ControlMAG: The Sanctuary of Rock

An interview with DREDG

Gavin Hayes Frontman Gavin Hayes: A lot of people hate it, a lot of we had written, so we rolled with it. I people love it, and a lot of people have think his influence is very apparent on the nevereven heard it. It's pretty much the album... especially in the rhythm section Dredg is an awesome band same as all of our prior releases. and subtle production nuances. that almost have two decades Why did you decide to work with Sanctuary of Rock: How did he hard working. However, there Dan the Automator? What did you ended up contributing on the song are people in South America think that he could contribute as writing of some tunes? that still hasn't heard about producer? Or it was something Gavin Hayes: He added some advice about the band yet... natural that you wanted to experiment? song structures but his main influence, as stated before, was derived from his roots Sanctuary of Rock: Could you Gavin Hayes: We wanted to try something in hip hop - the rhythm section. It's a very please tell us briefly about the different. This record was more of a bass-heavy record. He also did write the band's beginnings? collaborative effort. We were at the point music for "The Tent,”"Before it Began,” in our career where I really don't think we and "Sun Goes Down.” Gavin Hayes: We started this band in high could have gone into the studio and just school in the mid-‘90s and have been made another 'dredg' record. We had to Sanctuary of Rock: Is not a secret creating music ever since. Our records are do something different to stimulate our that you guys are a band who love about evolution and change. No two creativity. experimented in each new record and records are alike and we hope to maintain you have used electrical sounds long that for as long as we are a band. Dan remixed one of songs (“Sangreal”) time ago... It was something natural back in 2005, which proved to be the that you wanted to expand in the Sanctuary of Rock: "Chuckles and beginning of a friendship as well. He new album or just was it basically a Mr. Squeezy" was released almost 5 lived just up the street from me in San natural evolution? months ago and a couple of tours... Francisco and we had discussed working Can you tell us what has been the together over that 5-6 year span. The Gavin Hayes: Dino, our drummer, was reaction of the public to it? timing was right, and Dan liked the songs experimenting a lot with different

elsantuariodelrock.com/december 2011 keyboard sounds and producing beats on his own. I think this influence accompanied by Dan's was a natural part of this evolution. That being said, we did make a conscious effort to try new things and to knock down some of our creative boundaries.

Sanctuary of Rock: What was the main difference between recording and composing "The Pariah, theParrot, the Delusion" and "Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy"?

Gavin Hayes: Everything. They were completely two different approaches and I think "Chuckles,”as with all of our records, was a direct answer to "Pariah.” “Pariah”took four years to make..."Chuckles” was written and recorded in less than a year. We spent weeks and weeks in a studio for"Pariah"..."Chuckles" was two days in a straight forward approach than some of Sanctuary of Rock: If I'm not wrong studio and the rest was recorded at a our past records -pop...'pop' for us. But it the cover of the album was created Dan's house. "Pariah" was still retains a dark undertone lyrically and by Drew inspired by masks... Why conceptual..."Chuckles" was not. sonically - dark. choosing this mask in particular? Basically, they're polar opposites. Actually, maybe I'll label them distant A fan had once labeled us brightly dark Gavin Hayes: Yes, the masks were designed cousins who rarely communicate. and I ways felt that was a great by Drew and the cover was designed by description of the band in general. I guess him and his brother, Beau Roulette. We Sanctuary of Rock: There is a dark pop is a derivative of that outlook on knew, as a band, that we wanted to particularly song on the last record the band. incorporate masks and have the whole called "The Ornament" that call my presentation be something we had never attention. The end of the album Sanctuary of Rock: Where does attempted since the record sounded that "Catch Without Arms" has the same come the idea of "Kalathat"? way as well. We knew we wanted it to be melody and the band played live slightly disturbing as well. some parts through the years... Why Gavin Hayes: "Kalathat" is based on a true do take up again this idea and work story about a murder suicide that took Sanctuary of Rock: Any plans for to put on the new album? place about 2-3 years ago. another Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy's What was there in this particular video clip? song? Sanctuary of Rock: The song writing of "Chuckles and Mr. Gavin Hayes: No more plans at the Gavin Hayes: We thought it'd be great to Squeezy" looks that was a relative moment. I think we are looking forward turn it into a song after some live fast in comparison of your other now. improvise proved to be attractive. We albums that took between three and played a very stripped down version of four years of difference. Sanctuary of Rock: I would like to the song at a fundraiser in NY with the get a retrospective of the next albums author Salman Rushdie. That really I read on a couple of interviews that from you (main difference, concept, solidified the direction we wanted to take a lot of songs was wrote virtually... production, etc...): the song. Also, we liked the idea of Is that true? Can you describe the touching on an older instrumental. It kind real writing process of the new Leitmotif? of tied the records together...kind of like a album? TV series or movie sequel. Gavin Hayes: Innocent, a story of one man's journey, loose and expedited production. Gavin Hayes: A lot of it was written Sanctuary of Rock: You have remotely as I was living in Seattle at the defined the new album's style like time. Itwasn't a totally new approach, but El Cielo? "Dark Pop"... The title "Chuckles and that approach did dominate the writing Gavin Hayes: Thorough and thought out, Mr. Squeezy" has something onthis record. Most of it involved trading based on a Dali painting and sleep involved in? What's meaning? music via email and then gathering in our paralysis, lots of production and studio to work on them as a band. experimenting with different instruments. Gavin Hayes: This album has a more

