10 Quick Ones with BRIDGE TO BREAKDOWN – September 2018

According to a recent press release: “Independent, Jacksonville, NC based Funk Rock Trio BRIDGE TO BREAKDOWN has released the official lyric video for their single, “Rain.” Fans can watch BRIDGE TO BREAKDOWN’s behind the scene antics for “Rain” online. Comprised of three lifelong friends dating back to their high school days, Bridge to Breakdown is one of the most unique acts to surface out of the North Carolina scene. The group takes direct inspiration from legendary acts such as Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine and more.”  We get the band to discuss new music, influences, and much more in our 10 Quick Ones…

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?

Talyn Demters: The song is about acceptance of not being able to change things that can not be changed, such as the rain… you can have a terrible day but if it’s gonna rain, its still going to rain and there isn’t anything you can do about that other than to just accept it and move forward. It’s the same with things in your life that you have no control over. Just accept it and continue on.

Malcolm Matthews: Well, one thing during the recording process that I think a lot of people wouldn’t realize is that Talyn actually stepped up and played bass on top of holding the down the vocal lines and his guitar parts. A lot of crazy stuff happened leading up to the time we spent together in the recording studio so it was really cool to see him step up like that in the clutch. He actually chugged an entire bottle of honey while in the vocal booth too.

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

Malcolm Matthews: There are actually quite a few different moments that I’ve experienced that have definitely had an influence on the direction I want to go in life. Hearing Hip Hop at a young age really opened my mind to what music could be especially M.E.T.H.O.D. MAN track by Method Man himself. I then luckily stumbled upon some Woodstock 69’ footage of Jimi Hendrix on MTV while surfing channels one day and the rest was history.

Talyn Detmers : Prince’s album 1999 got me into music, but my dad actually owned a guitar while he was in the Marine Corps and knew a few chords and I thought that was the shit.

Taylor Cefalo: Definitely Guitar Hero 2, the introduced me to so many great songs and that just sparked everything.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Talyn Detmers: We all have different but mine would be Led Zeppelin, Alice In Chains, Prince, Aerosmith, Devin Townsend.

Taylor Cefalo: Anything Mike Portnoy touches, Devin Townsend project, Animal as leaders, Gojira, Rage Against the Machine.

Malcolm Matthews: Rage Against the Machine, Jimi Hendrix, Code Orange, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Cypress Hill.

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

Malcolm Matthews: Gary Clark Jr. for sure. He is definitely one of the best blues guitarist doing it right now hands down. To be able to work with him would be an honor.

Talyn Detmers: Hans Zimmer. His ability to create larger than life sounds from an orchestra would be a really fun twist if added into rock music.

Taylor Cefalo: Devin Townsend, especially in his newest album he has this way of layering every instrument perfectly plus he’s a great producer.

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

Malcolm Matthews: Truth be told, it has been difficult to describe our sound in the past because we all pull from so many different influences. We do have some metalish tendencies, but I think our sound leans more towards a heavier funk rock or groove rock vibe. We also like to do a rap/sung vocal style with myself holding down the raps and Talyn belting those choruses like nobody’s business the groovy guitar riffs of Audioslave combined with the vocal dichotomy of Linkin Park.

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

Malcolm Matthews: For me, the best thing about being a musician is seeing people in the crowd feeling the energy that all of us try our best to out while we’re on stage. Watching them head bang, jump around, yell at the top of their lungs, and more recently, scream out our lyrics back at us is such an amazing feeling. I live for it.

Talyn Detmers: Being able to translate My feelings, emotions, and life experiences into something that people can enjoy and/or relate to.

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?

Malcolm Matthews: Oh Taylor is definitely the Master chef in the band. My guy grills the meanest steaks I’ve ever had in my life. I usually am the one to bust out the jams on the acoustic whenever one is near. “The Campfire Song Song” & “This Grill is Not a Home” from SpongeBob are my usual go-to’s.

Talyn Detmers: Yeah that’s gonna have to be my dude Taylor. He’s literally got a degree in feeding people and Malcolm and I always find something funny to play on acoustic guitar. Whether it’s the spongebob songs that Malcolm knows, or cheesy 80’s songs that I know.

Taylor Cefalo:  I’m sure there’s an echo by now but yes I have a degree in being a lunch lady, we don’t really drink much anymore but probably Talyn. Malcolm and Talyn both have a pretty limitless supply of great music.

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

Malcolm Matthews: If I wasn’t a musician I probably would want to be a video game developer. I had mind set on that for a long time before I found my passion in music.

Talyn Detmers: I’d have to be a mechanic. I’ve been into cars since I was around 12 years old and I love working on and modifying them. I’ve actually rebuilt an entire truck engine recently.

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”? If so, please tell us about that.

Talyn: I’d have to say our trip to the first studio we worked with. We wasted several days and quite a bit of money for a product that we didn’t even use because of multiple reasons. But we found our match at JP Audio Labs so we are definitely happy that all that happened or else we wouldn’t of found them.

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

Malcolm Matthews: If I could magically go back I’d definitely want to sit in on Hendrix recording his first album. That is one of my favorite records of all time. He really pushed guitar to a boundary that no one knew existed. Honestly, the way he plays on that album is ingrained into my style a lot.

Talyn Detmers: I’d want to sit in for Led Zeppelin’s first album Coda. It was easily their most experimental album and to this day I can’t figure out half the stuff they did.

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Category: Interviews