DREAMS ALWAYS DIE WITH THE SUN
A CONVERSATION WITH TODD STRANGE OF EYE AM
There are many layers that musicians strive to convey through their art, going back to what theyβve created to ensure that everything was delivered exactly the way it was intended. It could begin with the drums not having the right level of depth, so certain sections will be done again, warping the original foundation. So then, dominoes standing in place, each track will have to be altered in order to align with the new base, perhaps going so far as to increase or decrease the original tempo and, in response, the overall mood of the song. Once we begin the mixing process, a whole different level of scrutiny begins, leaving many with a βdifferent tune than what you started with.β Time truly can be the enemy, something that was not an option for new supergroup Eye Am, comprised of members whose catalogue includes bands such as Crowbar and Type O Negative. The recording process for their debut single, βDreams Always Die With The Sun,β as recounted by bassist and original Crowbar member Todd Strange, was a three-day blitz that all started with a single text message.
After five years away from music, βliving the farm lifeβ in rural Texas, Strange received a message from Andrew Spaulding (Corpse Paint Records founder) whom he had met when he returned to Crowbar in 2016. The text contained an idea, to bring some old friends and previous bandmates together to see what they could come up with in the studio. No trajectory, no musical intent, just four guys in a room with nothing but their instruments and the vibe created between them. While that certainly brings a level of excitement, it also carries a weight of trepidation to Strange, worried that his absence from music would hinder the other members. Despite those concerns, and with some encouragement from his wife, he took the offer and was on a plane heading to Florida with no time to second guess the decision. It would be three days of sessions, the first in a rehearsal space where the members would spend about five hours exploring the possibilities they had, jamming with one another until the connection could be traced and they could walk away thinking, βDamn, this could be something.β
With no roadmap in hand, however crude, before entering the studio, allowed for an atmosphere that Strange refers to as βtruly organic,β allowing nerves to wither away with no agenda to adhere to, just a deadline. βItβs real,β Strange recounts, how the limited time gave them no option to over analyze their song, bastardizing the initial connection between the four of them when they stepped into the rehearsal studio and came away with something they could listen to, something to enjoy strictly as music, not tying themselves down to the preconceived notions or sonic expectations listeners would have considering the members. There are elements heard in the song that call back to their pasts, but Strange compares it to the intention behind Crowbar, of musical freedom and creating what they wanted to create. He traces this back to seeing Celtic Frost and Voivod at Jimmyβs Music Club in New Orleans back in the 80βs, seeing something that eschewed the traditions of the current heavy music scene and not letting a genre label define where they placed their hands on the frets. With no box constructed for Eye Am to be placed in, it allowed for a process where the end result is an exciting, unknown journey into finding a new sound, something that he uses as advice to give to prospective musicians: βIf by some chance you get the opportunity to do a record, by the time you do that the music scene is already going to start evolving into something else.β
The song was released to great acclaim from listeners, with the only slight criticism being that it was far from what fans expected, exactly the kind of response that shows Eye Am that the foundation of their process reaches beyond the studio space and truly created something that continues to blossom, the members just as curious as us all to see where the blooms may reach. Yet the wait will be short lived, as at the end of June we will see the group getting back together for 10 days in New Orleans. Strange says that everyone has something to bring this time around, but there is no telling if it is anything that will be used, if the new song(s) will sound like the previous, or even if Kenny will be sticking to main vocals throughout. The goal remains the same, to make βsomething to tap your foot toβ and stay away from where they βshouldβ be going musically, fanning the spark created between them and letting the fires rage as they will. The future is unknown, the possibilities remain endless, but the result will remain pure, organic, and a testament to the connection from four guys in a room together playing music.
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