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Cartel's new EP 'In Stereo' is now available on all digital retailers. Catch the band on tour this November; dates available on the band's Facebook page.
Liisten.com's Exclusive Interview with Will
Liisten: Can you talk a little about being unsigned?
Will: Sure. I think some labels nowadays have lost the true passion involved in music. It's more about the numbers than it is about the product which results in bands having fewer and fewer opportunities to grow and be nurtured. We figured that if we could do everything that they can do for a lot less money then we don't need to sell a ton of records to keep someone happy. Every record sold by our own hand is a big high five from the fan that got it. We take that very seriously and feel honored to be in a position to operate with that in mind.
Liisten: It seems you guys have had a label for a long time, now that you're independent, what are somethings you're nervous/excited about?
Will: The tough part is all the advertising money that you don't have to spend. The great part is that you don't have to hear what someone else has to say about the art you spent time creating. It's all about what we want to create and what we want our fans to hear. That's truly exciting. The nervousness comes from the unknown of fan support. We can only operate on a budget dictated by the people who support us so we can't always do things we want to do or that we're used to doing so we'll have have to get more creative to get around that hurdle. I don't think it'll be that difficult since we're used to jumping through hoops - only this time they're our own.
Liisten: What's different about the 'In Stereo' EP than past releases?
Will: We wanted to take the most honest approach possible to these songs. No longer are we worried about what some guy sitting in a Program Directors chair at a radio station thinks about our songs. The only person we care about is the fan that's sitting and listening to our music and what they think. It was way easier to write these songs than it ever has been because we knew we were explicitly writing for our listeners and supporters. It was a pleasure to create it.
Liisten: The title track's [In Stereo] lyrics might make this obvious, but can you talk about how/why the song came to be.
Will: The music was leftover from some of the Cycles writing sessions and we had always liked the energy it had so we knew we wanted to use it. Joseph took the time to create a demo for it and had sent the song to me to check out. What I didn't know was that vocals and lyrics would be on there. He hadn't done that since we were in a band together in high school so I was surprised. What I was even more delighted by was that I really liked what he had done, which makes my job a hell of a lot easier. Most of what he wrote remained and the parts that changed were only done so with the intention to make the point more concise. It was truly a "band" song.
Liisten: Are there any other tracks that you're especially proud of and want to point out to the listener?
Will: I'd like to pat ourselves on the back for Conduit. I think that's a unique song for Cartel to come out with and we feel like the musical nature of the song is something we've wanted to do for a long time.
Liisten: What bands and music are you currently listening to? Also, are there any unsigned, or hugely under appriciated, bands you want to highlight?
I'm diving back into the Radiohead catalog and I'm also really in love with the Jonsi record. As far as unsigned or under-apppreciated bands goes, the list is way too long. I'd encourage fans of music today to spend an hour a day scouring the internet for music they haven't heard and give it an honest shot...you'll be surprised what you'll find. They can thank me later. :)
Liisten: What's next?
Will: We'll be doing more touring next year and also releasing another EP before the summer solstice. We're really excited about what 2012 has in store for us.