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The KBEAR dudes interviewing your favorite artists!
Speaker 1: Hey there, this is Showing Teeth, and you are listening to the Viktor Wilt show on K Bear 101.
Speaker 2: All right. Joining me here on the show today, an artist I'm very excited to talk to. We've been playing this artist for months now, since whenever Labyrinth came out, we got showing teeth hanging out. How's it going?
Speaker 1: Good. Thank you so much for playing the songs. It's so amazing.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I uh was just sitting here scheduling music one day and just had YouTube running in the background. And you know, it's running through random videos, and all of a sudden I hear this awesome scream. Just yeah. I can't do it.
I don't got a bit of a sore throat. I'm like, immediately just jump over. I gotta check out this video. And uh the song just blew my mind. Um had never heard of the band, so immediately got a copy of it because I was like, we gotta play this for the listeners, and um fine work on that song as well as the other ones that have been released so far. Uh how did the band come together? Uh you know, you just kind of blew up out of nowhere and blew up huge.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Um yeah, it's not really a traditional band. Um it's more of a singer-songwriter situation of like it's all just from my head of it's like a thematic universe kind of thing. Um, but yeah, I started posting videos of myself practicing online, and that kind of gained its own following, and then I basically reintroduced myself as showing teeth, which is what I've always wanted to do. Um, and thankfully people stuck around and yeah, just been putting out the songs. I have a couple of people that I really love writing with, but yeah, the band, the live band is is very different from everything else that I'm kind of doing in the writing sphere.
Speaker 2: I was gonna ask about the you know, if there was a difference between the live band and the studio musicians. I saw you guys play at Sick New World in Vegas. Uh it was awesome. You you crushed it. Um Thank you. And you're definitely surrounded by like super talented musicians. So it it is a different lineup when you play live than who you generally work with in the studio.
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah. So the co-writer situation, I got connected super randomly with my producer Dan Book. Um, we met online. He was following my like practicing videos and just offered to help in any way he could, but I hadn't really worked with anyone before and was avoiding it, but he was just so helpful and wasn't too pushy. There's a lot of people in the metal sphere that just want to write music for you. And I felt like I was a pretty good songwriter already, so I was didn't like that. So Dan just being willing to be like a helping hand and an extra ear was really the most helpful. Um and we write really well together. And uh he introduced me, connected me to Matt Halpern from Periphery, who plays drums on the record. Um, but he was more of a mentor at first because he knew I was a huge fan, and it wasn't until he heard a couple of the demos that he was like, I could maybe play drums on some of this, and then that turned into writing together, and it just turned into a fun music family. And he introduced me to Zach Mudowitz who plays guitar on a lot of the songs, so yeah, very fun organic music family, and you know, whatever happens in a song is great, but we don't really force anything as far as the co-writing goes.
Speaker 2: The songwriting, if if you're doing it, uh do you do it remotely or get together in person?
Speaker 1: Predominantly remotely. Um I'm very uh anti-social, and so I kind of uh am a bit of a recluse and will like hoard up in my room fly and write a bunch of songs and oh gosh, did my microphone change?
I think it's back. Um but yeah, I I work best kind of on my own. Um, so it'll be more of like I will have some ideas, write a bunch of stuff, and then I'll be like, Zach, I need a riff like this, and then we'll kind of bounce back and forth an idea and because like I love writing guitar stuff, but at the end of the day, it's like he's a fantastic guitar player. I'll come up with an idea, but he'll make it a billion times better. So and I love good guitar music, so would rather have the the pro. Heck yeah.
Speaker 2: Well, and as a you know, kind of nerd for prog metal, you know, the the time structure structures, the rippage, um, you know, the songs being just of of so many different styles. Like I said, the the minute I heard Labyrinth, it immediately clicked. Probably listened to it like five times in a row, and I was taking music calls that day, so I'm talking to reps about other bands. I'm like, well, hey, but before we get off the phone, have you heard of this band showing teeth?
Thank you. It just turned out one of the guys I was talking to, you know, he looked into you because he got blown away too. I was like, Oh, I I know their manager.
