We’re excited to sit down with CASSETTA to discuss their latest release, "Give Them Nothing." Join us as they delve into the inspiration behind the song, their creative process, and what fans can expect next.
1. Congratulations
on the release of "Give Them Nothing"! Could you tell us about the
inspiration behind the song and what listeners can expect from it?
Give Them Nothing
is about standing up for what you believe in, even when you know the entire
room or world is against you. When you truly believe what is right in your
heart, what will you do to protect your truth? Also, it parallels with the idea
of being unapologetically your true self. The song is on brand with our usual
style of heavy riffage, sludgy breakdowns, and hints of chaos, but I think this
song incorporates more melody than some of our previous releases. There is a
bridge in the middle where Kevin plays some slower dissonant chords, and I
think it came out great. We have gotten a pretty good response to the song so
far, so it's cool seeing other people resonate with it.
2. CASSETTA brings together members from various notable hardcore and metal
bands. How did the band come together, and what led to this collaborative
effort?
We all grew up in the Southern California hardcore scene. Some of us had
previously played in bands together, and some of us recently became friends by
playing shows with previous bands. Kevin was the catalyst to make it all
happen. He had a bunch of different riffs and wanted to start a heavy project,
so he reached out to us and got the ball rolling.
3. "Give Them Nothing" is described as a relentless, bone-crushing
wall of sound. How do you approach crafting such intense music, and what drives
the band's raw energy?
Kevin is the mastermind behind the riffs. The man has a knack for creating the
heaviest tunes. He tends to crank out songs nonstop and can sometimes be hard
to keep up with. I think we work really well together. The way he writes riffs
and the overall guitar tones, mixed with my vocal style, seem to create a
brutal overall sound. It's been a really fun experience watching these songs
come to life.
4. The single was self-produced and mixed by Jeff Dunne, known for his work
with heavyweights in the scene. How was it collaborating with Jeff, and how did
his expertise contribute to shaping the final sound of the track?
Working with Jeff has been extremely smooth. He really understands the sound we
are aiming for and does a great job at bringing it out in the best way
possible. He obviously has an ear for making insanely heavy records. We are
just really lucky to be able to get his touch on our sound and can't thank him
enough for everything he's helped us out with so far.
5. Vocalist Conor Eaton's lyrics are described as guiding listeners through a dark, deeply personal journey. Could you elaborate on the themes explored in "Give Them Nothing" and how they resonate with the band's ethos?
I think this song, more than any of the others, is the most straightforward as far as the theme in the lyrics. Most of my lyrics have some personal and political undertone that can be shifted into various compartments of people's lives. Sometimes, that can leave some ambiguity and room for personal interpretation. Give Them Nothing is as straightforward as it gets. Live your truth, be authentic, and stand up for what is right. The overall sound of our band is raw and in your face, and I think that shows with Give Them Nothing.
6. CASSETTA is known for its uncompromising vision and raw power. How do you maintain this authenticity in your music while also pushing creative boundaries?
Our only goal for this band was to be as heavy as possible. We all have different tastes in music when it lands outside the realm of hardcore but with Cassetta it's clear that we have one vision and it's become natural to stick to that brand since its the style of music that we all love the most.
7. The band's lineup consists of seasoned musicians from various backgrounds. How does this diversity contribute to the creative process and the overall sound of CASSETTA?
We pretty much all have the same adoration for a lot of the same bands. Because of that, it seems easy to stay on the same page and understand the common goal. Everyone has their particular role in the band, and we each work on our parts individually and then piece them all together in the end. It's been fun to see the end product because after it has been passed through everyone's hands, the song takes on its own form. Although we only have a handful of releases, I think we have already found our "sound," which happened very organically.
8. Alongside "Give Them Nothing," CASSETTA has released a limited edition cassette featuring previous hits. What made you decide to release these tracks in this format, and what can fans expect from these older songs?
We just wanted to give people the chance to have a physical copy of our first releases. We thought it would be cool to put them onto tape in order to keep the cost low when we sold them at our shows. Those were the first two tracks that we all wrote together and its cool to have them documented forever in the physical realm.
9. The band's live performance video of "Give Them Nothing" is set for release soon. How does CASSETTA translate its high-energy live experience into a video format?
That's the work of our good friend Scott Fecteau. Scott has made so many videos for bands over the years. We used to throw house shows together in Long Beach, and he would bring his camera and record the madness. It seemed fitting to have him do a live edit for Give Them Nothing.
10. Hardcore music often serves as a platform for social commentary and self-expression. How does CASSETTA use its music to engage with broader societal issues or personal experiences?
I have always used my lyrics to express my political views and work through certain personal traumas. I feel like it's a gift to be able to hold a microphone, and it's my duty to have something important to say when given the chance. We don't all share the exact same political views, nor do we collaborate on the message we are projecting in our music. I am grateful that my bandmates gave me the platform to say what I feel in my heart needs to be said, and having such a powerful sound behind the words is such a cathartic thing to be a part of.
11. CASSETTA's merchandise, including enamel pins and shirt designs, is becoming popular among fans. How important is merchandise and visual branding for the band, and what inspires your merch designs?
Shout out to Monica Campbell for the cover of our first two releases. Outside of that, Alex has taken on the task of developing our recent logos and helped out with designing the cover art for Give Them Nothing. We really just want to make sure the illustrations fit the thematic style of the music, and I think Monica and Alex both nailed it.
12. With the release of "Give Them Nothing," what are the band's plans for the future? Any upcoming shows, tours, or new music on the horizon?
We are sitting on some music right now that we will announce to the public soon as to what the plan will be for the release of those tracks. We are trying to carve out time in our personal and professional lives to play more shows so be on the look out for sporadic local dates throughout the year.
13. As individuals with experience in various bands, what sets CASSETTA apart from your previous projects, and what do you hope to achieve with this collective effort?
Cassetta truly feels like a friend project. It is refreshing to get together with like-minded people and just focus on the music. What comes of Cassetta from there is really up to how the music is received. We are not doing this band for any other reason than to write music we want to hear with our friends and play some cool shows along the way.
14. Finally, where can fans connect with CASSETTA online, and how can they support the band's music and upcoming releases?
Instagram: Cassettahc. We're also on all streaming platforms as well as www.cassettahc.bandcamp.com Thanks a lot for your support.
Cassetta (@cassettahc) • Photos et vidéos Instagram
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