In 2005, Memphis musician Jared Cole was looking for something new.
Cole had a specific vision in mind and began recruiting musicians who were at a crossroads: one had lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, another was an athlete who suffered a career-ending injury, and the other two were just looking for something new.
With Jared Cole on vocals, Eddie Tyre and Anthony Pitts on guitar, Devin Hightower on bass, and Ed Harris on drums, Surrender the Fall had only one goal: “Create the biggest, baddest, most savage rock and roll.”
Surrender The Fall released its debut album Burn in the Spotlight today (9/18), and we had a chance to talk to the band about their musical influences, songwriting and of course Burn in the Spotlight.
What are some of your biggest influences?
Very diverse! From Aerosmith to Pantera, U2 to Hank, Manson to Marley...punk, rock, blues, hip hop, metal and country. STF is a band with ZERO prejudices when it comes to music.
Genres divide musical revolution. If we pay attention to everything on a creative level, we learn to appreciate what's special about all art and we open ourselves to be influenced by more than what's "familiar." Everybody wants to be somebody...nobody wants to grow. STF wants to grow!
How much of your music is based on personal experiences?
100% of our music is inspired by our personal lives. It's not always attractive or acceptable, but we chose to be 100% honest with everything in this music! From love and loss to sex and everything in between. We want the listener to feel like they relate to this music on every level possible. The best songs you'll ever write are the ones you don't want anybody else to read.
On Burn in the Spotlight you have songs that range from brutal hard rock like “Everything You Want Me To Be” to borderline ballads like “40 & 12." Is having a variety of sounds something you set out to do with this album?
We set out to write a record with good songs. Often times, bands lock themselves into a specific genre. We said, "Let's just write good songs. If it's heavy or soft, it doesn't matter. As long as it's honest, people will get it."
How collaborative is the songwriting process?
We all bring in ideas and once it's on the table, we chop it up! It's like five specialists within the band that take their own area of expertise and capitalize on that idea. We are heavily influenced by each other as well, so it's easy to take drum ideas from Anthony and Eddie (guitars) or guitar riff ideas from Jared, etc. and create something that's its own beast.
What has the reception been like for Burn in the Spotlight?
We've got great reception with the new record! We wanted this record to polarize people...either you're gonna love it or you're gonna hate it and honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way! Our fans are die hard, 100% Wrecking Crew family…no fence riders…100% Lifers!!
What’s next for Surrender The Fall?
We are currently touring in support of the new record and the video for our single, "Love Hate Masquerade." We are set to head out with My Darkest Days and Otherwise in September. We've actually already begun preproduction for Record #2 (TBA) and will be scheduling studio time for early 2013 to start tracking.
Other than that, be looking out for new videos and singles from Burn in the Spotlight and you will definitely be seeing us at upcoming festivals and radio events as well!
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