5 Q&A With The Dobermans
What was the creative process like for this particular album?
The Dobermans' 7th album, ‘Nothing On The Internet’ was a lot of fun to make. It came together in parts. Some of the songs took days, others took months. I learned a great deal. About music, recording, and myself. The creative process for me requires long walks. Miles and miles. I put in between 40 to 50 miles a week of recreational walking. It lets me turn things over in my mind, like a sculptor I guess.
What impact do you hope 'Nothing On The Internet' will have on your audience?
I hope ‘Nothing On The Internet’ shakes people up a bit. Gets them out of the whole 'style rut'. New music today is too rigidly classified. And because of that I think bands tend to conform to style protocols in hopes of being more palatable... Why? I say don't add to the monotony. Say exactly what you want, when you want and how you want. Your true personality is far more valuable.
Can you talk about any standout tracks on 'Nothing On The Internet' and what makes them special to you?
Every track has special meaning to me. I was particularly pleased with how “Always On,” “NPC LOVE,” and “I'm Ignoring You!” came out. They each created a little world to me for a few minutes. They are goofy and soft and courageous all at the same time.
How did your musical journey begin, and what were some of the initial challenges you faced?
I come from a family of musicians and artists. And I followed along as best I could. I started with the alto saxophone in grade school, but reading music was very difficult, so I never put much effort into it. Shortly after I gave up on sax and instead picked up an electric bass, then guitar. Then anything I could find. I suppose finding people to play with was difficult because literally everyone wanted to play Metallica covers when I was a kid. Eventually, I did find people who wanted to play other things, but I still work best on my own.
How do you perceive the current state of the music industry, and what trends do you find most prominent?
I hold that music is highly compartmentalized right now. Too many bands are trying to emulate too hard. Maybe the fans expect it? The content drones a bit too. It seems that to the audience, the artist must appear either sexy, violent, insane, depressed, or rich. If you don't, no one knows what to do with you. It's all a bit grotesque. The grift and rip-off economy is at full strength as well in the music industry. Most prominently, I find rap and female-based pop. Unfortunately, I don't care for either. No disrespect to anyone, trends are trends. I just feel that art, tasteful musicianship, love, and a feeling of freedom are missing from a lot of what I hear right now.
