A replay of Peaches Pit Party which you can hear on KBEAR 101 weekday afternoons 2pm - 7pm MST
The Artist Interrogations podcast. Hey, Max. Can you hear me? There you go. I can hear you now.
How's it going? Pretty good. Just chilling. You got a sick background there. Thank you.
Man, oh, man. We just, I was just talking to my boss, Victor, about your guys', a song, Shaken and Not Stirred. It's been featured on that last album, the generations of danger. And, immediately, of course, I just think of the record scratches at the beginning. And I think you said in a prior interview, like, finding that sort of record scratching person for a song is hard to find nowadays.
Yeah. I it's not as easy to find as, like, someone who plays guitar or something like that. It's actually, I don't even, like, know anyone that actually is, like, a DJ scratcher that wants to be in, like, a metal band. Like, the guy that we got on the news and was just, like, kind of like a big Talia fan that was always at every single show going hard in the pit. And he was like a friend of Justin's.
So we were just like and he he did kinda like a solo, like, little, like, rap thing. So, we knew he had, like, some sort of rhythm and musicality that, like, he had that he wasn't really, like like, he wasn't, like, posting, like, guitar videos or anything like that, but we were like, yeah. He knows he knows a thing about music. So we hit him on and we're like, any chance you wanna, like, figure out, like, you play turntables and being the band? And he was like, hell yeah.
So we bought turntables and spent, like, an entire year learning how to do it and then came out with us to do matriplogy. And, like, we weren't even sure if he would be in the band at the time. We were just like, we want someone to get these, like, sounds on the album. So he came out. He did it.
He did a fucking great job of it for, like, being a new, like, DJ player. And, yeah, he killed it. He did it. Like I'm saying, I don't we we don't even know anything else. We're just like, fuck it.
Just see if one of our, like, hardcore friend fans would be down to do it, and he was down. So Nice, man. It's it's it's, like, essentially, a lot of people out there should learn an instrument, but then also learn the turntables just in case another scenario like that pops up to where they can just join a band and wreak havoc. Yeah. If you if you wanna, like, secure, like, a weird gig, just learn all the stuff that no one else is doing, and then you're bound to find someone who wants to use that, I guess.
One thing that's really unique about, Justin's vocals too, I mean, it's so different because we do this, metal show Saturday nights, 10 PM to 2, where we just do 4 hours of nothing but, like, Brand of Sacrifice, Lorna Shore, Slaughter to Prevail, and, of course, Talla as well. And one thing that, like, immediately stood out to me was Justin's vocals. And you said previously, you met Justin through, like, one of his, YouTube videos or something like that? Yeah. I, I had been following his channel for, like, a little bit before I ever reached out to him.
I forget what the first thing I saw was. It might have been one of his stream tutorials. I was like, oh, this guy's got, like, this awesome voice. I'm gonna follow him. And then I just kinda, like I don't know.
I just didn't really, like, follow-up with, like, what what he was doing. And then when we were looking for a vocalist, one of his videos popped up in my recommend. I was like, oh, shit. I forgot about this guy. And I started looking at all this stuff, his solos, solo work, and some, like, the stuff that were on his cover channel, like, seeing what kind of bands he was into.
And I was just like, damn. This guy's, like, gotten, like, the most unique, awesome voice I've ever heard. So, like, gotta somehow see if I I could reach out to him. But he had, like, you know, big following on YouTube, so I didn't think he would really give a shit that much. Like, also, like, I figured maybe he would if you wanted to be in a band, he kind of, like, already would have done that sort of thing.
But I I figured, fuck it. We'll just reach out. And, yeah. No. He was he was into the music.
We sent him, like, the EP, and, yeah, he fucked with it. And he was even telling me that it was just, like, kind of a coincidence that, like, right before, he got the message, he was, like, thinking about, like, goddamn. I really wanna, like, be in a band and might be performing again. So it was kind of all just naturally happened at the same time. Like, we just kinda found each other, and he was, like, the right fit for us, and he really loved the music.
So it ended up being a great fit. I was gonna ask, like, was he also enthusiastic about nu metal as well? Because, obviously, when I hear Talla, I hear that nu metal sound. Of course, we just talked about the record scratching and stuff. And I think one of your biggest influences is Slipknot, if I'm not mistaken.
I mean, yeah. They're, like, the band that I first became, like, really, like, a big fan of. Like, that was the I've always listened to Slipknot growing up and stuff because my dad introduced me to, like, so much music when I was younger, like, just playing me all sorts of stuff from, like, the prog world to the rock world into metal and everything between. So, they were always one that I always stuck with. And as I got a little bit older, I just, like, remember listening to their whole discography and being like, yeah.