elsantuariodelrock.com/december 2011 Catch Without Arms? together after several years... What is thought of touring in an acoustic manor... or stripped down. Gavin Hayes: Assertive, glossy, more rock the key for keeping together? production, a concept based on the contrast of opinion, our best-selling Gavin Hayes: We've always agreed that if Sanctuary of Rock: "Liveat the album. one member leaves then we all do. Fillmore" was released 5 years ago... Have you ever thought on another Sanctuary of Rock: Through of years, possible live release, or maybe a The Pariah, The Parrot, The how much has changed the band's DVD? Delusion? creative process ? Usually how does Gavin Hayes: Conceptual, pushing the come up a Dredg's song? Gavin Hayes: It's not a main goal of ours as boundaries of belief, encouraging You Tube is pretty much an endless live science and forward thinking, dropping Gavin Hayes: Not much has changed really DVD. old habits and beliefs, a lot of due to the fact that we never had a strict production, we were in the studio longer formula. Some songs are written Sanctuary of Rock: After several for this record than any record prior. collectively in a room and as a band, some years touring around the world have are derived from a bass line, guitar part, the band any plans to come to South vocal melody, etc., and some are written America next year? Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy? remotely aka all of us on our computers in Gavin Hayes: Casual, collaborative, not a our rooms. Gavin Hayes: We would love to...we're just strict concept but mostly based on family waiting on the invite. Any promoters and friends, relationships, and the family Sanctuary of Rock: A few years ago down there want to bring us? dynamic, a much different approach and you guys made a couple of awesome record for us, Dan the Automator acoustics songs of "Catch Without production. Sanctuary of Rock: I guess that each Arms"... Have you ever thought to member of the band has different release an acoustic album? Sanctuary of Rock: A lot of bands musical influences but, what are with many years of musical those bands that all of you love? Any Gavin Hayes: We have definitely thought experience have tendency to change strange band? about it but have no concrete plans to their line-up. Dredg still working release one anytime soon. We have also Gavin Hayes: Sepultura (the full lineup),Portishead, Shellac, and John Coltrane.

Sanctuary of Rock: Ok, guys,thanks again for answering our questions! Anything else that you wants to sayto all our readers of elsantuariodelrock.com and fans from Colombia?

Gavin Hayes: Colombia! We hope to see you in the near future. Until then...thanks for listening!

Gavin Hayes

http://www.dredg.com http://www.myspace.com/dredg http://www.twitter.com/dredg

Ÿ An interview written and conducted by El Reverendo

elsantuariodelrock.com/december 2011