, Gideon,  once. So, it was kind of like a burst  straight agro and jumping around   It’s a bummer that it’s gone now,
 and Hawk that has hit the ground  of the bubbles for us knowing  and punching the air is something   batterys low      Headlining for Attila, CTE finds  but I think  anything  is possible
 running, this year has been a good  that it’s not all fun and games all  that we could only do for so long   themselves topping  off a pretty  nowadays. Lil Nas for example,
 one for the band. The fruits of all  the time. Sometimes  bad things  before it gets more complex. I think   heavy lineup. In fact, Attila asked  just boom, all of a sudden this is
 of their labors seem to be ripening,  happen  or people change and  by stripping it out and addressing   Hoover  added that a message  them to come out and headline  a thing, and it’s the number one
 so what better time for them to sit  you grow apart, and we thought  stuff head on, we have taken a big   he’d like to see fans take away  for them, which, according  to  song like three  weeks being  the
 down and talk with us? No better  we were invincible in our careers  leap in that kind of direction.”   from their new album is “to learn  Brandon  Hoover  was “Dope.  longest time at number one. I was
 time, that’s what. This tour - and  thus far when  everything was   how to balance being connected  We’ve  been friends  with those  watching like, what is happening,
 this album - are both experiences  going pretty well. And so to kind   to technology and stepping away  dudes since we started touring  you know? His new EP has like
 you will not want to miss out on  of have reality like just “kick you  And a lot of musicians and bands   from it to feel genuine  human  back in 2011-2012,  so we love  Kurt Cobain credited  on one  of
 to end your summer on the most  in the kitten” as my mum would  are currently finding power in their   connection. It’s getting harder and  going out on the road with them.  the  songs because he  fully  took
 badass note possible.   say, I think it all happened for us  vulnerability, so Crown the Empire   harder  to step away from these  They were one of the first bands  one of the choruses from Nirvana
 at once. We kind of  had to go  is not  alone  in  that. However, I   screens we hold in our hands. I  who accepted us even though we  and  used it and  nobody cares.
 back to the drawing  board, and  would argue  that for fans  of  the   still struggle with it constantly  were not known at the time.”   It’s like building Legos, but now
            You burn down what you dont love - You destroy what
 So in the whole scheme of life - There has to be the shadow   youre made of - You defy what you locked out - Terrifed of

 Because without the shadow - There cant be the substance
                                            what youll FInd out


   Though  the album  may seem  everybody gets to know each  band, this change of pace is not   because I have to run all of the
 like news to those of us on the fan  other on like an actual new level --  only welcome but necessary with   social media for my band, and  Coming off  of  their nearly
 side of things, it is nothing new to  and not like we were like brothers  the rapidly evolving, politically   it’s so draining  at times. It’s not  constant  runs  on  Warped, CTE   What am I afraid of?
 the guys in Crown the Empire. In  before that you know, but I think  charged times we live in. Brandon   normal to know thousands of  wanted a tour experience that
 fact, they have been tweaking and  to really make sure that a part of  Hoover, guitarist  for the band,   people’s opinions, good or bad.”  promises “pure, ignorant fun.   The unknown? Things I
 perfecting this baby for us for the  this is on the same wavelength.  says that the current political and   I agree - never, ever  read the  Heavy,  high energy,  hot and
 last two years. When asked about  All  of our  deepest  scaredy  cat  social climate has “had everything   comments!       sweaty party time.” Likening  it   cant control?
 his feelings regarding Sudden Sky,  moments felt like the next step, so  to do with how the music has   to a “rage fest,”  Andy  Leo and
 Andy Leo mused, “It doesn’t seem  we needed to be as completely  transformed over the past couple   Speaking  of  balance  and  the guys are making  this tour  Am I afraid to say it out
 like it’s been that long, but my life  honest and open as we could be.   of years as well as who we are as   technology, the band released the  a fan-driven experience, even
 is in a completely different place.”  people.  We’ve always discussed   video  for “MZRY,” which  takes  asking fans what they would like   loud
 topics like this, but I feel like   the viewer on an unexpected  to see in terms of setlist! “We did
 RockRevolt: I’m glad that you said   currently  they are more relevant   animated journey. Inspiration, as  a poll online  to see what songs  When its easier to just
 that about a new place in your life   You could fear   than ever. Because we live these   it  turns  out, was  found through  the fans wanted to hear more
 because you can totally tell from   bizarre lives and are constantly   the band’s  disinterest  in starring  of, so we had a kind of curated  wade in the comfort of a
 the sound, so what inspired all of   what youre   on tour, we get to witness a lot of   in their own music video!   setlist for them before we usher
 this? You seem more open, more   things first hand. When  you see   in the new elements. This is our   crowd?
 emotional;  “who hurt  you?” is   too scared to   the world you realize the direction   Andy Leo: So, initially we  last like hoorah, fuck the system,
 what I want to say?   we’re heading  in and it’s a very   just knew we didn’t want  everybody break shit kind of tour.”   How many times can I
 understand  weird one…”   to be in another  music
 Andy Leo:     Life. I think I   video. The one  before  When  it comes to the end of  refresh the same page
 just got older, you know, I   Or you could open   that took, like, so much  Warped,  fans and  bands alike
 think all at once. It felt like   time, so  much editing.  all  have their own opinion, that   Before I realize that
 a lot of things especially   up your mind and   We had  like a green  is for sure. For CTE, the end of
 with the band, with   screen on it, so it was just  Warped  has really  proven that,   Ill just get the same
 our  members,  with like   breathe it in  like logistically a nightmare. I was  like everything anymore, nothing
 management  and  people   like, “You know what would be  really can surprise anyone...    outcome?
 behind the scenes.  There   tight? To not be in it.” And people  Andy  Leo:     I think it’s sad
                                                                                               15 //  RockRevolt Magazine
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