OUTCRY COLLECTIVE

PHOTO COURTESY OF OUTCRY COLLECTIVE
WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/outcrycollective
COUNTRY: United Kingdom STYLE: Rock / Hardcore

THE BAND HAS BEEN GOING FOR A WHILE. WAS IT A CASE OF WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO RELEASE YOUR DEBUT ALBUM “ARTICLES”?

We have had enough songs to record an album for a long time but we wanted to graft something truly original. We have heaps of demos that sound great but will never be released. Every now and then I give them to fans if they ask. The album was in a troubled time for us. We had a change in drummer and musical direction but I'm really proud of it.

YOU RECORDED “ARTICLES” BY YOURSELVES. WOULD YOU SAY IT WAS THE BEST WAY TO GO NOW THAT YOU HAD TIME TO LISTEN TO THOSE RECORDINGS, BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT SOME “KILLER” TUNES ON THERE?

I think we were very brave to produce it ourselves. We built our own recording studio and it has a unique sound. I think in the future I'd like to work with an outside producer who wouldn't be afraid to speak his mind and put in some suggestions. The album has come out raw and sounds like four guys playing in a room which is exactly what we wanted to go for.

THE BAND HAS THAT RAW, NO “FANCY” STUDIO PRODUCTION TYPE OF SOUND. IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE BAND TO SOUND THE SAME ON YOUR RECORDINGS AS YOU DO LIVE AND GIVE PEOPLE A FEELING OF THAT LIVE ENERGY?

People tend to come up to me after shows and say that we are better live and I agree. We like to play loud and you can't recreate a live environment with a crowd in the studio. I don't like it when albums by rock bands sound so polished that it could be a 'pop' record. We have left in feedback and mistakes to remind the listener that we're a real band - not a pieced together stick of candy.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY ALL THE BAND MEMBERS HAVE “GROWN” AS SONGWRITERS OVER THE YEARS, AND WOULD YOU SAY YOUR PLAYING, AND VOCAL STYLES HAVE CHANGED MUCH AS THE BAND HAS PROGRESSED?

Yeah we've gotten significantly better. When we were younger all we wanted to do was to play as heavy as possible. These days we listen to EVERYTHING and it shows in our songs. We have been writing new material recently and it's a departure again. I'm putting more melody into my vocals and pushing my screaming. The other three are so comfortable playing together now that they can just jam for hours. I'm really excited to hear the songs we're going to write in the future and our fans should be too.

DO YOU HAVE SONGS THAT YOU HAVE LOOKED BACK AND WONDERED, “WHY DID WE EVER THINK THAT WAS A GOOD SONG” OR IS EVERY SONG ONE WRITES AS A MUSICIAN A STEPPING STONE TO SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER MUSICIAN LATER ON?

There are some songs that haven't been used that I wish were out there because they were just so much fun to play. I don't love everything we've done, none of us do. We all have a different idea of our strongest songs but we tend to compromise well on which ones we'll play live. Every song is a stepping stone and sometimes you can step in shit instead but as long as you realise and clean you're shoes I don't think it's anything to be ashamed of.

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR VIDEO FOR THE SONG “DEAD IN THE WATER”; WERE YOU AIMING TO PRESENT THE SONG VISUALLY AS CLOSE TO WHAT THE SONG WAS ABOUT LYRICALLY, OR WAS IT MORE ABOUT CAPTURING THE “ENERGY” OF THE MUSIC?

We got sent through a treatment of the video from Sitcom Soldiers and it sounded cool. We are at a point in our career whereby we are being heavily judged. People are hearing about us for the first time and they are going on first impressions. We're not hiding behind anything in the video - it's just us playing. I love the location - it was an old train workshop and it looked really cool with hundreds of tires being back lit. We all had some drinks and shot through until six in the morning. Visually we had to work to a budget but I'm pleased with it - Sitcom Soldiers are pros.

THE BAND CONFIRMED THE DATES FOR THE “TRIPLE THREAT TOUR” THAT FEATURES YOU GUYS, GAY FOR JOHNNY DEPP AND BLAKFISH A WHILE BACK WHICH STARTS ON THE 13TH. ARE YOU ALWAYS MORE IN A “RUSH” BEFORE A TOUR, AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WILL BE LOOKED AFTER WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME FOR A MONTH OR LONGER?

I have always left everything to the last minute when it comes to preparation for anything I've ever done in my life. I was up till 4 in the morning the night before tour labelling our merchandise. I have a check list of things to remember and things to do like turn off my electricity and hot water.

DO YOU GUYS BASICALLY LIVE ON TAKEAWAYS WHILE ON THE ROAD?

It's so hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle whilst on the road. We live on rider food which is basically sandwiches and crisps. I try and take care of myself but with all of the drinking, partying and crap sleep I'm not exactly looking my best. Eventually you get pretty sick of Burger King and pizza because they just bring regret. Don't get me wrong though - touring is excellent.

HAVE ANY OF THE BANDS YOU HAVE EVER PERFORMED WITH OVER THE YEARS HAD ANY BIG IMPACT ON YOU GUYS AS A BAND; THAT MADE YOU KIND OF “RETHINK” THE WAY YOU WERE DOING THINGS UP TO THAT POINT?

I think I've taken something away from every band we've played with like "don't do that" or "that's a good idea". At the moment I'm on the road with Blakfish and Gay For Johnny Depp and it's been cool because we're all different bands and we've been able to just be ourselves and have that be enough.

HAVE YOU OR DO YOU GUYS EVER PERFORM COVERS, AND EVEN IF YOU HAVEN’T WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE WAY PEOPLE AND BANDS HAVE USED COVERS TO GET RADIO AIRPLAY AND FURTHER THEIR CAREERS; IS THERE A RIGHT OR A WRONG WAY IN YOUR OPINION?

We've played the Doors's 'Roadhouse Blues' once for a charity show but that was an exception. We used to play RATM songs in practice and do the Strokes every now and then. I don't judge a band that releases a cover because it's hard enough as it is but I don't think we'll be doing it anytime in the near future.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE FANS SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR?

We've been carving our own way in the rock world for a while now and we haven't taken any short cuts. We're going to be around for a while and we're getting better daily. If you like it loud and passionate then come check us out. Oh and Merry Christmas, Steve