Thrice Interview
Interview with Dustin Kensrue and Riley Breckenridge of Thrice
Words by Brendan Monteiro / Photo by Dustin Rabin
So to start off with, how did the conception of the Alchemy Index come about?
Dk : The beginning it just popped up in my head one day, and I sat with it for a while and then shared it with the other guys. We went through different phases of what it was going to end up being. I can’t remember all the different phases. Just something we all kind of hatched over time.
Imagery plays a big part in the concept albums. How difficult was it to keep in with the elements and moods that you wanted to portray and what did you do to keep each separate?
Rb : We set up a basic parameter for each element sonically. We were pretty strict at first and as we had everything in its place we started letting it be a little looser. Certain songs just wanted to split over into different elements and we ended up deciding that was a better idea to let them go where they wanted to.
I feel a lot of what you are listening to at the time comes through when you are making music. Do you try to hinder that at all? Some musicians go as far as to not listen to any music during the writing process. What are your views on it?
Dk : I feel it’s less the things I’m listening to right then and more the combination of everything you have listened to before. I feel like the stuff I listened to while making music is almost like a break from the stuff were making, like fresh air.
Rb : For me what I listened to while I was writing parts definitely informed those parts. Like I would hear something I liked and you learn it and you put a spin on it to make it your own. You might not get it but it can open up some hand technique that you didn’t have or a foot technique that you didn’t have before. It inspires me to experiment more. While we recording I can’t listen to anything. You’re hearing the same song over and over and you just need a break from all music.
You did the Alchemy Index yourselves with Teppei doing the recording. Do you feet that not having a producer made the album more your own.
Dk : I don’t think having a producer makes it any less your own. It just probably would have been a mess with one because this project goes against everything that a producer is trying to do. I don’t think were against ever working with a producer again but it’s also lighter on the pocket to not have one.
Some people say the Alchemy Index is a bit of an anomaly. Do you feel that it was a natural evolution for the band?
Rb : We try to make music we want to hear without worrying what genre it is. Or whether fans are going to like it because they liked our older stuff. We’re constantly soaking in so much new music and being inspired by so much that it’s kind of natural for us to take that inspiration and influences and try and add it to what were doing. In doing that it keeps us from being in one set genre.
Would you say that the “Art Rock” label is something that you feel comfortable with or is it more of an acceptance that people will always want to put a label on something.
Dk : I don’t think “Art Rock” is a bad term. Genres are just weird. It’s like we have been called “Warped Tour Rockers” and we haven’t been on warped tour for 3 years.
Rb : It’s hard, people say “oh your in a band, what do you sound like” and all I can say is I don’t know, download a record or a buy a record and see for yourself.
You started your careers selling EP’s yourself. Then you signed to an independent and eventually on to a major label. You have now gone back to an independent. Is the next move selling your music yourselves?
Dk : That is something I think were interested in checking out. We feel like the people were selling records to are our fans that we have built up. Having a label has it’s pro’s and con’s. But basically they’re taking a large part of the money that your working so hard to earn. It seems cool to keep a lot of things in house and have a closer connection to the fans. And hopefully that can pass on to them, and charge them a bit cheaper.
Dustin, I get the feeling that a lot of Christian beliefs come through in your lyrics and a lot of old Greek mythology. Are those things you enjoy writing about?
Dk : I am a Christian. As a writer I’m interested in bigger issues. I try to be honest. With the stories I think melting point was the first. I like doing that because there’s a back-story you can say more specific things and put your take on it without explaining the whole story. There’s a long history of poet’s doing that. As you write you put your own spin.
If you could swap bodies for a day but only within the band. Who would you want to be and why?
Dk : I would be Teppei because he’s nimble and I’m kind of large and awkward.
Rb : I’d probably be Teppei too. He’s small and Ed’s got jacked elbows and wrists and stuff. If you were in his body you would have to learn to deal with all his ailments.
Away from the band what do you guys do to keep yourself busy?
Dk : I have a daughter so I mostly just hang out with her
Rb : I love baseball so I play it or watch it. I try stay in shape, writing music and hang out with friends.
Anything you would say to fans in South Africa.
Rb : I don’t know. I would love to go there. My best friend back home was born in Johannesburg. Wait…(long pause followed by a huge grin) I would say HOWZIT CHINA
