The Glitch Mob: Drink The Crush

Some albums come out and change the game of how music can be perceived and understood.  It doesn’t have to be The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Dr. Dre’s original, The Chronic or more recently, Radiohead’s quintessential, Kid A.  For The Glitch Mob, their debut album Drink the Sea-which hit shelves a month ago with the surprisingly genre-defying appeal, achieves this status, maybe without you even knowing it.  When I say this, I don’t mean literally, this album is on par with the aforementioned classics, but in its own right, Drink the Sea provides what could be the backbone for a beautiful burgeoning of the future of music.

At first glance, The Glitch Mob is the ultimate party producer troupe, providing ample soundscapes that can turn any funeral into a full-fledged dance party.  Until earlier this year at Coachella when the trio of edIT, Ooah and Boreta took the stage with bass, guitar and V drums in tow, no one would’ve second guessed them as one of the electronic world’s premier players.  Conversely, you would be hard-pressed to find many aficionados, fans or peers alike that would’ve seen Drink the Sea’s success coming.  I mean, really coming.  Sure, the booms, blaps and electro wizardry of the Crush Mode era are still there.  But today’s Glitch Mob product is a well-refined merging of the DJ/Producer and band worlds, where the two world’s realms collide into a cohesive collage of color.  Through blurring the lines of how an album; a sound and a style can be interpreted and received, they have capably crossed over and produced a product that is both futuristic and accessible. 

Glide had the opportunity to catch up with edIT on the heels of the group’s European leg of their Drink the Sea Tour.  With the focal point sticking to the new album, we took a stroll into the life and times of these humble Los Angelinos as they continue the journey to spread their sound to eager ears, near and far.

So let’s dig right into Drink the Sea.  How did creating a cohesive album differ, if at all, from putting out Crush Mode or your solo work?

Well obviously, the creative process was the brainchild of three people’s visions, so in that regard, it was different that my previous solo records.  This record being written with two other guys was my first time writing a full length record with multiple partners.  Basically, we had the entire album written in two months time, and then we went back and polished off the tunes, then went back and mixed it. 

You open the album with bass, guitar and drums.  That blew my mind, what’s the initial reaction you’ve witnessed from your peers, friends and fans?

I think some of our friends right off the bat really dug it.  A lot of our peers felt this was the logical progressive of where we’re going and in general, it’s just good music.  There are also other peers that were thrown for a loop. 

To me, this album marks a definitive point in The Glitch Mob’s career.  After the three of you completed it, mastered it and put the final touches on it, what was your impression of the finished work?

Me and the two guys kind of do our own thing.  This album captures the time we’re at in our lives.  For us, our music and song writing process can often times be a very therapeutic and gratifying process.  It’s a very personal record.  You can’t really please everyone, but you can please yourselves.  We’re fortunate that every day we get to wake up for this music and people appreciate it.

What’s in the name of the album’s title, Drink the Sea?  I’m interested to see how you guys came to that.

Drink the Sea is something inspired from the words of Nietzsche.  The name has sentimental meaning to us but we’d rather let the audience decide what it means to them.

From the initial album framework to the finished product, what was your overall impression of your first full length Glitch Mob album?  We’ve talked about your friends, peers and critics thoughts, now I wanted to get yours.

We’re very proud of Drink the Sea.  It’s a very personal and sentimental record to us.  We still do not get bored of listening to it.

What’s the most rewarding quality of creating music and art for a living?  What would be doing if this career never took off?

The most rewarding part of making music is being able to impact peoples’ lives in a positive way.  It’s hard to imagine what we’d be doing if we weren’t playing music.  I guess that’ll forever be a mystery.

Very few people outside of being in this industry understand just how much it takes; all the blood, sweat and tears, to make it in the music world.  Sure there are the unique, overnight successes that come around every once in a while, but without a doubt, the competition in music is rather unparalleled.  How have you personally been able to balance your life with your craft and turned all the challenge, ups and downs into the success you’re experiencing now? 

We’re just thankful that every day we get a chance to make music.  The fact that people actually appreciate it is amazing.  We don’t necessarily go out looking for ways to succeed with our music.  We are just here to tell our story.  No one can really predict how successful a project will or will not be.  So it’s important to not have any expectations and just let the music take on a life of its own.

Tell me a little bit about your interaction with Ooah and Boreta on stage.  Is there a conscious effort on who leads the charge or is it more along the lines of a mutually delivered live product?

It’s a mutually delivered product.  Everyone knows exactly what their role is in every single song, and that changes from song to song.  There’s not really any band leader, I think we all contribute equally, both in the studio and in the live setting.

I’ve seen you guys as a group and your solo efforts many times over the years and what you’re doing now as a group seems to be the culmination of all that work.  Where do you take your sound from here?

Ha, I’m honestly not sure.  We’ll be on tour with The Glitch Mob all the way into 2011 and we’ll be in the beginning stages of writing a new record at the top of the year.  So we’ll see.

“Crying Over Pros for No Reason” was really a groundbreaking record back in 2004.  Then came “Air Raid” a few years later.  So it seems you’re about due for another solo record.  When can we expect that?

I haven’t really given that too much thought.  Ha.  I guess I don’t have much to say on that.

Maybe next year after The Glitch Mob relaxes their touring schedule you’ll have a better answer.

Alright.  We’ll find out then.

When you’re not in the studio or on the road, what are you doing?  Do the three of you kick it often?

It’s a funny thing.  Honestly, it just kind of feels strange.  I kind of feel that I am constantly waiting for the next sound check and to go back out on tour. 

There’s a ton of great music out there right now.  Who are some acts you’re listening to and saying, ‘damn, that shit is hot!?’

It changes on a daily basis.  I’ve been listening to this Los Angeles band, Warpaint, a lot.  What are some other records?  The new Dead Weather record is incredible.  Grizzly Bear is amazing.  As far as electronic genre goes, I love the new Flying Lotus record.  It’s bold, brave, daring.  Absolutely incredible.  I’ve also been liking this guy Alex B’s record. 

Finally, you’re leaving for Europe in a couple days for a string of Drink the Sea dates.  How do the energy and the crowd differ across the pond from say, playing the Fillmore in SF?

It really depends on the country.  They all have a different vibe.  But electronic music in general, is much more of a part of the fabric of people’s everyday lives.  People also like electronic music in a very specific way sometimes there.  This is our fifth time there and we’re well received.  Sometimes it throws people off because we can’t be lumped into one specific genre.