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10 Quick Ones with BRANDON KELLUM of AMERICAN STANDARDS – April 2017

According to a recent press release: “Chaotic hardcore quartet, American Standards have announced their upcoming full length titled, Anti-Melody which is set to release April 28th on all digital music outlets. Off the forthcoming record comes the first single “Writers Block Party”, giving a good glimpse into the group’s new record. The new single premiered exclusively on Lambgoat.” We get Brandon to answer our 10 Quick Ones about the bands new disc and and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

More than ever. American Standards goes into the studio with songs at about 90%. That other 10% comes from us being locked in a room with nothing better to do than experiment with new sounds. The album starts with a door opening. If you listen hard enough, you just may be able to hear that I walked into the engineering room with my pants around my ankles to everyone’s surprise. It only devolves from there. Later in response to the line “Snake oil burns too quick” you can hear the faint sound of a rattle that you probably didn’t hear at first listen but now will stand out every time. Finally, the song builds to a crescendo with the eerie sounds a crowd cheering which was from an impromptu recording at an event under a bridge just outside of of Los Angeles. Now keep in mind, these nuggets are all within the first song. If you listen closely, each song has its own flare, whether it be in the lyrical references, back masking or the single cowbell hit that we’ve included in every track.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I think I’ve always had a passion for entertaining and creating something from nothing. There’s just something about being able to evoke emotions and allowing people an opportunity to live in the moment. From a young age I would organize things with my friends like skate videos, jackass style prank videos and surprisingly even backyard wrestling that evolved into a monthly show at a local arena. My father gave me a guitar as a gift when I was 16 and 15 years later I can honestly say that I owe 95% of the people in my life to it and the doors that music has opened for me.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Refused, Every Time I Die, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Norma Jean, and MewithoutYou

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

Hands down Eric Nally of Foxy Shazam. Guy has an amazing voice and is the last of a dying breed of true rock performers.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Depending on who it is and what they’ve heard of… a heavier more chaotic version of that. Your mom listens to lady antebellum? That but heavier. Dad’s a Metallica fan? You got it, just harder.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Besides the overwhelming money and fame, it would have to be the opportunity to travel to new places, try different things and connect with interesting people.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Our drummer Mitch Hosier for all the above… and more.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

What’s Anthony Bordain’s official job title? I’ll take that.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

Plenty of things that may have seemed like “mistakes” at the time but all of which have led us to where we are today- which I wouldn’t change for the world. We once turned down a last minute show offer to play a sold out show with Trivium just because we already had committed to an infinitely smaller DIY show. Although smaller in attendance, that show remains as one of the most fun crowds we’ve played to, to this day.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Rick Astley’s iconic album Whenever You Need Somebody just so I could let him know about the frustration and pain that he would cause future generations via Rick Rolling. In all honesty though, probably a band that I fan girled over in high school like System of a Down, Rage Against The Machine or Slipknot.

AMERICAN STANDARDS LINKS:

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Category: Interviews

About the Author ()

ToddStar - that's me... just a rocking accountant who had dreams of being a rock star. I get to do the next best thing to rocking the globe - I get to take pictures of the lucky ones that do. I love to shoot all genres of music and different types of performers. If it is related to music, I love to photograph it. I get to shoot and hang with not only some of my friends and idols, but some of the coolest people around today.

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