Hey nice
people!
Recently I
got really, really stoked with Foxing last and debut effort, The Albatross. It
has become the soundtrack to my end of year. It’s a damn good record; endorsing
the list of amazing bands at CYLS. So, I was really thankful when they accepted
doing an interview. You can read it
below:
-
1.
I’ve
read on the web you’ve selling plenty of records. Being your debut, it was
something you expected?
Josh:
No.
Conor: We definitely anticipated selling a few records to our
friends but the sales really took off fast.
We sold out of all of our copies during our release show, three days
after the album came out—we were certainly not anticipating that.
2.
Honestly, since I’ve been emo stuff, your release is one of the most heartfelt
things I’ve heard. How was the whole process of recording it?
Conor: It was really intimate and emotional for all of us. I feel like the recordings really captured a
full year of both the happiest and most awful experiences in my life.
Josh: Yeah, it was a really long and arduous process. The songs
and their meanings are extremely personal pieces of work; we felt it necessary
to handle them with care. From start to finish, it was over a year of work.
3. How
is the reaction of the audience when you play the songs live?
Conor: We really don't know what people actually think but
they're always to kind; I hope people enjoy it as much as we do.
Josh: I think it just depends on the crowd and the environment
of the night. Generally speaking people are either getting rowdy or
participating in some pretty chill moshing—if nothing else or there is always a
nice wave of eyes closed and heads nodding.
4. What
have your learnt being in a band that you can’t learn in daily routine jobs?
Josh: I’ve learned how to bag a beer.
Conor: I've learned a lot about myself; what I really want in
life. I've also found out what its like
to be truly happy doing something that I am capable of doing—which has been
invaluable to me.
5. What
are the bands you recently felt in love?
Conor: I've recently been listening to a lot of Caspian, The Reptilian,
and Little Big League. I'm also
rediscovering Tears For Fears.
Josh: Recently, If You
Leave by Daughter has completely shut me down, it’s beautiful. I’ve
listened to Tim Hecker for a long time, but his new record Virgins is also a kick in the chest. I would never turn down more
Joie De Vivre in my life. The new Brighter Arrows and Crash of Rhinos really
did something for me as well. In all honesty, 2013 wasn’t a huge year of
discovery for me, rather a year of affirmation.
6. The
cover of The Albatross is amazing. How
that idea came up?
Conor: We all agreed on the idea of using a photograph rather
than a design. All the art came from a
brilliant photographer named Kevin Russ.
He's amazing and you should definitely check out his other work.
Josh: He was extremely gracious in allowing us to use his
photography.
7. Is
Bit By a Dead Bee (part I and II) is a reference to Breaking Bad? If so, what
were the reasons that made you so excited to make two songs about it?
Conor: [Laughs] Ask
Josh.
Josh: No. It was initially a reference to the 1940’s film, To Have and Have Not. However, while
re-watching Breaking Bad, I noticed
there was an episode with the same name; obviously the writers on Breaking Bad are referencing To Have and Have Not as well. I can
honestly say I wasn’t aware of it until after we named the song; paying
attention to episode titles has never been my thing. However, all five of us
are fans of the show, so I’m completely fine with having people think the name
is a reference. Lastly, the songs have nothing to do with To Have and Have Not in a direct sense. I’d rather not say what
those two songs are specifically about—I will say that conceptually both songs
are about having things inside of you that you thought you had gotten rid of, more
specifically the way bad habits, depression, feelings of inadequacy, and self-destructive
behavior can so easily surface.
8. How
are the gigs at St Louis?
Conor: St. Louis gigs can unabashedly be called “gigs” if that
answers the question. Our shows are
usually awesome. For touring bands, it’s
a lot of twisting folks' arms to come out to shows though. Even if the band is amazing. St. Louis is a weird, weird town.
Josh: I disagree with Conor; I don’t really think there is
necessarily a difference between all local shows and shows with touring acts on
the bill. There are a ton of issues with Saint Louis music; I’m an expert on
none of them. Some bands play a show in Saint Louis every week and then
complain that they aren’t drawing people. We try to space out our local shows
in order to give each of them the proper attention they deserve. There are
peaks and valleys to every scene; ours is no different. Aside from that, I
couldn’t really say. I enjoy playing music in Saint Louis.
9. What
are the things that most influence you to write the lyrics?
Conor: I get influenced a lot by talking to myself in my
car. I have a pretty consistent open
dialogue with myself while driving. From
talking to yourself like a crazy person, you learn a lot about what's really on
your mind and if you write some of it down, it tends to sound pretty nice and
meaningful.
Josh: Besides the obvious things, such as other writers, I
suppose the lyrics that I pen for Foxing are about my own experiences and shortcomings.
There are lines in our songs that are so close to things that have been said in
relationships, that I’ve had to take a step back and ask myself if it’s worth
keeping them in, simply because there is no way those people that they are
references wouldn’t know they are about them. On the flip side, something I’m
trying to work on is writing more openly and stop masking certain meanings with
metaphors or turn of phrase. I suppose my goal in writing is to achieve the
proper balance.
10.
Violin, Cello, Flute… Since the beginning you thought about putting all this
instruments into the music, or the recording sessions made you realize that?
Josh: We all have a lot of love for symphonic music; I think
from here on out there will always be a degree of that written into our music.
Conor: From the beginning we intended to include orchestration
to a few of the songs. A lot of it came
from questioning if we could do something and trying it out.
11.
Right now, what is the level of Foxing in your personal life?
Conor: Foxing is really all that I actually want to do. School and work are complete obstacles for me
every day.
Josh: I agree with Conor. On a day-to-day basis, it takes up about
70% of my personal time, about an equal amount of my headspace. I handle most
of the business side of things for the band, which comes with a ton of
responsibility. In no way am I complaining about that though--I love that
stuff.
12.
Which emo bands you think will make it big? (Not monetary, you know what I
mean).
Conor: Well, I guess you have to define what "make it
big" would mean. To me, making it
big means playing SNL or All Tomorrow's Parties. I think The World is a Beautiful Place and I
am No Longer Afraid to Die will continue to grow [...] I mean, they’re already a big deal, but pretty soon I feel like they'll be doing
Letterman and shit. Honestly, I don't
know a whole lot of emo bands that I could see playing SNL or All Tomorrow's
Parties though.
Josh: I agree that “make it big” is kind of a subjective way to
view music. For example, where we were a year ago in comparison to where we are
now, I feel like we’ve made it big; things like that are completely relative
though. I guess I think Into It. Over It. has that potential to cross over into
a mainstream playing field. I don’t know, this is something that I don’t really
think about, mainly because “making it” has completely changed over the years.
If “making it” means make a living off of their work, I can name a handful of
groups already doing that. If “making it” means private jets and Grammys, then
none.
13. The
name of our blog is “Anthem Albums”. Please, tell us what your anthem album is?
Conor: My anthem album is Dancing
on the Ceiling by Lionel Richie.
Josh:
My anthem album is The Tired Sounds of
Stars of the Lid by Stars of the Lid. I understand that this record is not
chalk full of “anthems” but I love it.
14.
Thank you! Really appreciate. Please
send a message to our readers, a kiss, anything.
Josh: If you are reading this, thank you for taking interest in
our band; we never want to let any of you down.
You can check out their music right here:
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