Fresh of the digital press! Check out our interview with the guitarist Sam Williams from the Los Angeles based punk band Down By Law. We discussed musical influences, the bands creative process, favorite love songs, their latest album All In, and much more.
MWN: First, I’d like to start the interview by congratulating you guys for the release of your eight album! All In. How does it feel to finally have this piece of work out to the world?
Down By Law: It feels great. Very happy with the record. It represents a lot of hard work. And I think it reflects where we all are in life right now, very well.
MWN: How was the creative process for the album? Did you guys have an idea of what you wanted this album to sound like?
Down By Law: The creative process was similar to the last few releases. I wrote a lot of music and sent to Dave. He did the lyrics and vocal melodies. He also did a couple all on his own. And everyone else did their part, as well.
Probably more than any other record, there was a focused plan for the overall sound, from the outset. We have the same influences we have always had. But I wanted to lean on different aspects of them this time around. This album was heavily influenced by bands from the early 80s. Particularly in the tonality of the guitar. I wanted a more organic sound, as opposed to the more metal tone that has dominated this genre for so long. I also used a lot of more complex voicings, rather than just heavy power chords the whole time. I tried to leave enough room, sonically, for all the other instruments to be heard, equally. There are also a lot of rock elements to the album.
MWN: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone starting to write music?
Down By Law: Have a plan for the kind of song you want to end up with from the outset. No matter how general. Try to mix up the arrangements by deviating from verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus once in awhile. Avoid cliches unless that is specifically intended for effect. And play with people that you can depend on not to blow it when you hand them a tune. Also, if something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to abandon it.
MWN: What is your opinion on the music scene now to where it was when you began the band?
Down By Law: The digitizing and devaluing of music absolutely sucks. It has affected music making very negatively. I also think it has somewhat spoiled the experience of listening to music. Even I find myself going long stretches without listening to music because it is so easily accessible. When you have an over abundance of something, you tend to take it for granted.
MWN: What is your favorite part of the LA punk rock scene? Do you find that the versatility of all that music has impacted your sound at all?
Down By Law: I am actually a Floridian. But of course LA’S punk scene was very influential, and legendary. And yes, many of those bands have influenced myself and DBL from the beginning. The Dickies, Descendents, X, Black Flag… all amazing. And all very different from one another. Which is something that punk lost along the way, unfortunately. And of course, being that the band started with members of the Chemical People, who were a signature sounding Los Angeles band, DBL started right out of the gate with a big dose of that west coast punk sound.
The song “Mountain” has awesome lyrics. What is the inspiration behind that song? How was the creative process like for it.
Well, Dave wrote those lyrics. So I don’t want to speak for him. But I can speak about the music. I always challenge myself, at least once per record, to write a song to that galloping, mid paced punk tempo without being totally generic. This was that song for this album. I think the music is kind of Motörhead sounding in spots. But Dave’s vocals are really amazing on that song. And that brings it up to another level. To me, it sounds very Roger Daltrey inspired in its delivery. And a bit like The Who, lyrically. He Is able to pull it off specifically because he is such a great singer. And also a great collaborator. I never would have thought to approach the vocals that way.
MWN: This entire album is very cohesive which is great! I am curious to know how you guys decided what songs make it on the record?
Down By Law: We did record a few extra songs during the session. We pretty much just picked the group of songs that fit together the best for the album. Considerations such as tempo, key, and mood variations all came into play. For the most part, which songs ended up on the album seemed fairly obvious. In order to maintain the cohesiveness you mention. Along with enough variant factors to keep it balanced.
MWN: Over the years have your music influences changed? Is there still an artist/ album/ song you always get back to for inspiration or to even get in a creative mind set?
Down By Law: Yes, my influences have changed quite a bit, actually. Some stuff I listened to as a kid didn’t quite stand the test of time for me. Also, I constantly try to grow as a guitarist. Which leads me to different kinds of music that I probably wouldn’t have considered back in the day. But there are, of course, some core bands that I will always look back to when coming up with stuff for DBL. Dag Nasty, Husker Du, The Who, Van Halen, Motörhead, Stiff Little Fingers, etc. But these days I am equally influenced by Rory Gallagher, Queen, the Police, Rush, Eddie & the Hotrods, Brian Setzer, SRV, Big Country…
MWN: Fire Round Questions:
MWN: Favorite love song?
Down By Law: Here’s three: Old Flame by Thin Lizzy, So Good To See You by Cheap Trick, and Kiss Me On The Bus by Replacements
MWN: Dream festival to play in?
Down By Law: Probably the US Festivals of the early 80s. Between the two years they did it, I don’t think there has ever been a more stellar collection of bands in the history of music. The Police, The Ramones, Van Halen, Stray Cats, the Clash, Judas Priest… it doesn’t really get better than that. Though I’d like to add Thin Lizzy and GG Allin to the bill.
MWN: First recollection of live music?
Down By Law: Ratt was my first ever live rock show. An unknown Bon Jovi opened. I hated Bon Jovi right from the outset. I’m not ashamed to say I was a big Ratt fan, though. My second show was Iron Maiden. And my first punk show was Dr. Know and Circlejerks.
MWN: Lastly to finish wrap things up is there anything you’d like to say to the people who are going to be reading this interview?
Down By Law: Thanks for the continued interest! Much more stuff coming up…
MWN: Thank you so much!
By: Allison Wyrsch | Exclusively for @Music, Why Not! |
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