Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the hard rock quartet NEW MEDICINE consisting of Jake Scherer (vocals, guitar), Dan Garland (guitar), Ryan Guanzon (drums) and Matt Brady (bass, vocals), debuted with Race You to the Bottom [September 18th, 2010] on the Photo Finish Records.
Two things hit you right away with this record: one is a diversity of musical arrangements that make all the songs stand on their own, and the other are lyrics treating on many different subjects and very mature. Without question Race You to the Bottom is the album worth listening. Currently touring with Adelitas Way and Art Of Dying, they are also working on material for their second album.
I had a chance to catch up with Jake Scherer shortly before their show in Towson, MD on November 18th.
You guys are on tour now with Adelitas Way and Art of Dying, how is it going?
It’s going good. We are playing in Towson, MD tonight and we are really excited for the show.
Did you tour with them before or is it this your first time?
We toured with Adelitas Way before. We did a tour last month and played in Vernon Hills. We know them pretty well and we were really excited when they called and ask to come on tour again. It was really fun since they are normal and enthusiastic guys. Art Of Dying is cool as well, so it’s going to be a really great tour.
Your debut album is doing really well, it’s climbing up on active rock radio charts. How is the response when you play live?
It’s really good. We like to bring a little bit of a different aspect live so its not the same thing as what you get on the record. It’s a little bit more in your face. Playing live is always different. It is always one take and we try to bring other elements in. Sometimes we might change a few things up for that too. When you see us live it is always a little bit different. It is cool, it has more energy and it gets a good response.
Which songs do you think are the fans favorite?
A lot of people like “Little Sister,” “Race You to the Bottom,” “Rich Kids” and “Laid” which is our first single. We play through our fans favorites and also a few other songs that we like to play.
What is more exciting for you, performing live or writing songs and rehearsing?
I love being on the road and it is awesome to play live but I also do love creating and writing. Writing records is probably my favorite thing to do. You’re just creating and there are no rules so you can just do whatever you feel and I love that.
When you write do you always have in mind how the songs will sound live?
Yes, this is because I always played in bands and I’m always thinking all about what the drums will sound like or the bass, and about all the guitars we are doing. We always think about the sound, if it would be cool to do this live, always trying to think about the show too.
I like how all the songs on the album seem to have a life of their own both lyrically and musically. Was it a primary goal to make such a diverse record?
Yes it was because when all the songs sound the same you are just rewriting the same songs over and over again. We just wanted to put something on it to make it like a journey and we didn’t want to write about the same subjects. We wanted each song to have a life of its own which takes you on a nice, little journey. I usually like records like that better, instead of doing the same thing over and over again.
Also, I must say I was really impressed by how your lyrics are mature and deep. Are you the author of all the lyrics or do you guys work on them all together?
Dan and I write all the lyrics and then we bring them to the band where we all put our part on it.
How much of your time do you guys dedicate to the band? Is it your main focus?
This is definitely our main focus. We have been touring for the last two years and I always treated it as my primary focus. It’s a passion and I think it’s the same for everybody in the band. We are super passionate about doing what we love and we do it every day. We just love doing music all the time; playing gigs, writing, practicing, and putting up new songs, whatever it is to make the album work. We are super excited about the whole process.
Are you guys currently working on a new material?
Yes. We have plenty of songs written, probably not for two albums, but we’re going to keep writing and make sure we got all the right songs. Our single just went on the radio right now so we are still more concentrated on this record, but I would say definitely in 2012 we will be recording a new album.
For many bands the second album is considered the most difficult. How about you? Do you feel the pressure before the second release?
No, I don’t feel much pressure. I am really excited. I think the next one is going to outdo our first record. We always want to write better songs and I think we are more together as a band now than we have ever been. I think the new album will show our maturity as we have grown up a lot for the last two years. It’s going to be great when we will have a chance to show everybody what we were working on. I think it’s going to be a really great second record.
Are you going to stay with the same sound as on the first album?
I don’t know. I have a new batch of songs that we are writing which are definitely very rock songs and I think everybody will really like it. I don’t want to reveal much as we are still quite away from that.
What are the plans for 2012? Are you planning on more tours or maybe going overseas?
Definitely, we always wanted to go overseas but haven’t had an opportunity yet. We are going to do a bunch of touring in the spring and in January some headline dates. Then we are going back out in February, March and April, I believe. We are definitely going to be on the road from spring and into the summer.
And maybe going to the studio meanwhile too?
Exactly [laugs]
If you would go overseas which countries would you like to play in the most?
I would love to go to Germany, Australia and Japan. We would love to play there.
Make sure to check out NEW MEDICINE here. Also support and vote for New Medicine in WGRD’s 97.9 Rocktagon here!
by: Anna Grabowska
