SOURCE – Was it an easy decision to pick the singles this time before the album came out?
Nick Lee (Guitars) – Yes and no. It’s always hard to pick the first one but the other three were obvious to us. One thing we were adamant about before we even started recording is that we didn’t want the first track to be the first single like we have for all of our other releases. We wanted to make sure when people get the album finally they can absorb the whole album from the beginning and not jump over the first few tracks they’ve heard already for months. The singles are probably the catchiest but there’s still a wide range of songs and moods they can absorb when they finally get the full piece. It is definitely a full album listen!
SOURCE – What will be your strongest memory of recording this new album?
Nick Lee (Guitars) – The week we did all of the guitars was amazing and grueling. I just lived at Ray’s studio and we did 12-15 hours per day until my hands felt like they were going to fall off. It was a lot of work but I’m super proud of what came out of those hours. I’d also be lying if I didn’t say the pandemic logistics were tough the whole time. Writing and sending demos remotely, recording in small groups with masks on until we were all vaccinated and felt safe, dealing with Josh Wilbur being in California and not being able to easily work together in person, all of that made things a little trickier than they normally would have but we worked through all of it and didn’t let it affect the songs or our performances.
SOURCE – Anything you can say about the video for Carry Me Home?
Nick Lee (Guitars) – I’ve always wanted to do a campy horror movie type video and The Lost Boys is my favorite 80’s movie so I had so much fun making that one with Tom Flynn once again directing and Shevy Marie killed it on both makeup and acting as the head vampire. It was a long day and a freezing shoot but it is easily in my top 3 videos we’ve ever done.
SOURCE – How do you as musicians handle the ever-evolving landscape of today’s music industry – where social media, instant technology, streaming services, etc. play just as important of a role in building the brand of the band as the songs, records, and live performances?
Nick Lee (Guitars) – Our attitude has always been that writing good songs and putting on intense memorable live shows is what this is all about. We do what we can to keep up with the online trends and social media platforms that become essential to getting the word out but it is a means to an end so that we can continue creating music and playing live. I can appreciate that people build huge careers off of tiktok and YouTube but we have an old school mentality. You’re a real band when you’re out there proving it live in front of an audience.
SOURCE – Have you experienced any differences in how the foreign press treats you and the band compared to how native press and media treats and writes about you?
Nick Lee (Guitars) – Honestly no! I think you have to have an open mind to digest this band so the people who take the time to absorb what we do are on usually on our team regardless of where they were born.
SOURCE – Social media is an essential part of promotion these days. Do you like the transparency and interaction, or do you prefer the old days when there was more mystique to an album release?
Nick Lee (Guitars) – I think we would prefer things how they used to be but we all grew up through that massive transition in the industry so we see the benefits and repercussions of both ends. I love talking to fans of the band on social media. I try to answer everyone I can and have no problem with that but I do wish people would focus more on the music and albums people create and worry less about “content”. Work on your instrument and hone your skills as a songwriter, then worry about being an influencer on Instagram. They are not the same skill set. I’d rather spend my time practicing my guitar than editing a reel for Instagram but so it goes!
SOURCE – How do you see the state of the world currently, coming out of this global pandemic? What do you think are the biggest concerns that the leaders of the world need to tackle, and where should the focus be for the average person to achieve more of what they want and desire in life?
Nick Lee (Guitars) – Oh man, that’s a heavy question… I chose to pursue music with my life, I built it to a point where it started to become a viable lifestyle and then the rug got pulled from under my feet for three years and like every other musician I know, I questioned my purpose and my future. I am not going to pontificate about what should be done about COVID around the world, or what should be done about the war in Ukraine, or what to do about the government we have in the US who are impotent to support their own people who can’t afford to live. I do believe change starts at an individual level. Treat others how you want to be treated, offer a helping hand to those who have it worse off than you when you can, vote in their interests and not just your own, approach life and relationships with empathy every day. Admittedly, I’m mostly only useful for creating music that provides a release from that constant weight and bring some joy into your life for a moment. That’s the only service I know how to provide to make the world a better place besides those other individual opportunities I mentioned that I am privileged enough to have every day.
SOURCE – What else is going on with Moon Tooth?
Nick Lee (Guitars) – Our album ‘Phototroph’ comes out this Friday May 13th and we currently on a full US tour with Dance Gavin Dance, Memphis May Fire, & Volumes. More touring to be announced soon! We’ll be working hard on supporting this new record and we’re excited to come rage at a city near you very soon!
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