So uh amazing. Yeah, I was able to connect and you know, was hoping to chat with you months ago, but I was having some of the technical problems. So sorry for the door.
Speaker 1: the delay No, I'm happy to be here. Thank you.
Speaker 2: Timing's good because you got a lot of stuff going on. You've got the uh new EP coming out on September 4th, which uh the label was kind enough to send me so I could check the whole thing out.
Um excellent work. Uh fans have only heard three songs so far. We're playing all three of them. Uh Rip as well as of course Labyrinth.
I mean, I don't know how many hundreds of times we played Labyrinth. I had it in a power rotation, and then the latest one, Bad Exchanges, which did the video just come out like two days ago. Yeah, yeah, it just came out. Really cool video. Um, And, you know, thinking of your vocals, like I said, that was the first thing that got my attention was that that scream at the beginning of Labyrinth. Uh, you seem to approach your heavy vocals in a different way than a lot of bands do nowadays.
It kind of reminded me of like some of my favorite bands from when I was younger from like Louisiana, a little bit of like that acid bath screechiness and things like that. What who are some of your vocal influences?
Speaker 1: Well, I think I mean, one of the things that I think is important to note about the showing teeth, I guess, multiverse is that I never intended on being a vocalist. A lot of the demos I would write, I always just wanted someone else to sing them. Um, because I'd never sang before. And so practicing kind of just became like, oh, well, I need to record these demos, and then it just turned into like, well, I'm already doing it. So yeah, I it screaming was never something I intended on being good at, just kind of means to an end, I guess. Um, so yeah, there's really no serious like studying of technique, it's kind of just a lot of anger.
Um a lot of rage. Um I would say vocally, I'm most inspired by like Spencer from Periphery, uh Phil from Whitechapel. Um anything shouty and angry, and but also like those guys are very technically detailed.
So I'd say kind of a mix of everything. I just like the emotion, and I feel like those guys can really get across emotion super well. Um, whereas sometimes the really technical vocals don't. Um yeah, I just it's all about conveying whatever words I'm saying.
Speaker 2: Well, and with heavy vocals, one thing that a lot of bands seem to struggle with, or I don't know if it's a struggle, but you mentioned like Phil from Whitechapel and such. Those guys can write catchy heavy vocals that you know, they they get stuck in your head, you know, like like Pantera and stuff back in the day.
A lot of bands now they just pummel you to death, which I which I love, but when you can get some really heavy vocals just stuck in your head, like a just toxic earworm. Um you're you're doing it right. And uh thank you.
Speaker 1: And it's yeah, I love being pummeled to death too. But I think I think it is the biggest thing is the emotion, and I think you can definitely tell when a vocalist is putting that emotion into the lyrics and the screaming, and it definitely makes a difference.
Speaker 2: And the other three, I mean, I guess there's technically four songs on the EP. The second to last one's kind of an intro to the final track, uh paradigm. What if the other tracks that listeners haven't heard would be you know your your favorite?
Speaker 1: My favorite. Um it's it's interesting because these songs I actually wrote them. It's been over a year now that they've been done, so probably almost two years when I wrote them.
Um just been sitting on it for a while. So Shallow Grave is a fun one because that was like probably the first song I wrote with showing teeth in mind, like actually considering being the vocalist of a project like this. Um so it's kind of like the baby, the special angel that I um have nurtured into this, and it's definitely got parts of it that are very like writing wise, kind of immature, but I think that's why I'm so fond of it, because it's like definitely just a spew of like thoughts and feelings, and that's a fun one. It's it's a little angry, a little dancy, a little all over the place.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I uh loved the EP. I'm definitely gonna play it uh in full on my morning show on release day. Thank you. You know, thank you again to the label for sending it to me so I could check it out early and uh get a taste. Coming out September 4th, the album's called A Fate Worse Than Loneliness, and uh congrats on uh signing to Spine Farm. Great label.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Yeah, Spine Farm and Republic, they're both so wonderful, and I can't believe it. I don't know how this even happened, but they really believe in it, which is just so lovely.
