Curtis Casey Of Vayden Answers Some Questions Via Email
Phoenix based VAYDEN is a hardcore/metal band that knows their shit about music.Â
They can take everyday life events and put it to songs easily. This foursome is full of hard musicians with a lot of heart for what they love to do, which is make music. I got a chance to send Curtis Casey some questions via email and chat about the new album CHILDREN OF OUT MISTAKES and just where they come up with their songs.
HOW DID YOU GUYS FORM AS THIS FOURSOME THAT PLAYS ALTERNATIVE/METAL MUSIC? ONCE YOU DID COME TOGETHER, DID YOU INITIALLY WANT TO PLAY THIS TYPE OF MUSIC?
It kind of was just a natural progression for us. We all came from such different musical back grounds but we knew we wanted to approach our music from a rock stand point. I grew up listening to Sam Cooke and a bunch of R&B and disco stuff because that’s what my mom made me listen to. But I loved it. Bruce our drummer was very influenced by latin percussions. Jason our Bassist is a classically trained jazz musician that can play the upright bass as well as he can the electric. And Armin (the prodigy student of our old guitarist Rob Robbins) our new guitarist is really into The Beatles. But when we all got together we knew that we wanted our music to be rooted in rock. Mainly because we all dug the energy.
YOUR BIO SAYS THAT AS MUSICIANS YOU PLAY YOUR INSTRUMENTS IN A CIRCULAR FORM
AND THAT IS VERY HARD TO COMPREHEND. FOR THOSE WHO DON’T UNDERSTAND WOULD
YOU EXPLAIN WHY IT IS HARD TO COMPREHEND?
When we write we face each other. As hippie as this might sound it’s like this ceremony of creativity. One of us will bring in an idea and we’ll all jam on it until it becomes a song.
SO, CHILDREN OF OUR MISTAKES IS YOUR FIRST ALBUM, DID YOU ALL COME UP WITH WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO WRITE ABOUT? OR DID ONE OF YOU SAY HEY LETS TALK ABOUT THIS, AND WROTE THE LYRICS?
I happen to write all of the lyrics and melodies for the vocals in thesongs. But to be honest most of the time it feels like when the boys are on to something good the lyrics and melodies just flow out. I always tell them that my job as a lead singer is to interpret their genius so that the masses can understand what they do. I think a good front man will realize that’s his lot. Not so much the leader more of an interpreter. I guess a lot of bands fall short because the lead singer is not a good interpreter or he has nothing to really interpret because the musicianship is lacking. That’s why I feel so lucky to have the band I do because they are all so very talented.
YOUR LAST SONG, ZOE’S SONG, I MUST ASK WHERE THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS SONG CAME FROM?
I wrote Zoe’s song for my Drummer Bruce when he lost his son Vayden Zoe Weitz in a car accident. I spent 3 days trying to write it racking my brain and stressing out because I wanted it to be beautiful, meaningful and of course perfect. When I had given up on it I remember falling asleep on my couch with my guitar feeling absolutely defeated then out of nowhere I woke up and the song was in my head perfectly. It came out of me as quickly as it took me to sing it. I sang it to myself a dozen more times so I wouldn’t forget it then taught it to the boys. We performed it at Vaydens service and it was the most emotional performance I have ever done with these guys. To this day we only play that song once a year. On Vayden’s Birthday. Because it’s a tough one to get through.
AS FOR YOUR OTHER SONGS, WHERE DID YOUR INSPIRATION COME FROM?
Everywhere. Most of the inspiration comes from the music. Good music just feels like the words pop out to you. You just have to tune yourself in like a guitar string. For the most part I knew that what the boys were doing musically was very timeless and relevant so I wanted to make sure that my lyrics and melodies only added to that. In the end when we were done we felt like we had created what we had set out to. A great piece of art.
DO YOU GUYS PLAN ON MAKING ANY VIDEOS FOR THE NEW ALBUM?
I’m very visual so I am always thinking about videos. We are most definitely looking at doing a video sometime but the problem is Viacom high-jacked Fuse and now those dudes barely play music videos it’s quite disturbing. There’s no outlet to see music videos so if you guys find one let me know. I guess youtube is always going to be around.
WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST THING A FAN HAS DONE AT A SHOW FOR YOU GUYS?
I had a stalker once who wouldn’t stop sewing little things for me. Like oven mitts or sweaters absolutely random shit. When it finally got to the point of freakiness where I had to tell her I couldn’t accept anymore gifts she started a bonfire and burned all of her gifts in the middle of the parking lot at the club we were playing and she danced around it screaming. I think that’s got to be somewhere near the top of the list.
IF YOU COULD PICK THREE BANDS AND THREE COUNTRIES TO TOUR, WHICH BANDS WOULD YOU PICK AND WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
Umm I would get in my time machine grab Queen with Freddie then I would grab Hendrix throw him in with the Who to make a power band and then hit up System of a Down. We would play Wembly, Madison Square and somewhere in New Zealand cause that’s where I’m from.
ANY LAST COMMENTS? FAMOUS LAST WORDS?
Thanks for reading this. I do hope you enjoy the album it comes early June so go grab a copy. Remember to vote because it makes you feel like you did something good. Kind of like ordering diet coke with your supersized quarter pounder with extra cheese value meal.
