Doug : Tell us about your childhood...
Curtis : Let's just say I didn't have too many morals.
Doug : What is the latest news with Gryp?
Curtis : We just signed with new mainstream label, W Recordings out of Los Angeles, California. Stephen Prendergast, formerly of Squint, is the President. Many industry people were hand picked from other major labels. GRYP's new single, "Left Behind," is being released to mainstream radio this fall, so all of you reading this please request it everywhere. The album will be released in the spring as well as a video. We are doing a national tour in October/November.
Doug : What motivates Gryp to keep going?
Curtis : I think we have a strong desire to finish what we've started. Not to give up when faced with difficult, seemingly impossible odds and obstacles. Also, to prove that we can do anything we set our minds to, no matter how many people say, "You'll never make it."
Doug : Tell us about the coffee house...
Curtis : I used to run an all-ages nightclub in Fresno, CA with a friend of mine, Dave Brown, but since we got signed I had to quit and now focus solely on GRYP. The club is in my hometown of Fresno, California, which is right between San Francisco and L.A., so everyone plays there when they are on tour. The name of the Club is Kuppajoe. You can check it out at www.kuppajoe.com. GRYP plays there maybe 3 times a year.
Doug : Gryp's music is powerful and, dare I say, scary (I'm not scared, honest!). Have you experienced any resistance in certain venues due to your sound, appearance, subject matter, etc?
Curtis : We get a lot of strange looks in the Northwest, and in the South. Everyone stares at us like we're some freaks. It's funny because we don't look that extravagant. As far as our music is concerned, we get hit from both the mainstream and the Christian scene. The mainstream sometimes says we are too Christian, and the Christian scene says we're not Christian enough. A lot of people judge us, and we all know it's wrong to judge. We just let it slide. We know we are doing the right thing, and we are being blessed daily for it.
Doug : What inspired the song "Left Behind?" Any luck in getting the film makers to listen to the song?
Curtis : We played that song before the movie came out. As a matter of fact, we were pretty upset when that movie came out with the same title, but that kind of stuff happens to us all the time. It will probably happen again in some way (ED-- Slipknot anyone?). You just have to deal with it. The song is inspired from my own life experiences. All of GRYP's lyrics come from what I have done or experienced. I just don't want to be "Left Behind" when the time comes, and I don't want others "Left Behind" either.
Doug : How do you guys write your music? Please break it down for us, starting with the inspiration for any given song, and take us through to recorded or live performance completion.
Curtis : For us it's pretty easy. Mike (drums) and Jason (guitars) just jam together and come up with some riffs. I come in and make up lyrics as they are playing, and Jeremy (bass) comes in when we're almost done to add his parts. It takes a couple of days to write the whole song, but months of tweeking it on the road until it really comes together.
Doug : What do you see as the future of the stuff you hear on X radio stations, like Limp Bizkit, Static X, Mudvayne, Godsmack, etc?
Curtis : Rock is always going to be around no matter what label you give it. Nothing is new, it is just recycled. Everything has been done before. It is just up to us as musicians to add our own flavor to it. Rapcore is just another label people like to attach to Rock. Will it fade? Probably not. It will just be refined. When Run DMC and Aerosmith started it over 15 years ago people just thought it was just a fad then. Personally, 'Rapcore' to me refers to bands that actually rap all the time. It strikes me funny that GRYP is sometimes referred to as a rapcore band. I couldn't rap to save my life. I call what I do more of a flow then a rap. We're just an alternative band or rock band.
Doug : Why did you leave Metro One? How did that record work out?
Curtis : We just felt we could do more for GRYP on our own. Since we left, everything got better and continues to get better.
Doug : What kind of struggles (if any) have you encountered trying to make it on your own?
Curtis : Well, I always felt like we were on our own, even when we were on a label, so nothing is new. Everything is a struggle anyway, but the hardest thing to do when you are not on a label is get distribution. As poor as it was, we were in some small stores when we were on a label. Our new label will take care of business in every category now. I have learned a lot managing this band. There are a lot of snakes out there all trying to make a buck. Unfortunately, some use the name of Jesus to milk you dry. I think it was great that we did all of our business on our own because it helped us to know what was best for GRYP and to always know what is going on in the industry. I booked our tours, did our radio servicing, financed everything, and managed our band for 5 years. Even now that we got a real record deal, I will continue to manage the band until we find a manager with the same passion for GRYP that I have.
Doug : Where do you hope to be in 5 to 10 years?
Curtis : Working on our 5th to 10th album.
Doug : Will you play anywhere? Or do you have a standard as to where you'll play?
Curtis : After 5 years of playing anywhere we have developed somewhat of a standard. I mean we won't play a birthday party, keg party, someone's backyard by the pool, or in someone's living room anymore.
Doug : Who killed JFK?
Curtis : Lyndon Johnson.
Doug : Who will win the Super Bowl this season?
Curtis : The Rams, who else. Now there is an interview you should do. Kurt Warner is a believer with a great testimony. Trent Dilfer is too, and he is from Fresno. David Carr is also a believer and the Quarterback for the Fresno State Football team soon to take over the nation. I hope.
Doug : What band(s) influence Gryp (musically) the most?
Curtis : Many, and if I told you, some readers might be a little judgmental on our taste for music.
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First off, I have a lot of respect for GRYP because they basically gave me clean music that doesnt make me angry or have any of the wrong feelings. I need these type of bands because I can't stand a lot of christian music. Theres only a few Worship songs that i really like, and I have a taste for.. metal i guess you could call it. But GRYP hits the spot, and inspires me to make the music i plan on making. I am also very inspired by Fasedown, P.O.D., Living Sacrifice, Travail, etc. I am hoping to own a recording studio one day and I hope to bring an everlasting supply of clean, Godly music to all the people. I have a dream of signing people to my record label. If it happens, praise GOD! But if it doesn't, PRAISE GOD ANYWAYS cause he's going to make things for the better no matter what the situation. JESUS is the REAL driving force behind everything, including my music.
Posted by:
Kevin Rasciner on September 5, 2003 12:33 AM
