A Dirty Dozen with JEREMY SCHOTT from CARSEX – June 2025

Photo credit: Chris Michael Media

According to a recent press release: “Long Beach, CA Punk/Metal band CARSEX have released their ferocious new EP Human Interest, which is a deep dive into timely themes about the current state of our chaotic world.  They channel their anger and angst into 7 pummeling tracks.  The EP was produced by Steve Evetts (Sepultura, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Butcher Babies) at Maple Studios in Santa Ana, CA, and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music in New Windsor, NY. CARSEX has previously released 2 songs from the EP – “Crooked Canvas” and “Sitting Ducks,” with both tracks gaining support on Heavy Music playlists including Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora and Audiomack. The band’s other releases include 2019’s CarSex and 2020’s 2020 EP, which featured the singles “Your Generation” and “Lovesick.” The band is scheduling shows in support the EP release and will be doing an extended tour in the fall.” We get bassist Jeremy to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your new EP release, “Human Interest”.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material that only diehard fans might find?

Human Interest is our reaction to the world around us. Society is in a very weird place right now – insanity abounds and it kinda pisses us off. This record is our way of expressing our rage against it.

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

I’ve always loved music and I started playing guitar around 12 years old. I studied classical and blues guitar but once I learned power chords that all flew out the window. And I started a punk band in high school.  Over the years, I fell in love with the bass and have been primarily playing that since.

3. Building on that, are there a specific songs, albums, performers, or live shows that guided your musical taste?

I’ve always been drawn to the weirder punk and metal music. I was really into Butthole Surfers, Flaming Lips and Screeching Weasel as a teen. But my tastes are all over the place. I currently listen to everything from Cattle Decapitation to Colter Wall. My first concert was Skankin’ Pickle and I was immediately hooked on live music.

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

If I could collaborate with one person it would probably be Jello Biafra. He has been a staple of my musical and political upbringing. He also has such a unique voice, I would love to hear it with a CARSEX song.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

When not playing music, I’m usually outside. I love the outdoors whether it’s working in the yard, hiking or smoking a joint and staring at the trees. I also studied film in college, so I watch a lot of movies.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

CARSEX has somewhat of a unique sound and our songs can vary in tone at times…  But I think I would describe it as punk rock ‘n roll. When my father heard it, he said it gave him anxiety! 

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

I’m a pretty good cook. I own a horror/metal themed pizza place in Long Beach called The 4th Horseman. Our singer is definitely the lush, and he would probably pull the guitar out first as well.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I don’t really get starstruck – but we opened for Mondo Generator once and Nik Oliveri was bringing in his gear and paused to watch me play on one of our songs… He nodded his head in approval. That was really cool.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

I love playing music. The collaboration of working with people is very rewarding. It’s fun to hear different takes and let the song tell you what it wants to be. I think if I wasn’t playing, I would want to be a producer. I really enjoy the creative process and the studio experience.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I’m not really sure what I’d like to be asked – but I’m tired of the question to describe our music. Just listen to it and make up your mind for yourself!  It’s art and open for the audience to take  and interpret what they want out of it.

11. 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,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I wish I would have pursued music harder when I was younger, and become a better player at a younger age.  But I’m holding my own now as a musician and appreciate where I am in my life.

12. 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?

I would have loved to have been in the studio when WEEN was recording Chocolate and Cheese. That’s such a weird and diverse record. It’d be interesting to watch the process. That record is just one of the best, from front to back.

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Category: Interviews