ECHO BLACK INTERVIEW St Andrews Hall 11/22/2015
New York based Dark Alternative Rock back Echo Black recently made a stop in Detroit and I was able to catch up with them in the basement of St. Andrews Hall. Formed in 2015, Echo Black is Danny Blu- Vocals, Felix Skiver-Guitar, Rob Gnarly- Bass, and Billy Long-Drums.
How was working with Davey Suicide on Burn Another Day?
Danny Blu: Awesome, he’s a super nice guy. We actually had never met, crazy enough. He’s on the west coast and we’re on the east coast. We sent songs back and forth to each other and video back and forth to each other. He was really easy to work with he wanted to be part of the video.
What was his role in this song?
DB: We wrote the song together. He put his own spin on the parts he recorded and mixed it all together. He was super into it and he loved the concept. We just sent him the shots that we needed and he pulled it off and sent it back to us and that’s it! Really nice guy!
About the video for “Burn Another Day”, it’s rather intense. What was the inspiration behind it?
DB: The point is to take “It Gets Better” and push it further. It gets frustrating to hear that all the time. Yeah it will eventually get better, it will be fine. But what if you fought back instead of just waiting around – that is where it came from. Our director, Nathan Crooker, came in and, he is a horror movie guy, and wanted to really push the envelope a little bit and see how far he could push a music video that would still be ok on Youtube. We wanted to make it a cinematic thing. It’s like a performance.
Who writes your music?
DB: We all write it together. It’s totally a joint effort from everybody.
So far in your career what has been the biggest accomplishment?
This tour, we are used to playing very small stages and very small crowds. Not always – you get lucky sometimes. The norm is to play to not that many people. We’ve played some shows just for the bar staff. To come out every night and to play to a guaranteed crowd of hundreds is mind blowing.
What question have you never been asked, but always wanted to answer?
Rob Gnarly: How big is it?
Felix Skiver: They haven’t asked because they already know.
DB: What is your first album going to be called? And it’s one I can’t answer.
Are you working on a new album?
Felix- We have songs recorded and once this tour is over we are going to go back to the studio and start recording a little bit more. The release schedule hasn’t been decided yet. It’s all going to come out relatively soon – hopefully by early next year. Also, early next year we plan to be back out on the road supporting the said music. It’s all scheduling that we don’t know yet. We do have stuff that we are going to release to all you beautiful people out there. Gorgeous, yes gorgeous!
Are you with a label?
DB: No, not yet. We are open to suggestions, of course!
Is there any advice for anyone starting out?
Billy Long: Keep an open mind, if you are a musician or an actor. Everyone has their idols and the things that they look up to – their influences. They want to try to emulate it. Keep an open mind because you can always use those influences in ways you never thought you would be able to apply it. It can be just as satisfying.
DB- That is a very good way to put it, especially with this band.
BL: It’s the thing. You look at something you would never do and you make the decision to try and you could be surprised with what could happen.
Any message for your fans?
DB: Stay tuned, we will have new music. And listen to Echo Black.
