Interviews: Twisted Method
Smother: How did the band form? What brought all of you guys together?
Derek: The band formed when we were sophomores in high school, we were 14 or 15, Ben met Andy and they wanted to just start jamming. We were all neighbors and friends and originally I was just sort of hanging out with the two of them but they needed a bass player. I had NO musical skills, but I wanted to be in the band so bad, I pawned my Playstation and picked up my first bass and it all went from there. Originally we had a few different guitarists, and then we got Derrick "Tripp" Tribbett to be our guitar player. Tripp is the only one of us that had the equipment we needed like mics, speakers, etc. So originally we asked him to just bring all his shit over so we could play, and then we asked him to sing. Once we heard him sing, it was all over. So--sure as shit, the guy that was not intended to be a singer wound up being the singer.
Smother: Do you try to base your songs on real incidents or imagination?
Derek: Usually our song lyrics are written about our experiences, but everyone helps out with the music. Tripp writes a lot of the lyrics about his experiences and things. But I would say mainly all the songs are written in pieces, by everyone, guitars and bases together first, then the lyrics get added in, since Tripp does that, they are mostly random shit thrown in together life experiences. Most of the material on the first album was written when we were only 16-18 years old so our experiences are written from that angle and show how it feels to be in high school or a teenager. Now that everyone in the band is 21, the new stuff we are writing is much more mature.
Smother: How do you feel about mp3s, peer-to-peer networks such as Napster, Kazaa, AudioGalaxy, etc. in both a general sense and as it relates to your band?
Derek: If I wasn't a musician I would probably say they were ok, and I do think that it helps spread your name around or helps get exposure for a new band or developing artist. Those networks can really get the word out initially but then--when a band or artist becomes more established, file sharing starts hurting the sales for that band and the record company too. We speak from experience because that's why our label MCA just got merged with Geffen Records, because of less album sales overall. It's a double edged sword.
Smother: Many people in independent bands want to be picked up by a label. What kind of suggestions would you give them if they're just starting out?
Andy: Wow that's a good one, because I'm not even sure how we did it! I would say the most important thing is to just start with the hot spots in your own hometown, the clubs or the bars and parties and things like that. Play them all the time, every opportunity you can play, and then expand and build your fan base in towns or cities surrounding your base. It's really important whether you are just getting one fan or a thousand, because those fans are going to tell their friends and so on.
Smother: Out of all the venues and cities you've played, which would you say is your favorite? And what was your most memorable show and why?
Derek: San Francisco, because the people are kick ass, must better than the attitudes you see in some cities like LA, very down to earth.
Andy: My single most favorite show would probably be the very last off-Ozzfest date with Motograter at the Machine Shop in Michigan, we never played with another band like that where the show meshed with as well as it did with our two bands.
Smother: Do you feel that nu-metal has been played out?
Andy: Not necessarily, I don't buy into the whole nu-metal concept, there never really has been a nu-metal for me, what's wrong with the old metal and rock that we need a new one you know? I don't think we should be branded anyway.
Smother: How has Ozzfest been treating you guys?
Derek: Ozzfest is great! (laughs like a fucking kid in a candy store). It's a field trip, we get to play with all the bands we grew up listening too, and the second stage has been a dream come true. My two favorites I like watching perform so far are Chimaira and Killswitch, because they are just awesome fucking musicians!
Smother: What's your typical process in writing a song?
Andy: Normally starts with me playing and coming up with riffs. Then Ben the drummer starts adding beats, getting the grassroots down, Derek will see what I'm playing and see different rhythm patterns in it. We might switch it up a little, and then we preview the music for Tripp. Tripp will usually sit quietly, absorbing and thinking about every single thing. Sometimes he will record it in order to go home and think about it and write lyrics that fit the song.
Smother: How do you guys react when a fan will tell you how much your music or lyrics mean to them?
Andy: With a humongous smile and a handshake and then I say let's go have a beer together! It's awesome, it blows me away. There was one girl that came up to us and said she had planned to kill herself that weekend and then she heard our album and the music just spoke with her and made her change her mind. She came to our show and told us that we changed her life, so we took her backstage and hung out with her all day and got to know her. It was really cool, there was no way I could have walked away from someone like that and say something shitty like "oh yea? Well, bye." I mean how do you do that to a person if someone is telling you they changed your life because of something you created?? Unfortunately we got separated later that night due to all the crazy press and shit that was going on, but I definitely would remember her if I saw her again, no way I could forget her!
Smother: What do you think of the current political climate?
Derek: I think it all a lot of hell, I think everyone knew that it would happen and be terrible, but honestly, I don't know what we can do to make it better, all I can do is sit back and hope something good can come of it. All of mankind is so arrogant and ignorant, and this will probably be going on for a long time. It's sad.
Smother: What's currently in your CD player, DVD player, and PS2/Gamecube/Xbox?
Andy: CD player is 50 Cent, DVD player is Gang of New York, PS2 is pride fighting championship.
Smother: Here's a question we like to ask everyone we interview on Smother.Net, what would you do, say, etc., if you met a guy named "Carbomb"?
Andy: I'd say "What the fuck?" And then probably laugh my ass off or maybe not if they guy was a fucking psycho or something.
Smother: Anything else you'd like to add?
Andy: "everyone doing time in cape coma what's up!!"
Links:
Official Site