After nine years and several line up changes, Straight Line Stitch have finally slipped into the jet stream to success. The Knoxville Tennessee natives first international release, When Skies Wash Ashore, has planted a seed that the band hopes will help one day harvest its own crop of devoted followers. Built on dynamic vocals and stylish metal instrumentation, Straight Line Stitch have mixed up a potent fertilizer to kick start the process. We snagged vocalist Alexis Brown, bassist Jason White, and guitarist Seth Thacker to talk about the bands new release, Alexis’ love of Golden Oldies, and how to fend off sex hungry fans.
S*KM: You seemed pretty excited that your new album was released world wide and would be distributed at most large retailers. After a few months of sales how is the album doing, and are you still riding that high?
Alexis: It’s definitely a big deal to us because this is our first major release world wide. I think the album is doing well considering people are still finding out who we are. There’s still a lot to look forward to because our album is not yet released over in Europe, so hopefully this high will continue to last a long time.
S*KM: You have a band phone number posted on your Myspace page instructing people to give you guys a call. What is going on with that, and what kind of calls have you gotten so far?
Alexis: It’s a great way for us and our fans to keep in touch with one another. If something exciting or important comes up they are the first to know. Every time we leave a broadcast we get lots of calls from people giving their support, letting us know they went out and brought the record, or they leave messages saying they can’t wait until they see us at the next show. Though I have to admit we do get some calls that are hateful, but we just laugh at them. You have to take the bad with the good.
S*KM: Along with a healthy list of standard metal influences, you are also said to be a fan of golden oldies from the 50’s and 60’s. A soulful element can already be heard in your vocal style, is that an influence you would like to expand upon even future within the SLS sound?
Alexis: I absolutely love the golden oldies, I don’t know why, the music just speaks to me. I’d like to be able to channel that type of feeling into future projects because to me music back then had so much soul! That most definitely is one of my main influences, but to be honest, I’m probably influenced by a lot of things… I really don’t have a specific category besides oldies, I just like what I like no matter what type of music it is.
S*KM: Going into the writing and recording process for When Skies Wash Ashore was there an overall theme the band was attempting to achieve, or was it more of an organic approach?
Alexis: You know I have to say that it was organic because we didn’t have a lot planned out. We had our material (songs) but even that was being torn apart and turned into another beast. We sorta just let what was happening happen. I’d like to say that the recording process was a total learning experience for all of us.
S*KM: Since the album is only a few months old it is probably a tad premature to start talking about a follow up, however are you a band that likes to constantly write new material or do you take time off from writing to let a few good ideas marinate?
Alexis: Pat (guitarist) and Patrick (drummer) are always writing 24/7. But all of us as a whole are concentrating on trying to fully promote this album the best we can. When it’s time to start the writing process I’m sure we’ll have a whole lot of material to choose from.
S*KM: Obviously no band enjoys having labels slapped on its music, how do you feel when people refer to SLS as a “pop” metal band or something similar?
Alexis: Me, personally I don’t care anymore. I mean it did bother me a little before but I realized we’re in a industry where that’s what people do… label things! All of it is just a matter of opinion. Some people actually get mad when we’re asked what’s our genre of music and we just name a bunch of different genres because they want you to pick a side and to me that’s stupid. We are not a band who is going to pigeon hole ourselves! Call it whatever you like but plain and simple we write what feels and sounds good to us. People either embrace it or they don’t.
S*KM: What are your thoughts on the Metalcore genre as a whole, do you think it is approaching a tipping point? If so, where do you think it will go from there?
Alexis: Like I’ve said before, I like a little of everything so naturally there are some Metalcore bands that I like listening to but to answer the question I don’t think Metalcore will fall off, I think all music will evolve, nothing ever dies or fades away it simply changes its form.
S*KM: You did an interview of your own back in April with DevilDriver and ex Coal Chamber vocalist Dez Fafara. During the chat you seemed to be soaking up as much knowledge as possible. How true did his words of advice ring in the months after, and what have you learned on your own since then about the do’s and don’ts of an upcoming band?
Alexis: Oh man did I soak up his words!!! What I will always remember until I die are these words he said to me: “Its your world they (as in people) just live in it.” I will never forget how those words struck a cord in me. I seriously have huge respect for Dez because he has been where I am now, but his current success has not altered him as a kind and humble human being. Some things I learned on my own the hard way as far as do’s and don’ts go is that not everybody out here is the enemy and not everybody out here is rooting for you to fail. I’m trying to believe in myself enough to not worry about what the next band has that we don’t, and just be satisfied in what we have already accomplished thus far.
S*KM: In that same interview you seemed to express a little discomfort with the favoritism shown toward vocalists by the media. Have you since made peace with the “responsibilities” of sorts that come with fronting a band, or would you rather have the media wake up and realize it takes the whole band to make music?
Alexis: You know that is still a double edged sword to me because it is my job as the front person to take on certain responsibilities that could only help my band, but also I feel bad because my band who backs me up remains in the background and gets little regard. We all work hard to make this band one cohesive unit, I feel if I’m getting accolades then they should too.