This is, like, exactly the type of shit that I love. So they were, like, my first, like, favorite band, and they've been, like, a big influence ever since and especially, like, Joey's drumming and stuff. So that's always lots of impact. But yeah. I mean, I I think that's that's just kind of always gonna have a little bit of an influence on what I write.
It's just because I love a lot of those, like, kinda new metal bands. Like, System System of the Down and Slip Not are like 2 of my favorites. So but I also like Tool's one of my favorite bands. I love, like, Primus and shit. So there's a lot of, like, influence there, but Justin was a huge fan of the new metal stuff too.
Like, even probably more so than me, he probably likes more of that stuff, more of those bands than I do. So he was what I told him, I was just like, I got this kind of band that I'm putting together, which kinda has this, like, new metal hardcore sort of fusion sound to it. He was totally into it right away. It is something incredibly unique. I I find Talla very creative.
I find the music really, really, really cool. And, I mean, you just mentioned your dad, of course. I mean, how long have you been drumming personally? Almost my whole life. I mean, I didn't start taking, like, actual lessons until I was, like, maybe 5 or 6.
But even before that, like, I would just watch my dad play and just, like, grab a pair of drumsticks. I probably even know what I was doing. I was just hitting things, but I just was kind of always doing it. And then as I got older, I was just like, I that's just what I wanna do. Like, it like, anytime someone said, what do you wanna, like, do?
Like, in the future? I'm just like, I I don't know. I just wanna drum and make music. Like, that's just what I like to do. So even more so now, it's just, like, it's not even really mainly about drumming.
It's just I wanna, like, make music in a band with people that I love and then go play shows and stuff. You know? Yeah. It's something different with your situation because I know, like, a lot of people who say they wanna pursue music to their parents, they're probably like, oh, no. Find a real job and that sort of thing.
But, I mean, with your dad, of course, being who he is, he's probably, yeah. Go for it. Do what you wanna do. Be creative as you want and have fun with it. Yeah.
Yeah. Both of my parents. My mom was, in a band as well when, in, like, the eighties. She was on Thrash Band. She played guitar.
So, she she actually recently did a tour with my dad. The 2 of them tour together again, like, couple months ago. So that was really cool. But, yeah, they're both musicians. They're both super supportive about it.
They were just like they knew exactly what it takes, and we're like, we're here to support you. It's like that's what you wanna do. And as long as I was actually pursuing it, like, if I was, like, not actually really going through it, then they'd be like, alright. You need find something to actually do then. But I was just really committed to it from the start.
Just grind it, like, pre like, pretty much my entire life. I've been in bands since I was, like, 12 years old and just constantly playing shows and trying to, like, I don't know, get some sort of a name and just get out there and get some sort of, I don't know, something out of it. And, yeah, I mean, just trying to 3 years, they were always there to back me up and support me and give me any kind of advice. So I'm super grateful to have them there. And what was, what was your first ever drum kit?
I'm curious because I played drums for a little bit, and I had, like, that I still have that pearl drum set at my parents' house, but I haven't touched it in years. Mhmm. Yeah. It it was a Tama kit. I, I got it as a gift from my parents.
I forgot when, but I was younger. Maybe, like, he might have been, like, 10 years old, and it was, like, a smaller just, like, silver star Tama kit. And, yeah, I would just play on that every single day. And, and then once I, over the years, I ended up getting, like, what I use now is just, like, a bigger kit. But, yeah, that was my first kit.
Besides that, it was just kinda like jamming on some of the random drum stuff my dad had around the house. Were there any, exercises you did to improve, like or to basically get that skill of double bass drum pedal? Are you doing the double bass drum type beats and stuff? Because I know, like, Richard Christie of Howard Stern, I always listen to him, and he drummed for death and stuff, and he was talking about ankle weights and jump roping and all that. Did you have any exercises like that to improve your double bass pedal skill?
I didn't do anything crazy like that. I I just did, like, the, I I got lessons from this guy in, Bethlehem, PA. His name is Todd Sheed, and he was, like, my teacher from my entire life. He's he was awesome. He taught me everything I could have wanted to know and from the stuff that I was into, like the the prog metal and rock and stuff like that to, like, jazz and learning, like, Brazilian stuff and things like that.
So he kinda, like, got me to learn the whole world of drumming, which was really cool. But with the double bass stuff, yeah, he would just tell me, like, just kinda do, like, the very basic thing of just starting really slow and just, like, looping it for to a click. Just the double straight double bass for, you know, I forgot I forgot what we would do. It was, like, a certain amount of minutes and you pause for a minute and then you do it again. And you just keep doing that, and you just go up 5 BPM every single time.
And, that's just what build my strength up with the dough, ladies and stuff. So just making sure you can spend time with yourself and then build up the muscle and the speed until you can start playing it really fast. So that's just what I did. Just a lot of hours of just sitting there playing it really slow. It's slowly speeding it up over the course of, like, 30 minutes.
