Beloved - "Failure On"
Writer Eric Alexy brings us this interview and story on the dear Beloved.
In leiu of flowers, we ask that you just post encouraging comments for Eric at the end of this article...
After signing with Solid State Records in May 2002, North Carolina-based emo/hardcore quintet Beloved was slated to work with credible indie producer Brian McTernan (Snapcase, Cave In, Thrice) on its full-length debut for the label. However, McTernan's decision to work on another project at the last minute quickly nixed such plans. In a rather sudden twist of fate the band was then afforded the opportunity to work with rather famed rock producer GGGarth Richardson (Ozzy, Kittie, Trapt).
Beloved, which comprises Dusty Redmon, guitar; Joshua Moore, vocals/guitar; Matt Harrison, guitar; Johnny Smrdel, bass; and Joe Musten, drums/vocals, formed in Dec. 1999, and signed with indie label Vindicated Records shortly thereafter, releasing their formal debut, The Running EP, in Oct 2001. Since then, The Running has been re-released by Solid State Records, and the band has toured with everyone from Norma Jean (on numerous occasions) to Cool Hand Luke, garnering a rabid fan base along the way.
The fairly cohesive nature of the band's recent full-length release, Failure On, coupled with precise musicianship and undeniable focus of the 10 tracks that comprise it make the Richardson-produced LP one of the better releases to arise from the often scatterbrained emocore genre in recent memory.
Joshua Moore, vocals/guitar, tells more:
Let's start from the top. How did Beloved first come about?
Beloved came about in high school. We had all been in small bands together and all been friends for a while. We wanted to start a hardcore band, so we started jamming after church on Sundays. It just kept going until we were all out of school.
When did you sign to Vindicated From Deep Water?
Well, we got involved with Vindicated through our friend Kristen. Her and two other girls pretty much started Vindicated in order to release our CD. We put out our EP, The Running, with them in Oct. 2001, and it was re-released in the summer of 2002 after we signed to Solid State.
The band was initially supposed to record Failure On with Brian McTernan. What prevented you from working with him?
Brian got our old CD, and he really wanted to work with us. But, at the last minute, he accepted another project.
On that note, you guys wound up working with GGGarth Richardson. How did you hook up with him?
He lives about two hours north of the Tooth & Nail (Seattle) headquarters in Vancouver. He had been doing a lot of Tooth & Nail bands, so they tried to get him last minute, and he ended up working out with our schedule, so we went for it. We were actually reluctant at first to work with him, but now I am SO happy we did.
What was it like working with GGGarth?
We spent about three weeks up there. His studio is basically at his house in the woods on this sort of island near Vancouver, called Gibson's. It was basically us in a log cabin, choppin' wood and recording all day. It was really beautiful. [We were] surrounded by this big lake and mountains.
Who mixed/engineered the record?
We got a guy named J.R. Mcneely to mix the record in Nashville. He's pretty much the reason it came out sounding so "big." The engineer on the project was a dude named Dean Marr. He [has] engineered stuff for bands like Nickelback and Our Lady Peace. He actually had a lot of input on our record and helped a lot more than you would think.
Is there any type of overall concept or theme you hope to get across to the listener with Failure On?
Umm, I think with the title, and our faith and lives personally, I hope people feel a sense of hope and urgency in the record. There is not really an overall concept except for my life I guess, and my experiences.
The Running was a pretty diverse record: One song was blatant emocore ("Kiss It Goodbye"), another was pretty close to emo ("The Blue Period"), while others recalled more pop-punk ("Before There Was You, There Was Everything") and hardcore ("Going Through The Motions," "The Aftermath"). The new album seems to be a much more focused effort in the sense that all the songs kind of fit together. Was this a conscious effort on the band's part?
Yeh! It definitely was. The Running was our first record, so we were still trying to figure out what we wanted to do; we were still trying to find ourselves. So, I think this new CD was a closer version of what we want to become.
Were there any records that you held particularly close when recording the CD?
Well, my car only has a tape player, so for about a year, the only tape I had in my car was Further Seems Forever/The Moon Is Down. I also got real into Jeff Buckley and several older hardcore bands like Strongarm and Selfmindead.
What inspires Beloved, musically and otherwise?
I'll tell you what really inspires me a lot as a [musician] right now: this book on the spiritual journey of U2, called Walk On . Those dudes are amazing. They are on of the most politically relevant bands in the history of music, and they have been making beautiful, honest music for almost 20 years.
I know there was a bit of an issue with another band using the 'Beloved' moniker. Can I assume that's what led you guys to adopt the (US) in your name?
Yes.
Your drummer did some touring with Norma Jean as their temporary vocalist in 2002. Were you ever worried that he may quit Beloved and join them full-time?
Nah. Norma Jean are some of our best friends as a band. Joe was just helping them out while Brad (their new singer) had to be home. Joe is real dedicated to our band. If he quit we would be over.
On Failure On, the hardcore parts and more emo-ish parts seem to be separate from each another, rarely ever running together. You generally seem to do your vocals in a more melodic setting, then Joe does his vocals to a much heavier setting.
I guess it was a conscious effort [to do it this way]. We just don't really get into the singing over screaming stuff where you can't tell what's going on. Also, it didn't make much sense for him to scream on the soft stuff, and vice versa.
You guys have been through a handful of bassists now. What's been the reason behind these changes?
Well, we kicked our first guy out, and then our second guy was awesome, but he had to leave to go to school. He helped write on seven of the 10 songs on the record. Our new guy is awesome though, hopefully he won't quit.
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Comments
rockon
I absolutely dig you gus. I don't like all these terms like emo/screamo/hardcore stuff as it sounds naff, but I love the balance you have between melodic abd agressiveness. Brilliant. It's so cool that ggg garth (I think that's how you spell his name!) produced your album. Anyway, keep making awesome music for God, and hopefully I'll see you guys rocking in bonnie Scotland! Gaz
Hey i saw Beloved on the solid state tour with agony scene,figure four and norma jean and they were sooo awesome. Them and Noram Jean should always tour together. I love Beloved failure on is deffinetly one of my fav cds of all time . I love seeing God work in such awesome ways!
hey, could hm magazine do an article on up and coming bands, such as: mourning september, www.mourningseptember.com, who recently got signed to floodgate records, and mannafest, www.dreamamericandreams.com, who is being looked at by various lables?
that would be awesome.
joe
Beloved is one of my most favourite bands. I enjoy their live performances more than most. The whole atmosphere they bring is so powerful and annointed. This newer album, Failure On, is not only recorded so well, but the actual songs have such meaning in my life right now. God has transformed me this year more than ever and everything that has happened has been screamed or cired out in this album. Thank you so much for brining your beautiful music and I'm always waiting to hear more. God bless.
Beloved is one of the most awesome bands! And I Like your shirts!
Yes! Please look into Mourning September. They're a great new band!!
Beloved is my favorite emo-core band. I love your songs Watching the Lines Blur, Rise and Fall, Inner Pattern. Allure is my favorite song ever. Keep on influencing teens with your faith centered music. God bless & take care.
Awesome Beloved story. I play in a Christian alternative/screamo band called Phoenix Fire Down and Beloved are one of the top bands on our list of influnces. Keep rockin' guys and God Bless!
Beloved iz one of my favorite bands i loved their performance at Purple Door a little bit ago. They r so awesome. Keep writing and singing 4 God its so great.
God Bless
josh is lame.