S*KM: In light of that admission its time to included the other four members of the band in the interview. “Adult Cinema” is one of my personal favorites on the album, how did the song come about?
Alexis: This song was written a long time ago as a matter of fact I was working in SC when the song was written and the guys sent me the track in the mail.
Seth: That song came together in a matter of hours it seemed like. I remember coming to practice one day and Patrick (drums) and Jason (bass) had all kinds of riffs written. It seemed like once we all got together that song formed out of no where. The way you hear it now on WSWA is a little different from the way we had initially written, but nonetheless it came out great.
S*KM: The bridge going into the last chorus is fantastic, especially the bass line. How come we don’t hear more of that vibe on the album?
Jason: I think the best way to answer that question is to explain how we write. All of us have our own musical influences, some common with each other and some not so common with each other. When we write all of us come together and bring our own tastes to the table. We don’t try to go for a certain sound. Some elements of our music are reoccurring while some you’ll only find every once in a while. We don’t want to limit ourselves with our sound. We want people to be able to listen to our album and not get tired of hearing the same thing over and over.
S*KM: You guys recently scored an endorsement deal with Ibanez, did you use their gear before the deal and what are some perks of these endorsements, other then getting free guitars I’m assuming?
Jason: I has always played Ibanez. Yes, you get free gear. But you also establish a relationship with the company. You get support if you have problems. You get discounts. Plus you also get used for promotion, which is good for everyone.
Seth: I used another guitar religiously. After trying to seek out an endorsement through the unmentioned company I along with Pat (guitar) turned to Ibanez. They accepted us with open arms. We are so proud to be a part of Ibanez… not to mention the guitars sound freaking incredible!!!
S*KM: Alexis, It is no secret that you are a well put together member of the female gender, have you ever run into problems after a show with inebriated metalheads taking a pass at you?
Alexis: It happens from time to time, LOL. Some drunk guy or girl will hit on me and it’s odd because in no shape or form do I look like the sexy woman in our music videos :O). On the road I look rough, haha. It’s flattering though.
S*KM: It is no secret that Seth, Pat, Jason, and Patrick are well put together members of the male gender, have they ever run into penis hungry groupies going to extraordinary lengths to receive some quality time?
Jason: I have had girls make aggressive passes at me. But, I keep my head cool. I usually find a good excuse to get the hell out of there. I’m just not into girls like that AT ALL. I love meeting people and getting to know people. But, I’m just not the kind of person that wants to sleep with every girl that comes around.
Seth: Have you seen me… haha!!! I have a forest of beard on my face. I think that repels about 99% of the women that come to our shows. Like Jason, I don’t go out just trying to score some ass… especially from people who want to give it up so easily. Just not my cup of tea.
S*KM: Alright enough pillow talk, even though SLS has been around for nine years, it seems you guys have been on a whirlwind ride over the last year and half or so, what has that felt like first hand?
Jason: CRAZY! One minute, you’re on tour… wondering if you’re gonna be able to eat… wondering if you’ll make it to the next venue… wondering if you’ll make it home. But “home” is someone’s couch, floor, extra storage room, your car…. The next minute we all have a house together. I don’t worry about my next meal. We’re on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball! That’s crazy… I grew up watching Ricki Rachman. Then, you’re album comes out and you’re touring the country with groups like Devildriver, Napalm Death, 36 Crazyfists, and Bleed the Sky. It’s CRAZY!
Seth: I agree with Jason. This past year has been a blur to say the least. I find it really neat at how many doors are opened once you put out an internationally released record. Where as before we were signed getting shows with other national acts was damn near impossible. Now we are on tour with killer bands like DevilDriver. Just recently we finished up a run with Snot. It was so awesome to do that because I was a fan from 10 years ago. Good to see them back on the circuit and it was even better to be there sharing the stage with them when they came back!!
S*KM: If you could make up your own, non pretentious, don’t have to dress up and sit through a 3 hour ceremony award that SLS would win hands down, what would it be?
Seth: The ceremony would be for DIY bands. I think we could easily win an Under The Radar award… haha. Just because we are still hardly know at all. We are about to sneak up on people and I think all the hard DIY work will pay off.
S*KM: Alexis, since you are an experienced interviewer, if you could ask one question to one music legend, living or dead, what would it be and to whom?
Alexis: Haha me an experienced interviewer that is sweet :O). I would ask Billy Holiday how she became a successful black woman in the music industry - especially during the time she became popular.
S*KM: We would like to thank you for taking the time out of you busy schedule to share a few thoughts with us. Here is a little private time with Saw*Kick and the SLS legions to share any important info we did not touch on.
SLS: We can’t thank you enough for taking the time to chat with us. We hope everyone will come out to shows and say whats up. Let’s have a beer and shoot the shit!!! See ya on the road!
You can educate yourself further on Straight Line Stitch at www.myspace.com/straightlinestitch for music, news, and tour updates. The band will be playing at Peabody’s in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday December 10.