C=T -How long did it take you to learn and understand effects pedals before you started custom making them?

Oliver -It took me about two years before I got anything to work. So then I was trying really hard. I read a lot of books tons of times. Failure after failure, all the time. I didn't even know how to solder. So it took me about a year to figure out how to solder. It would have been nice if somebody could have told me how to (laughs). To really start developing effects, it took me four years or so. And I learn stuff everyday. It's just a constant building process.

C=T - What effect pedal can you not live without?

Oliver -I can't live without any effects pedals. I think I'm more into things like songs and whatnot. And it makes cool sounds with your mouth like , BRUUUU. There you go.

C=T - Where does the title of your new album come from, "Exploding Head"?

Oliver -Well, it comes from one of the titles of one our songs. There was a point where things were really tough in my life. Super depressed, and things were kind of like, fucked up, and things were like I couldn't handle it.

C=T - The new album has shades of industrial music blended in. Talk to me about that.

Oliver -I mean, I like some industrial music. So I don't know. I mean, I think that what we're trying to do with this band is something that is a bit dangerous. I think that industrial music is kind of dangerous. It's not like we're purposefully doing something "Industrial". I like that contrast when between things are "machine like" and the conflict of something that's digital and analog. So there's these things with electrical super humans beats where and especially on the first track where there's these beats where it would be hard for a drummer to play those kinds of things. I think that's kind of neat when you have this sort of conflict of something that's almost like human that goes along with you on certain rhythm, like a harp. Something mechanical, very machine-like, un-human.

C=T - Do you think it was more organic the way it happened or was it premeditated?

Oliver -I think it's all very organic. I can't even begin to explain what makes me write a song a particular way. You get drawn to certain things and those elements are all put together. You just sort of run with that. You get really into that sort of thing . It's all completely organic. I've definitely tried to premeditate these things before and it usually never works out and those kinds of things. I think it's important to be very critical of your work, though. Be able to look at this, look at what's going on, and be like, "This sucks!" and be able to hack your things apart and change something. Because you believe something should be done a different way. Definitely not play lots of songs, or change songs, change the way things are done at different times. That's kind of important to go for what you believe to be ultimately better.

C=T -What do you have planned for the next album?

Oliver -I don't know. I'm kind of debating that right now. The original plan for this record was to make the most fucked up crazy rock and roll album of all time. We started doing that and that completely changed as the record was coming along. Maybe we'll try to do that on the next record. There's a couple of records that are really intense rock and roll albums.

C=T -Like what?

Oliver -Like, Cobra Spa Members Only is a good record. What's another? Whatever, there's not many. I think that's kind of a cool idea. People make an album and they go on a ride of ups and downs. I'm really like that too. I felt like this record needed that, but there's something else to be said that's nonstop. Each time it's crazier than the next. So, who knows.

C=T - What do you have in plan for the next album? Specifically, do you plan to incorporate different instruments or different recording techniques?

Oliver -Of course there will be different recording techniques. I would like to use different instruments. This record came about as us trying to be as minimal as possible. Simulate what it's like as a live experience. All the songs are just one or two guitars, drums, and vocals. It depends on how much time we have. I would like other musicians playing on the record as well.

C=T -Name me three musicians off of the top of your head that you would like contributing on the record?

Oliver -Joe Kelly, maybe Paul Baker, and Matt Convoy. Maybe they're people that you know, maybe not. Just more like friends that I respect and the things that they do. Maybe have them bring in some of those elements. Those people I feel have strong strengths and take some of that so we can collaborate those things. These are the people whom we've worked with in the past and have helped in past projects. But this band is a whole separate thing. We haven't really done anything like that. I think it would be really cool. Work out these new directions. I like to keep everything as almost direct from instruments as possible. I would like more of a challenge where we're not using synthesizers for anything. Which is kind of cool. Maybe it's sort of like a synthesizer when you're running a guitar through effects pedals. It's almost what a synthesizer is to some degree. We'll try to keep it as pure to that as possible.

C=T -As minimalistic as possible?

Oliver -Even if it's saxophones, or live drums, or anything.

C=T -Are you just using that as an example or is that something you've considered?

Oliver -Definitely. I would love to do that. I love all those orchestral instruments. It would be cool to get all those things worked on. I've done some of that in the past, with bells and chimes a little bit on the first record. Those were things that I had laying around the house. Living in New York, you know more people , the more you can kind of have come together.

C=T - What were the recording and creative processes like for the new album?

Oliver -It was kind of different. Most of the recording process was a Death by Audio, which is where I live. I just stayed up for as many hours as I could. Slept for as little as I could. I worked on the record . A lot of the songwriting process was when we were all getting together on tour and writing songs together. Some of the songs are from the road. Like one of them is with Graham from Holy Fuck. We were up outside of Hamilton, in his barn that he has and wrote one with him. There were a couple of songs written based on some of effects I was working on at the time. Some songs that I had written based on some melodies that I had in my head. There was even some songs that were written a week before the record was done. It was working, recording, and you don't sleep for days. Things became super psychedelic, and so, sometimes, you're trying to work on one thing, and something else will come about. I think those are pure stream of consciousness songs which are really cool to have those kinds of things happen.

See More of A Place To Bury Strangers interview at Cause=Time.

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