We all knew that they wouldn’t remain Vegas’ best kept secret for long and now the entire world is finding out just why Vegas fell in love with Otherwise. Although far from an overnight sensation, the guys in Otherwise hit most everyone’s radar in May of 2012 with the release of their debut full length album True Love Never Dies. A strong work ethic and countless miles on the road, combined with a sincere appreciation for their fans, found the band’s fan base growing by leaps and bounds. Now, fast forward to 2014 and the next chapter of their story is unfolding with the release of their sophomore album Peace At All Costs. I sat down with frontman Adrian Patrick recently to talk about the road that lies ahead for the band.
Adrian Patrick: Mr. Price, what’s cracking bud?
Hey AP, life is good my friend. It looks as if things are about to get busy again for you guys with a new album, a new tour and lots of shenanigans. Shall we discuss some of these things?
Let’s do it!
After the success of your last album, True Love Never Dies, did you guys feel any pressure going into the studio to work on the follow-up?
Absolutely brother! We’ve all heard of the dreaded “sophomore slump” and the bands affected by that. My brother kept questioning me as to whether we were writing a good album and if these songs were strong enough. There was definitely a lot of self-doubting, but once we got in the groove of things, the songs started churning out, and we were pleasantly surprised.
Who did you guys bring on-board to produce this time?
We brought in David Bottrill who pretty much discovered Tool and did their first three albums. He also did Muse’s first two, the latest Stone Sour, 5 by Staind and he worked 20 odd years with Peter Gabriel. He’s such a cool cat and massively talented; he really helped us to find our stride. He helped us to mature as songwriters and artists and I think it’s going to be very apparent to the rock and roll world when they hear our new album.
Uh, yeah, I think it’s going to turn a few heads. It definitely takes more than one listen for all of it to sink in. The more I listen to it, I keep hearing things that I missed the previous listen.
Oh, absolutely! It’s a big album and we were trying to be ambitious with it. One of our strengths, even as inexperienced as we were on True Love Never Dies, is that every song doesn’t sound the same. We don’t want to be “that” band that puts out an album and it’s the same song for 40 minutes or the same album five times in a row. One of our biggest hurdles in trying to get signed by these so called “professional” A&R guys at the labels was that we didn’t have an identity because every song sounded like a different band, but that is our identity. I’ve said in so many interviews that we’re not always happy, sad, angry or mad, so why should every song sound the same? From our indie EP Some Kind of Alchemy to True Love Never Dies to the Enjoy the Pain EP and now Peace at all Costs, every song has its own identity, yet at the same time each of those songs is part of a cohesive body of work.
To me, that’s part of the beauty of it and makes it that much more genuine and real.
I’m glad you get it bro; that’s awesome!
Did David ever push you guys out of your comfort zone in the studio?
Oh yeah, speaking mostly for myself as a vocalist, Dave’s worked with some of the top guys including Corey Taylor, Aaron Lewis and freaking Peter Gabriel, so no pressure on me (laughs). That was one of his goals: to push us out of that zone, but at the same time maintain our core as a band, and I think he masterfully captured that.
Now, I’m sure that there has to be a story around the album title?
It’s the mantra of our grandmother. She’s a little Italian religious pacifist of a beautiful little angel. When the Irish side of our family would get drunk and beat the shit out of each other in their tiny little shack off the coast of Ireland, she would always say that. I don’t think she realized the double entendre of that statement, you know, it’s a fatal threat: Give me peace or I will take it from you. I think it’s a very fitting title given where we’re at as artists and as a band and in the world with all the crazy shit that’s happening. I think it totally encapsulates the subject matter in every song on the album.
Dude, I think it’s really awesome how there are so many family elements running throughout so many aspects of everything that this band does.
Thank you Mr. Price! I’m really glad that you picked up on that. You know, a lot of people do things for God and country first, but we do things for family first. As you know, “True Love Never Dies” was a tattoo on my cousin Ivan’s neck and I have “Peace at all Costs” on my throat, so it made total sense for the next incarnation of Otherwise to be called such.
I know this is kind of like asking a parent to choose their favorite kid, but are there any songs that hit you harder personally than others?
Aw man, that’s a good question! I guess, for me personally, I really connect with “Love and War” and “The Other Side of Truth”; not that they’re necessarily my favorite songs on the album, but I do love the way that they’re violent love songs that I can relate to. You know, most of my favorite movies are as equally violent as they are romantic and a lot of my life has been lived in that same vein. The closer,”Man on Fire”, is also a very special song that’s been around for a long time. My brother and I co-wrote that song about six or seven years ago with two of our closest friends, and for it to be on this album now and for people to finally get to hear it is very special for me and my bro.
