Andrew Schwab Interview singer for alternative metal band Project 86. In this interview we talk about the album Knives of the Future, upcoming tours and influences. December 4, 2014
Project 86 Interview
– What’s new in the world of Project 86?
We just released our new, crowd-funded album Knives to the Future. After raising 90,000.00 earlier this year on Indiegogo it has been a very exciting season for our band.
– How was it recording your album Knives of the Future?
We spent a bit more time on this release than most of our previous ones. The fact that we had a little more budget this time around helped with that. We ended up with 12 album tracks, 1 b-side, and 4 original acoustic tracks. It was a prolific season, for sure. One of the highlights for me was working with Steve Evetts, who mixed the record. I really liked what he brought to the final sound. I also really enjoyed tracking vocals with fans. As one of our Indiegogo perks, fans could come visit us in the studio and record gang vocals. The song “Captive Bolt Pistol” is the track on the record that features the gang vocals of about 10 fans.
– How did you go about making the artwork for Knives of the Future?
We partnered with illustrator Dan Mumford to create some very epic art for this release. He really captured the story this album has to tell perfectly. It’s the first time we have ever featured an illustrated layout, and I really love his work in general. We are very happy with the results.
– How do you build a song up from nothing to become something?
There is no single formula in this band. This time around, several songs were actually written around a vocal concept-which is totally backward compared to how we usually do things. And the whole of the record was written thematically from song to song before a note of music was created. So in a sense, the music became a score to a prewritten narrative or “script.”
– Do you have any tours coming up in the near future?
We will be doing some shows in early 2015 with our friends in Living Sacrifice and another short run with House of Heroes. That is in the planning phases at this point, but we are excited. Stay tuned to www.project86.com for tour dates.
– Could you describe some of your earliest influences in life and in music?
Queen. RUN DMC. Marvel comics. Where the Wild Things Are. Snow days in northwestern PA.
– How important is it for a musician in this generation to spend time on social media?
It’s imperative, to a fault. “Engaging” the audience is a daily mandate.
– What would we be surprised to find in your music collection at home?
Natalie Imbruglia. The Bangles. Many classic film scores.
– How important are music videos in the industry today? How do they compare to videos from 20 years ago?
I think the music video as a genre has become tired. This is mainly due to the fact that most music videos follow a pretty stale formula. If you can find an innovative and interesting concept, though, it can definitely aid your marketing efforts as a band!
– Where do you see music in general going in 100 years from now?
I think the world will be over by then, so mainly harps and angelic horn choirs.
Check out Project 86 online https://www.facebook.com/project86