the Lyric: The Driftin’ Suns “Skyzto”

by Angela Kerr

[email protected]

Highlighting The Driftin’ Suns – Skyzto

www.TheDriftinSuns.com or www.facebook.com/DriftinSuns        Photo Credit:  Ralston Photo

I hooked up with the Driftin’ Suns during a combined practice they were having with friends Whodunnit?    All had collected to rehearse for their New Year’s 2014 show at the Bonfire Tavern.  A knock your socks off version of David Bowie’s Fame awaited me as I participated with the band for the afternoon.  In true Driftin’ style the Suns, like other bands I have interviewed interact with multiple conversations at once.  I have come to the conclusion that artists are multi-taskers and communication between them is no different.  Why elongate a discussion for hours when we can accomplish the entirety in a fraction of that time?  The conversations begin with one or two having a discussion and then in a moments notice, three or four conversations are going at once.  They exude a feeling of total commitment; exuberance for all that is being created and accomplished. There is a noteworthy bond between this group of guys that has the potential of life long magical artistry.  Collaboration and Networking are the Suns middle names; they thrive on the details involved with each interaction and outcome. I sat down in the middle of a barrage of activity as they described their feelings about their first album, Continental Breakfast and the process they use when composing music. The band members include Kristian Kerr on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Adam Curtiss, lead guitar and background vocals, Garret Curtiss on bass and background vocals and Jaydon Kershner on drums – also a background vocalist.  Kristian and Garret work full time for Remcon, a remediation company who they say “supports their musical priorities.”  Among other things, Adam cuts Lunar and Martian meteorites for Kerf Industries, and Jaydon works long hours to ensure everyone in the metro area has their pizza delivered on time.  They state their true love is music so they work in positions which allow them the flexibility to focus on their primary goal:  The Driftin’ Suns.  So here is a look at Skyzto:

_________________________________________________________

CMB:  So how did this song come about?

Kristian:  “When I brought this song to the band – I had the idea, the lyric and vocal melody pretty well laid out.  It is always a challenge to bring a song to the band in hopes the guys are going to like it…in this case, once I brought it in, everyone collaborated.”

CMB:  So tell me a little about what you were thinking when you wrote these lyrics.

Kristian:  “Ever since I was a little kid, I was preoccupied with the waking vs. dream state and the movement between the two.  I was attempting to communicate the frustration one can have being in the world we live in where things are so challenging from every angle and the deep feeling of despair that one can have about our existing reality; then facing the same conflicts in the dream state as well … wondering which is the real reality?”

CMB:  How did the rest of you feel about incorporating the song into your repertoire?

Garret:  “There was quite a disagreement before I joined the band over a subtle 10 beats per minute time signature change that occurs during the chorus. As I had just replaced the previous bass player when Continental Breakfast was being recorded, I had to decide if I was going to keep in line with what had been composed in the past, or reach out for something I could make my own. This song gives me incredible vibes…it had an ominous feel ….one of hardcore thrash. The lyric may look repetitive, but the dynamic energy is hard to match.”

Adam: “This song marked the first time we embarked into the grunge – metal world.  I resisted at first, but once I got the idea behind the lyrics and how they described a symptom prevalent in almost everyone, including the band, it made perfect sense to present it in a more abrasive light.”

Jaydon:  “The main thing is it is open for interpretation.  It can be perceived differently by each person whether they are living in a darker corner of the planet or just feeling that our reality is controversial.”

CMB:  I was also drawn to the song X-Rated on the album.  How did that song come to be?

Adam: “ Kristian had the concept of X-Rated as a person exploding…when you just want to lash out at the world after having a stressful day – you know…like go ballistic… not out of anger – just stress in traffic or anxiety or lust.”  I developed the music first, then the riff and finally wrote out the lyrics.  I brought the song to the band and everyone pitched in on the placement of lyrical lines and then developed their portion of the musical composition.

Kristian:  “Yeah that song was all Adam.”  “My favorite lines are: Give me one more vestal knot to tie on, one more bed of nails for me to lie on, one more fasting feast of fools to fry on….I am ready to explode!”  “It’s about feeling you are out of your skin, ready to do things you wouldn’t normally do.”

Garret:  “This song will always hold a special place in my heart for its ability to thrust the crowd into overdrive mode! It kick starts the fan base every time.”

When reflecting on the interview, the lyrics and music to both songs…the description of embarking upon grunge and metal sums it up alright. The vocal interplay between Kristian and Adam haunts…one conscious, the other unconscious – I’m feeling (I’m feeling) like I’m stuck in-between dual realities.  Are we dreaming?  Are we awake?  I agree there’s only so much…we can take.  Anyone can relate to these lyrics.  There are times I shake my head at the current societal model and wish I were dreaming and could wake up to a more just and honest reality.  So many people conflicted – so much unnecessary stress and anxiety we as human beings constantly cause one another. We are stuck in overdrive; that feeling of spinning completely out of control as a species…ready to explode. I ponder what it would take to strike a balance; to find a place of sanity where earth’s inhabitants could actually breathe again. The Beatles said it best: “Love is all we need.”

CMB:  So what is on the horizon for 2014?

Kristian:  “We are going to release our first full length music video to a new song we will be recording first quarter titled Bowler Joe.  We also have plans to release four seasonal EP’s with art and album design concept by Dave Curtis of Dave Does Designs.  We have composed enough music to release 4 songs per release including releasing Bowler Joe as a single.  It is a fan favorite so we want to give them exactly what they want.”  “We will also release our Video EPK in January as part of our marketing campaign to reach out to larger venues and expand our audience.”

Jaydon:  “Yeah…I will be happy if we get all of this done in 2014 because I want to take our time to make sure the attitude, vision and attention to detail is just right.  We have our hearts set on working with Josh Montoya from New Mexico on the Bowler Joe video (www.motionboundmedia.com); we just have to see if he can fit us into his schedule.”  “Josh filmed our first video release of X-Rated (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hkn439ZGAw ) during the Colorado Music Buzz Bandwagon 4 competition in early 2013.”

Adam:  “We are going to schedule mini-tours within the state and expanding to out of state tours by the end of the year….maybe even do an out of state in the summer for a couple of weeks.”  “We will continue to collaborate with The Bonfire Tavern as their house band where we party with our fans on a monthly basis.”

Tags: Angela Kerr, The Lyric, Drifin' Suns

Category: Buzzworthy