Speaker 2: Well, I could see why. I mean, anytime I see somebody post a question about who's a you know new band I should check out. Uh, you see threads with a lot of bands that have been around for five, ten years.
I'm like, no, check out chilling teeth. This is a new band that will blow your mind. And I I really hope radio, rock radio can get on board with it. Um, you know, like to me, Labyrinth in 2026 is someone who you know grew up in the late 90s, early 2000s, and the biggest bands were rock and metal bands. Um You know, I think Labyrinth and all all the songs, I mean, sound great on the radio, Labyrinth in the mix, even if it goes into Johnny Cash hurt afterward, it it just stands out so much, and I wish radio would be a little more brave on trying new sounds.
It takes them forever, like uh Poppy, for example. Uh, another artist we were the first rock station to play. I'm screaming at everybody to play Poppy, hitting up Vinny at Octane, Electric Callboy, same deal. Another artist we were the first to play. And you guys, uh, I tried to get Vinny to go with Labyrinth, and he's like, I'll pass it to Jose for for liquid metal.
But uh, come on, Vinny. So hopefully some of the other tracks, maybe maybe maybe you can get them rolling on uh you know nationwide rock radio because they stand out so much.
Speaker 1: That'd be awesome. Maybe when I'm older, I guess. I yeah, I'm I'm always honored when I hear it because to me, like the songs are pretty crazy, and I already get surprised when people are even like following us on social media. So hearing it on the radio is even more like, what the heck is happening? But in the best way possible. It's obviously a dream.
Speaker 2: Well, okay, b bothering all my radio friends about it, you know. Like I said, give them a give them a few years, because you know, Poppy Electric Callboy, a lot of sleep token. Huge They're huge. artists, yeah. took them Took them till they uh were busting out arenas till radio got on board. I'm like, are you guys not looking at I I don't know why uh the summoning wasn't a number one rock radio hit, but what do I know?
Beats me. Yeah, yeah, kind of crazy. And so you got the EP coming out, but you also just booked a tour with another band that just blew up out of nowhere, president. Uh congrats on that.
Speaker 1: Thank you. It's it's crazy. They're super lovely, super nice. We played the a show together with Bear Tooth. Um, and yeah, I didn't know much about them, but it was like, oh my god, I was blown away. They sound incredible. Oh, yeah.
Speaker 2: And you know, just a unique presence, unique sound. Um, I haven't had the opportunity to see them live yet, but with the upcoming tour, we do have a couple dates coming to our region. Gonna be in Salt Lake at the depot on the 28th of September, and then in Boise at the Revolution Concert House October 1st.
So uh I I definitely be stoked to see you, you know, in an indoor venue. Signa World was great. Yeah, but when you're one of the first bands of the day, and the sun's beating down. I mean, it's still.
Speaker 1: I was shaking in my boots.
Speaker 2: Yeah, because that was, you know, I think one of your first few shows.
Speaker 1: Yeah, no, we uh we never played a festival, and so that was kind of horrifying, and also our first time flying for anything. So, and all my guys and my band are pretty young. Now we have Jacob on bass who has been around touring for a while, but the the Sig New World show, we're all babies out here. It's all my guys from Nashville. They're very young. I'm also young, so we're just like, oh my gosh, what the heck are we doing? But it was fun. It was just scary. Yeah.
Speaker 2: So is this your first band you've you've done live shows with?
Speaker 1: No, I played bass for years, but it's definitely my first band I've like traveled remotely far to play shows, and it's my first band being a vocalist.
Speaker 2: Right on. And you know, some of the other shows you played prior to Signal World, some like big big shows. Um, what was it like to jump to something massive? Like the shows you just leapt into.
Speaker 1: It was horrifying. Um, I'm not gonna lie, like it's one of those things that obviously front facing people just see the shows, but like behind the scenes, like it's really hard for me to accept things like this because I'm not used to it, and I am the kind of person to just be like, oh, maybe next time, like I'm too scared to do it this time, but can't turn those things down, especially when it's like Bear Tooth comes out of nowhere and offers you something. It's like that's the opportunity of a lifetime.
