Drop To Zero have been slowly inching its way up the ranks of the Northeast, Ohio music scene. Forming in 2004 and calling Kent home, this hard rock band has been punishing listeners with a fierce guitar attack and powerful rhythm section, all the while collecting loyal fans eager for more. 2006 saw the band release its full length debut Silence to All and hope 2008 will play host to an anticipated follow up. Cementing itself as a fixture in the local scene, Drop To Zero has the experience and drive to move beyond. We tracked the guys down to talk about the new material, the rock band rat pack, and Three Dollar Bill Y’all still being great.
S*KM: There seems to be an inner circle of bands working in the area a few (Asleep, Amplexus) we have already covered. Are you guys the rat pack of independent music in the Summit/Trumbull area?
DTZ: Haha. That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Well, I don’t know about Sinatra type stuff but I will say that we are all great friends, especially with Amplexus and Bonk. We came up together playing small gigs for like five people. We also like to hang out together outside of the whole music thing. I’m actually doing illustrations for Chris Yannen’s from Amplexus’ children’s novel which comes out later this year.
S*KM: It is rumored you are working on new material, what should DTZ fans expect from the follow up to 2006’s Silence to All?
DTZ: A new direction is where we’ve been heading. You can tell that we’re still the same band but we’re a lot more grown up and well… better. We’re not afraid to take risks we would have been afraid of two years ago. Also, our new guitarist Scott brings a ton of new ideas to the table. We have 12 tracks for it so far but we’d like to have 20 before we do preproduction.
S*KM: We always hear people talk about the prosperous times of song writing, what happens when the well is dried up with the ideas coming few and far between?
DTZ: We go on hot streaks where we write two or three songs in a few weeks and then we can’t come up with a good idea for a few more weeks. With us lately, there’s just no telling when the stars are going to line up right creatively. It’s been coming along though. We’re doing it right for once.
S*KM: Do you ever get an uncontrollable urge to play your respective instrument, if so what are some things that usually trigger the inspiration?
DTZ: My curse is that I sing along in my car to whatever is playing. Probably not always a good thing with radio but yeah, I’m that guy driving down the road looking dumb probably singing some song by The Cure. The other guys probably are more inspired by good music.
S*KM: Do any of those inspirations spill over into the song writing process, or is there a common place the creative force is drawn from?
DTZ: Our inspirations come from all different directions. To be honest we all come in with five different plans for a song and that melting pot effect seems to be what make it work for us.
S*KM: Tell us why we should check out a live Drop to Zero show?
DTZ: It’s just a great time, and I think it really gets better and better. There’s something in the air when we play. Plus we usually get drink specials going at our gigs.
S*KM: Is there anything that can come close to comparing to that rush of adrenaline from performing in front of a live audience?
DTZ: There’s nothing quite like it.
S*KM: Independent bands go through a lot to bring their music to the people, everything from hauling gear to maxing out credit cards for studio time, how crazy does someone have to be to last in this line of work?
DTZ: You have to at the very least be dedicated to what you do and have patience and be persistent. It takes a special kind of person.
S*KM: What would the members of DTZ be doing if they weren’t making music, or is that too ridiculous of a question?
DTZ: We all have jobs and schools where we’re finishing degrees and whatnot. We’re the same guys working next to you during the week. Bill payin’ type shit. And if we weren’t doing music, there would probably be a lot more of that going on. I think I would collect stamps.
S*KM: There has to be some Limp Bizkit or Linkin Park tucked away in your album collection, what’s your best guilty pleasure album from the Nu Metal era?
DTZ: I don’t care what anybody says, Limp Bizkit’s first record was great.
S*KM: What advice would give someone who grew up in that questionable time of music, and what bands do you think made it out alive that can still be listened to today?
DTZ: I think System of a Down, Korn and Linkin Park will be around awhile. Incubus came out of that genre as well. So I think the key is probably growth and change.
S*KM: What’s next for Drop to Zero?
DTZ: We’re working on the new record and we’ll really kick it into overdrive this Summer. Hopefully, we’ll have it out in the Winter or next Spring. Until then, we’ll keep playing shows and doing what we can. Come see us and say hi.
You can listen to Drop To Zero for yourself at www.myspace.com/droptozero and just recently played live at The Robin Hood with Amplexus this past Saturday, April, 26. If you missed that then you are out of luck because Drop To Zero have no upcoming shows.