Music has been one in every of, if not the greatest sources of inspiration right here at Welcome because the daybreak of the model. It is on the heart of the whole lot we do. After we first mentioned the concept of doing collaborations with bands, we solely needed to do them with bands that we really love. Bands that encourage us. They needed to be particular and imply one thing to the folks right here, in any other case why ought to they imply something to you? Working with Mushy Kill was an apparent selection. In any given week at our headquarters you’ll, for sure, see not less than one Welcome worker in a Mushy Kill shirt. Personally, they’ve been one in every of my favourite bands for a decade now. I used to be additionally lucky sufficient to have gotten the chance to design some merchandise for his or her 2018 European tour, so the non-public relationship was already there. Past that, my good buddy and former bandmate, Ryan, just lately began enjoying guitar for them. And once I approached Mushy Kill’s lead singer, Tobias, about the opportunity of making some items collectively for the discharge of their new album, his response was that he and his accomplice had actually been discussing that concept, and the way rad it might be, the night time earlier than. Now, I will not say this was meant to be, as a result of I do not consider in that idea, however I’ll say that all of us thought it ought to be. And so it’s. We labored collectively to make three gadgets that we’re all pleased with, and that we’re excited to share with you. Beneath you may additionally discover an interview between Welcome’s founder and artist, Jason Celaya, and Mushy Kill’s Tobias Grave, and an unique stay video of “Fairly Face” from their new album, Useless Youngsters, R.I.P. Metropolis. When you’re already a Mushy Kill fan, we hope it is a fraction as particular for you as it’s for us and the band. When you’re new to Mushy Kill, please learn the interview, watch the video, and deal with your self to their complete catalog of gorgeous music. You could simply discover your new favourite band.
– Shane Cox | Welcome Artistic Director
JC: After we within the workplace first heard Useless Youngsters, R.I.P Metropolis we instantly picked up on the cinematic really feel of the file. I believe after we spoke on the cellphone you sharpened that remark by saying it was “The Breakfast Membership in a methadone clinic”. This album feels to be a a lot greater than something you’ve got beforehand executed. Did you got down to seize that or was it a cheerful accident?
TG: I do assume laying it out to really feel like a soundtrack was intentional, however I’ve been obsessive about monitor lists and sequencing as a rule since a child. Sure data that actually impacted me took me on a journey and we’re all the time trying to seize that very same stream. This file actually seems like essentially the most cohesive execution of that for Mushy Kill. It positively was the sum of the components in impact although… these songs all had been intertwined material sensible and Dave Trumfio’s manufacturing and imaginative and prescient for the way it needs to be introduced to the world took it to a different degree we couldn’t have imagined was attainable.
You’ve publicly been very open in regards to the struggles you’ve got with habit and the jail time you’ve got executed. With issues stepping into the appropriate route personally did you discover it simpler or tougher to make this file. How was the method of penning this file totally different than one thing like Savior or Choke?
I don’t need to downplay previous data or shit on the discography, however “Choke” is a group of songs from a selected, somewhat tumultuous interval for this band. It was the beginning of the turning level for this challenge to be a reputable entity that excursions however I used to be additionally fairly buried in crystal meth habit through the bulk of the writing course of.
I believe what “Useless Youngsters…” has that different data don’t is readability. It’s not a unconscious cry for assist as a lot as my accomplice Nicole and I processing our experiences as addicts and to speak about folks we misplaced to the streets by means of our lyrics. I’m in awe listening to it as a result of there’s this confidence within the phrases and so they take me again to these precise moments each time I hear them. Lyrics on “Choke” and “Savior” had been written by somebody very misplaced and might be interpreted in several methods relying on how I really feel at that second. “Useless Youngsters…” is up for interpretation by the listener however for me I’m going again to the identical locations every time.
What’s behind the title of this album?
It is a play on Kendrick’s album of the same identify. Portland known as Rip Metropolis and I made the joke as soon as that the subsequent album needs to be referred to as “Useless Youngsters, R.I.P. Metropolis”. That title plus the album cowl and evaluating that to what’s anticipated from us it simply appeared like an ideal step in a singular route for us. It performs proper again into the distinction issue that is a crucial a part of what I believe makes us totally different.
With Welcome I really like the juxtaposition of blending occult imagery with colours/themes which can be “cheerier”. One of many issues I discover very intriguing is that you simply guys sometimes tour with loss of life steel bands as a substitute of bands one may assume can be nearer in style. How did that come about?
We like the whole lot. We’re not goths or “publish punks” or unhappy Dracula’s. That’s been actually laborious for folks to course of and it’s miserable that some folks can’t get behind one thing until it totally validates their dedication to a selected subculture however I’d look out into the group and understand we had such a diverse viewers appreciating the band. Stepping exterior of our consolation zone felt essential to develop and play to totally different folks. It’s been an enormous a part of constructing a help system fan base sensible that permits us to function independently and survive with out the alternatives you get from being within the cool circle. I believe we’d be ten steps again from the place we’re at if we performed by the foolish guidelines.
Music is important driver of inspiration of Welcome from the artwork to the clothes design, getting to listen to the album early actually helped in placing collectively the artwork on this collaboration. Has skateboarding influenced your music in any method?
It’s such a cliche however skateboarding was my gateway into music. Solely a few us actively skate however I’ve felt a kinship with that world in addition to graffiti writers, streets children, and many others. All of it seems like the identical world to me, regardless of how commercialized a few of these issues have develop into, most individuals nonetheless don’t perceive what all of us are doing and are devoted to and throughout the thriller of that I really feel actually at house if that is sensible?
That is your first album you’ve got launched independently which I can relate to as Welcome was really an impartial enterprise in all aspects. What has been the perfect and what has been the worst issues about making that call up to now?
We had been just about fully ignored by the cool blogs. The legwork that went into not simply funding and producing this however ensuring it ended up in shops was not solely costly however draining mentally. The times main as much as dropping the primary single and preorder virtually despatched me off the deep finish.
The benefits far outweigh all of that although. We’re personally related to our viewers and each greenback earned we maintain which ends up in us doing extra and making every of these strikes extra realized and substantial. The flexibility to stay off our music and put money into the subsequent steps is 100% a results of self releasing. All my associates who launched data on labels this yr are broke and it breaks my coronary heart. I all the time say that it bothers me that we acknowledged what was unsuitable with the most important label music business trappings however the impartial rock scene has primarily created a mirror picture of that with even much less assure of monetary repay. It’s important to get REALLY massive to revenue off that mannequin, and whereas I respect those that have made it work it’s simply not for us.
Thanks for doing this interview and thanks for Mushy Kill.
We love y’all. This collab means the world to us.