And so it's like no matter how scared you are, you just have to do it. Um it was awesome. I definitely almost cried both days before going on stage, but I'm very glad I did it. It was everyone was so lovely too, so supportive.
Speaker 2: Oh, and Caleb's one of the nicest guys in rock. Like it I don't think it gets much better than him.
Speaker 1: No, he gave me the best pet talk I think I've ever received in my life uh before going on stage in Milwaukee. Um, I can't thank him enough for just his kindness. Uh yeah, he's unbelievable.
Speaker 2: Well, you know, I'm really excited to make it to one of those shows. Um, you know, we'll definitely, like I said, continue to play tracks from the EP, play that whole thing when it comes out. And uh are you using the picture of the cat for the the EP cover?
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's my cat Michael. She's a girl though. Yeah. Girl named Michael. Yeah, she's beautiful. Um, it's actually a picture of her yawning. So if anyone's worried about her safety, she's very happy. She's not constantly screaming. Um it's just a really funny picture.
Speaker 2: Yeah, as is she who's been walking back and forth a bit uh during the no that that's Stanley.
Speaker 1: He doesn't like when I talk to my computer because it's not him.
Speaker 2: So I got four of them, so I know how they can be.
Speaker 1: Yeah, he wants attention, and then Michael's probably hunting for bugs. Very nice.
Speaker 2: Good thing to have cats around for. Yeah, I haven't seen well. I I used to only have two cats, and then my wife moved in, dragged in two more cats, a dog, and then we ended up getting a gecko, and it's just a zoo. Um that's good. It it's good, other than oh man, trying to acclimate two different households of cats that all have strong attitudes. Man. Yeah, thankfully, after almost a year, they're getting along pretty good.
Speaker 1: Yeah, they're all they're all friends.
Speaker 2: So, yeah, as a cat guy, when um you know the video popped up uh for labyrinth, the just audio only, and it was a cat. I'm like, all right, all right. Hell yeah.
Speaker 1: So it feels natural. Yeah, very true to spirit. Well, very cool.
Speaker 2: And you just got the two cats.
Speaker 1: Yep, just the two of those guys. Um they're lovely though. But yeah, that's all I surround myself with is my cats and nature. So that's about it.
Speaker 2: Well, if you want your your house to uh turn into a complete disaster, you know, lots of pig in, you know, but just upgrade to four and you'll be good to go.
Speaker 1: I probably would honestly. I love cats. I'm thinking about a third.
Speaker 2: Yeah, th threes, I think a good max. Four's a lot. Uh yeah. But you know, there's I like them all. So and it was funny that you had a uh a girl cat named Michael, because we don't know what uh if the gecko's a boy or girl, so it's it's just Jacob.
Speaker 1: That's a that's a good name for a boy or a girl, I think.
Speaker 2: Yeah. So we'll find out one of these days. I love Jacob. Well, I'll let uh uh my wife's daughter know that you really love the name.
Speaker 1: So it's a Jacob's a beautiful name for a girl.
Speaker 2: Well, I can't thank you enough for chatting with me today and you know, wishing the band all the luck. I think you're gonna blow up huge. Um it sounds like if these songs have been around for a year or two, you've probably got some more in store. And definitely can't wait to hear more. Anything that's not on the EP that's gonna be played on the upcoming tour. Yes.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I I'm not gonna lie, I've already been kind of sneaking in some things. Uh at the the Count Your Blessings anniversary show. We snuck in uh an even newer song, and there might be some more little nuggets on the President tour. Awesome.
Speaker 2: Well, I can't wait to hear more. Wishing you all the luck in the world. And uh again, everybody, if you want to get details on showing teeth, showing teeth.com, you should go see them in Boise or Salt Lake. It'll be awesome. Pick up the EP September 4th. Uh, you got some sweet merch on your website. I need to order some of that. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Yeah, some of it will be on tour too if you miss it. Hey there, this is showing teeth, and you are listening to the Victor Wilt show on KBAR 101.