A Call To Revolution

Often, the metal scene can become very redundant. With many bands fitting a cookie cutter scheme, it’s hard to find one that truly sticks out. When I heard songs from Scarlet’s new album, Cult Classic, I jumped at the chance for an interview; because of how different they were from many of the bands currently out there. I really wanted to hear what the band had to say about the state of modern music, and what they’re band was trying to accomplish with they’re self-proclaimed ‘revolutionary’ new album. After sitting down with singer Jon Spencer, I truly understood what Scarlet was about, and why they were doing what they’re doing.

Interview conducted in person by Mike Barajas. Pictures provided by Mike Barajas.

Name: Jonathan Spencer (vocals)
Band: Scarlet

BW: Could you tell me just a little bit about how Scarlet got started?

JS: Um, it was about a little over a year ago, and we were all in school, and we ended up just recording some songs for fun, and a friend of ours named Josh in the group Hopesfall gave our demo songs to Karl on Ferret and then like the next day Karl called us, all of us dropped out of school and we picked up two new members.

BW: Where were you going to school at the time?

JS: At Virginia Commonwealth University.

BW: That’s cool, now Scarlet was actually together a couple years ago and broke up right?

JS: Yeah, the only people that were in the band back then were me and the guitarist Randy.

BW: What made you guys decide to start writing stuff?

JS: I guess it was just wanting to travel and you know, getting sick of the monotony of school mainly.

BW: What did you guys try to do on Cult Classic that you hadn’t done with your previous stuff, I mean the sound on the album is pretty different from that of different releases.

JS: We tried to write more for ourselves then for other people, you know? I know that most of us listen to stuff that’s a good bit different than metal or anything that’s even remotely heavy.

BW: What kind of stuff do you listen to most?

JS: Um, its mainly more moody music…hmmm, I’m trying to think of the most recent thing that I’ve been excited about, its been a while, I mean, I think the closest thing that I really like that’s heavy is stuff like Nine Inch Nails, but everything else is a lot softer, like I listen to Radiohead a lot and like, Sigur Ros, I like them a lot.

BW: I heard they’re recording a new album pretty soon.

JS: Really? Man, I hope so.

BW: You’ve been quoted saying, “In modern music, the focus has been blurred somewhat between original art and second rate regurgitation.” How does that affect they way you write music or your style?

JS: I think its inspiring to write something that’s a little less expected, you know, and I mean it’s hard for me to say what’s going on in metal to a degree because I’m somewhat removed in the regards of like, I don’t really listen to any of it, but at the same time I’m getting more informed now because now, I’m out playing shows and hearing stuff that I wouldn’t normally be exposed to.

BW: I’ve been listening to Cult Classic recently, and throughout the lyrics, there’s a reoccurring theme of suicide, and a review I read of the album says, “soothing and surreal, as if suicide were made into music.” With that being said, what do you think about that?”

JS: Ha (laughs a little bit)…hmmm…I mean…I guess that’s what we were going for. I mean, all the references to that, I dunno, most of the lyrics on the record cant be taken at face value, I mean just like any sort of art, there’s a certain context you have to take it into, and I think a lot of the word choice’s were made for impact, to kind of get the point I was trying to make across.

BW: Some things you’ve said about Cult Classic are, “what the world of music needs is artists impact and movement working for a change, and Cult Classic is the first proclaimed step of that revolution.” In reference to that, what do you think is revolutionary about your music, or your style or even this new album?”

JS: I guess a lot of this album is sort of a voice for change, and I mean, me saying that, I’m not saying that there isn’t anything else out there like that, it’s just saying that no one’s making that first proclaimed step towards that change, and that’s what we’re trying to do, like rally other groups around that idea, you know what I mean? Because, I’m pretty sure I speak for the majority of people at this show when I say that I’m pretty disgusted with the state of modern music right now. And the thing that’s so disgusting, the thing that makes me so angry about it is that there’s no original art, no genuine emotion to most of it. I mean, one type of music that just kills me is hip hop, because its basically, they write a song where there’s no real musical talent over it in my opinion, and all of a sudden they’re considered a crossover artist and start making movie deals and stuff like that, and all of a sudden they’re an actor. I dunno, like the movies and music and all that media is sort of blurring into one thing now and it doesn’t make any sense to me as a musician.

BW: Do you guys thing you accomplished what you set out to do with this recent album?

JS: Yeah, we’ve sort of done our part in writing the best we could, recording it and releasing it. Now I guess it’s sort of up to the rest of the world to see how it’s accepted.

BW: What are Scarlet’s plans for the future, more and more touring, then going back to the studio?

JS: Man, yeah, we’re just going to tour our lives away for like the next year, and like, we’ve already started writing new stuff.

BW: That’s pretty soon after just releasing this album.

JS: Yeah, we’re always writing, so I think we’re the kind of band that’ll be releasing stuff pretty consistently, you know.

BW: That’s cool man, are we gonna be hearing anything new tonight that’s not on Cult Classic?

JS: Nah, all of the stuff on tonight’s set is from that and the EP Something To Lust About, so yeah, only the new stuff we’ve recorded so far.

BW: Ok, well that’s it, thanks a lot man

JS: Yep, thanks.