And then for me, when I was trying to learn it, I just gave up because I think I I learned inner sandman, and I tried doing those fills. I'm like, I can't do this, and I can't do double bass drum even, you know, Enter Sandman, that type of thing. And after any other Metallica sonic can't do because I I I think it's it's tougher for a tall guy like me because I'm 6 foot 9, so I can only imagine what it's like for you can you can only imagine what it's like for me to try to, like, double bass pedal with, you know, from the long legs and stuff. So Yeah. I'm sure.
You know, it's just a lot of just the looping and playing it at at slope speeds and stuff like that. I feel like that's always the best thing to do when you're trying to learn anything is just make it, like, really stupidly slow and then just build up from there. Right. Yeah. And I know it's paid off for you really because you not only have Tallah, but then you also became the touring drummer for Code Orange recently.
I mean, how was that? Mhmm. Yeah. That was awesome too because they were my favorite band. Anytime anyone asks me, like, what's a band that you think is, like, actually doing something really cool, like, right now?
They were always the answer. I honestly, like, the only band I could think of that was just like, yeah. They're doing something amazing that I think is gonna be, like, huge and all that stuff. So when, yeah, Jamie hit me up year and a half ago at this point, maybe a little bit longer. Yeah.
And he, they were just like because he moved up from the drums to just being the front man and, the army coming down and jam. So we jammed the shit and, like, I already knew, like, pretty much all their songs just from being a fan. But, yeah, it's it's a totally different thing because they could've just had me come in and just play the songs like myself, which would've been fine. But they wanted to, which I agree with is, like, they've been playing these songs that had Jamie's feel for, like, all these years. So it's like, I'll come in and it's like, well, let's try and just make sure the feel is the same as what Jamie was doing.
So I just had to, like, study, like, what he was doing on videos and stuff and, like, jam with him and be like like, oh, is this is this feeling better? And he'd be like, alright. Maybe try this and stuff to try and make sure I can get that sort of groove that he had and stuff. So it was a lot of work there, like, kind of, like, reteaching myself how to play drums like someone else and be able to, like not not in a way of, like, replacing what I do because I still do it all with Tallah, but, like, being able to have that in my back pocket. So when we do those old code songs where he was on the kit, I can switch into, like, having his feel for that stuff.
So it was really cool. That was a lot of work and stuff, but, I mean, they're like like I was saying, they're my favorite band. I think they're the only band that's really doing anything that's, like, really notable right now, to be honest. And, I mean, I'd love the Talla shit too, so to be able to do, like, the two things that I love the most is, like, awesome. Yeah.
Could we potentially see, like, a Code Orange and Talla Tour at some point? I mean, maybe we, there's been, like, a little mention of it. I mean, right now, like, there's a lot of downtime with Code, and so I don't really think there would be anytime soon. But, I don't know. Maybe in the future, I'm always down to I've done double duty with both bands.
Like, we we both played, a show. So there was a a time I forgot where. It might have been, like, Salt Lake City or something. Tala played a show with a different tour down the road from where code is playing. So I just went to one venue and played with Tala, and then we all came over, and I played the code show and everyone was just hanging out.
So I've done, like, the double duty thing already. So if if it happens in the future where we get more shows together, we did one in Pittsburgh as well like that where we played, on the same bill. Yeah. I mean, I'm down. We'll we'll see.
Maybe one today. Yeah. It could it it will take a lot of endurance for sure. And, like, one funny thing that I noticed when I was, like, just diving deep on your social media, profiles was that you really like South Park, and you're like, I wanna become as famous one day so they make fun of me. I mean, could we I mean, could there be a possibility that Primus comes or goes away with their theme song and Talla takes over or Talla does an appearance on South Park?
I would love that. That would actually be, like if someone says, like, what would your dream be? Like, it would actually be that. Like, if I could just, like, doose, like, get my song or something or, like, the smallest reference on South Park, I'll be set for life at that point. So I don't know.
That would be awesome. If that's if that ever happens, I would be so stoked. Yeah. Yeah. I'm I'm so hoping you get to meet, like, Matt and Trey, talk to them, and actually go into an episode.
Because those guys seem so cool. I've been we've been wanting to talk to them for the longest time. My boss, Victor, loves that show, and he just cannot stop. But we have those little imagers in between songs. I have a bunch of South Park quotes in it, like, oh, snot web and stuff like that.
It's just ridiculous. But, but yeah. But awesome. Yeah. That's pretty much it for me, Max.
So thank you. Thank you so much for joining me today. The artist's interrogations broadcast is a production of Riverbend Media Group. For more information or to contact the show, visit riverbendmediagroup.com.