GET DEAD

INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST SAM KING BY GEN HANDLEY

When Sam King wrote sonic and lyrical areas that the song “Pepper- Get Dead has never ventured spray” more than two before. In the case of the alyears ago, he had no idea how bum’s title, the “curse” is a refprophetic the song would be. erence to self-destructive be-

“I swear we’re not psychics,” as a society. says the Get Dead vocalist. “But, “Or, maybe I should start reading rytelling, elevating his raspy havior—both individually and it is a little strange. The whole “You’ve got to navigate this teralbum is like that, and it’s this rain the best that you can and trippy thing. But, people have dance with it,” King explains. been feeling this way for a very “You do what you can to make long time, and we could kind yourself happy and help those of see it coming—we were just you care about. I hope this retapping into that. That's the cord gets people through these only way I can explain it.” rough times, but I also hope it pisses people off enough to go Pause. out there and stand up against

this shit.” palms or something,” he adds The surprising album kicks off with a sad chuckle. with the surreal, hip-hop-punk track “Disruption.” This song sets The now-poignant song is from the bar for the rest of the album, the band’s latest release, Danc- opening the door for other moing with the Curse, is coming out ments like genre-challenging October 9 on Fat Wreck Chords. electronic elements on “Glitch,” It’s the caliber of music that While it's a fitting opener for the is needed right now—urgent, rest of the album, “Disruption” rallying, and optimistic. King wasn’t originally intended to be steps up his game and sto- the first song. “Confrontation,” and “Take It.” vocals to new cadences and “I grew up in the ’90s; skateheights while the rest of the boarding and hip-hop has althree band members play ways been a big influence on with an intense, different en- me,” King says. “From when I ergy, pushing themselves in was 16 until about 20, I would 44 NEW NOISE

make hip-hop music. Since I Much to the chagrin of their man beings on the face of the Chris Dugan. King says they was about 16, I've been doing growing number of fans, it earth. It just took us that long wanted to make a more posihip-hop on the side, and it’s took the San Francisco band to get our shit together. But, I’m tive album than the memoralike an exercise for my brain. more than two long years to glad we didn’t rush it because I ble, darker-themed Honesty So, I accidentally sent one of make this album. When asked think it’s a really good record.” Lives Elsewhere. those tracks over to Fat Mike why it took so long, King does – I thought I was sending him wax romantic in his complete- That unhurried care is evident “The last one was about a friend's rough demos for the album. ly honest response. in the quality and creativity of suicide,” he says. “For this record, And on the second draft of the these songs, which were pro- we wanted something more posalbum, he told me he loved it, “I think the label will attest this,” duced by D-Composers (Fat itive but still realistic about all and it’s was going to be the he admits. “We’re probably the Mike, Johnny Carey, Baz Bas- the shit that's going on. This alfirst song.” most unorganized group of hu- tien, Yotam Ben Horin) and bum is a step forward." �� �� ��