I have to tell you that, no lie, “Man on Fire” was my stand-out track the first time that I listened to the entire album. That song is epic on so many levels and that intro is as equally beautiful as it is haunting.
That’s exactly what we were going for.
Then, the strings begin to come in and I had to turn it up louder to make sure I was hearing it correctly.
Oh yeah, those weren’t programmed; those were live strings as well as live piano. We brought in Sarah Thiele on piano and Crystal Yuan on strings and they killed it. They’re two beautiful woman who make beautiful music. Apparently, someone from Avenged Sevenfold’s camp told our manager that song should be released as a single, but I’m not sure of that will happen because of the ADD culture that we live in. The song is close to six minutes in length and, by radio standards, a song is supposed to be three minutes and thirty seconds or less. We did kind of break that mold with our first single “Soldiers” which was over four minutes and we did that without a fucking record label, so who knows.
You and I have had several talks over the last couple of years about healing through music and how you guys seem to be in places where your music helps those in need of healing. There was the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary and then Hurricane Sandy.
We played shows in both places exactly one week after each of those tragedies happened; it was pretty wild man.
Well, you hit the road back on September 11, which is symbolic for more than one reason, to promote the new album.
I remember us discussing this before with the dates and numbers and such as well as the tragedies. September 11 is also very poignant for us because our first single “Soldiers” was played on the radio on September 11, 2011, which was the ten year anniversary of 911. I remember that day vividly: it was right before we signed our record deal, right before it went number one on satellite radio and right before our cousin Ivan died. We were driving up and down the strip in a stretch limo and there was red, white and blue all around and there were flags everywhere. It was such a hallowed day and I’m getting goose bumps right now just thinking about it. So, there’s no better date for us to be starting our headline run on. My brother and I are first generation Americans and our parents brought us to this great country to escape that type of terrorism and religious persecution. Now, to fight back in the best way we know how to with our music and message is an honor and nothing short to me of spiritual.
Otherwise – Darker Side of the Moon Official Video
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I have a few fan submitted questions to ask you before we wrap this up. Tanya N. in California wanted to know which recording session did you guys prefer: the Enjoy the Pain or Peace At All Costs sessions?
They were definitely two different beasts. We love being in a professional studio environment and it’s probably my favorite part of being in the band. We go in and create this beast to unleash on the world and that’s a feeling that I love. About 95% of Enjoy the Pain was written and recorded while we were on the road. In hindsight, we’re very proud of the songs on Enjoy the Pain, but dude, trying to record on a moving bus or in a bathroom of a hotel, turning someone’s living room into a makeshift studio, that’s life by music right there. That EP is special in its own right because we did it ourselves, with no budget from the label, no award winning producer, just us and we gave it away for free.
The next one is from Eric W. in Massachusetts. You’ve recorded a few duets including “The Promise” with Maria Brink of In This Moment. Do you have a bucket list of other artists you’d like to sing with?
I’ve got one heck of a long laundry list of who I’d like to work with. I’ve recently been intrigued with Carla from the Butcher Babies. They’re our label mates and it would be really cool to make something happen there. I think it would open up our fans to her music and vice versa; it would show metal heads that she’s more than just a screamer. I’d also love to do something with Skylar Grey and of course, there’s still my fantasy to work with Katy Perry, but there would have to be a lot of jumping through hoops to get that to happen.
Jason M. in California wants to know if there is a song that you’ve heard and really wished that you had written and recorded it?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Talking Heads lately and especially their song “Road to Nowhere.” It’s such a great song – so simple, yet so powerful and memorable. That’s one that makes me think, “Why didn’t I think of that one?”
Jenavieve in New Mexico wants to know if you could meet anyone from the past, anyone at all, and have a conversation with them, who would it be?
I think I would go back and have a conversation with my dad right before I was born. He’s such an interesting enigma of a man with so many interesting layers to the onion that is my father. I’d like to go back to the day before he was enshrouded in his own thoughts and mission. When I was a kid, he would tell me stories of his crazy adventures and things that he did. I used to imagine that he and I were best friends and I was right there with him.
What’s the best and worst food while out on the road?
The best and worst simultaneously would have to be all the baked goods that the fans bring us. There are cookies, chocolate peanut butter treats, brownies and so much more. It tastes so good, but it’s also so bad for us – except for Corky. He doesn’t give a shit and eats cookies all day long. If you could let everyone know that this go around, we could use healthier snacks like protein bars and protein shakes. We’re very appreciative and grateful of all that other stuff, but my waistline tends to suffer.
I see, so healthier care packages are requested for this new tour.
Yes, we’re not getting any younger man!
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By: Johnny Price, Lead Senior Journalist
Catch Otherwise on their headlining tour beginning December 2!
