MAKING THE MUSIC WE ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE
A CONVERSATION WITH CAPSTAN
Since 2012, Capstan has been known as a fresh and vital force in the hardcore scene. Looking at their transitions over the past couple of years, one of the things that made them stand out within their structure is their experimentation. Blending post-hardcore metalcore, progressive metal, and pop-punk, Capstan kicked off their careers with their debut full-release, Restless Heart, Keep Running. Capstan would expand their musical palette, embracing the more technical and metallic side to their sound with their sophomore release, Separate. While Separate explored more melodic and aggressive concepts, The Mosaic brings something more vivid, stripped back, and atmospheric to their soundscape, yet has still retained some of those cathodic elements that made Separate so rich and dissonant in its delivery. Going into Mosaic, lyricist, and guitarist Joe Mabry feels that the record is their most kaleidoscopic experience to date.
“The Mosaic is the most varied, dynamically fluid record that Capstan has ever made,” says Mabry. “It simultaneously contains both the heaviest music we’ve ever written and the softest and most akin to pop, which is what we love so much about this album. We’ve always experimented with incorporating diverse genres in our music, as you mentioned, and The Mosaic feels like the most genuine expression of that diversity; a record that contains deathcore, post-everything, synth wave, folk, and bluegrass.”
While Separate was the prelude to the musical layers they would unearth in The Mosaic, at its core it was a profound experience that explored darkness in all its forms, with its slashes of electronic bliss helping many listeners find their way through such murky emotional layers. Looking into the poetic variance of their new record, The Mosaic dives into the depths of how varied life is, the good, the bad, and the in-between. Capstan has always been known for their strong and emotional lyrical depth. In their latest musical chapter, they aimed to create a unique and fresh sound that is both sharp and melodic. Blending moving lyricism with infectious rhapsodic melodies, the band members strived to create a sound that was distinctively theirs. Even though they wanted to experiment with a new sound, they were careful not to compromise on the lyrical depth fans have come to love and expect. As a result, their latest record showcases a perfect mix of emotional depth and innovative musical deftness.
PURCHASE MOSAIC
“I think that in a lot of ways, The Mosaic is the record we have always wanted to make, it just took a lot of time to develop as we slowly grew into ourselves as a band,” says Mabry. “This album has a vastly different lyrical perspective than Separate, and I believe that the associated cause of that shift also led to a great amount of inspiration for The Mosaic.”
Separate was undoubtedly one of the most challenging records that the lyricist and guitarist Mabry had ever worked on. During the production of the album, Mabry was going through a great deal of emotional turmoil, which made it incredibly difficult for him through the recording process. Despite the challenges, however, Mabry has persevered, and ultimately, made a record that has breached a positive turning point in his life.
For Mabry, The Mosaic marked a significant exigence in his life. After spending years mired in a dark and emotional space, he was finally able to find a way to move on and embrace a new change of pace. The record’s themes and lyrics reflect this shift, with many of the songs exploring themes of growth, change, and self-discovery.
Overall, The Mosaic was a profound and emotional journey for Mabry in his career as an artist. Despite the challenges he faced during its production, he emerged stronger and more determined than ever before, ready to explore new creative avenues and push the boundaries of his art even further.
“I could say so much about both the writing and engineering processes of The Mosaic, it was all overwhelmingly positive, and cathartic as well in a way,” responds Mabry. “Separate was written and recorded while I was in one of the most depressed periods of my life, and a lot of the lyrics reflect that. It felt good to move on from that.”
The self-produced record has been a turning an important page-turning moment for Mabry and the band. It has not only brought a newfound sense of optimism and hope but also left the band in a brighter and happier place since their sophomore release. This record has had a profound impact on the band’s personal and professional lives, and they are excited to see where this new journey takes them.
“We truly believe that there is a song for everyone on The Mosaic, no matter your taste in music. But for the fans of all the integrated genres throughout the album that all fall under the same big umbrella, we hope you will enjoy the record as a whole; because our true vision for it is that you would listen to it as one long-form piece of music,” says Mabry. “The Mosaic is out everywhere on May 24! We will also be on tour this summer May-June, come catch us at a live show! We plan to do a headline tour for The Mosaic shortly down the line as well, we want to give the album the love she deserves!”
Artist Links
