enFOCUS: So until recently you and Tim were going strong with Dead Earth Politics, and then, nothing. What happened?
VEN: A lot of things happened! The biggest change was, Mason Evans‘s departure. There was a lot of discussion and there were a lot of questions leading up to that. Particularly, what is the end game after making whatever move we decided upon.
It was clear to both Tim and I (and at the time, Aaron Canady as well) that Dead Earth Politics had run its course. Artistically, the ceiling was hit with elements in that line up. Another thing that was important to me was the distinction between how D.E.P. started off, musically, and where we were going. Or trying to go. I also looked at where we were after Mason’s departure and said, “I am the only original member remaining”. I’m not Axl Rose. I did a ton of work for D.E.P. but I didn’t do it alone. I don’t own the heart of the band. No one does. Regardless of what you might hear.
Ultimately, we decided to move forward with a fully rebranded product. That product is Runescarred. We have the authorship that knocked D.E.P. into the level it enjoyed and now we have Payton Holekamp on drums. That dude is a friggin monster. Quick study, great ideas and way more technical than anyone we played with in the past. He knows the essence of drama within a song. He knows when to show off and when to dry hump the pocket!
The short version – what happened? We grew up, decided who or what was detrimental to our enjoyment and made the proper moves to get us where we need to be. Making kick ass music, butting heads with one another less frequently and setting up professional marketing strategies.
TIM: I can see how from the outside, it may have seemed like we were firing on all cylinders; and to be fair, we had been doing a lot of good things in the last few years both artistically and career-wise, in as much as spending one's own money to record, perform and promote one's music can be considered a "career" heh heh. In reality, wood rot had begun to set in with the band and certain conflicts just could no longer be resolved. Ven, Aaron, and I decided that we wanted to continue without Mason for a variety of reasons, and in doing so it made sense to continue as "Runescarred" and rechristen this new project. In a sense, "Runescarred" is the final stage in the metamorphosis that began when I joined DEP almost six years ago and took over the bulk of the songwriting. Everyone involved is clearly pulling in the same direction, and the feeling is positively invigorating!
enFOCUS: Nobody starts off the day wanting their work to crumble and have to start over. But what advantages are you taking from this opportunity?
VEN: Clarity – nothing crumbled. D.E.P. is simply legacy. Tunes can and still will be played live. Everyone involved in that band has that legal and artistic right.
The biggest advantage is being able to jump in as a “new” band with twelve years of do’s and don’t, connections, experience, and passion behind us. We have been writing non-stop since last July. Material is pouring from Tim and Payton. Which is another advantage. As a three piece, the material is less stifled. There is still compromise but there is less compromise, if that makes sense.
TIM: I wouldn't say that anything has "crumbled". In fact, I would say we are in a better position now than we were a year ago. We are happier, making better music, and are actually getting along with each other. We can still play any of the old songs, should we decide to. The records are still there for anyone who wants to listen to them. We aren't erasing or whitewashing history; we've just moved on to the next step, as painful as it may have initially been. We're fortunate enough to have formed good relationships with many people in various parts of the business; people who really believe in and support what we're doing. In that respect, very little has changed.
enFOCUS: How will this affect your music? Any new directions?
VEN: The biggest affect on the music is that this really becomes Tim’s baby. I may slap that baby around a bit and teach it to piss its daddy off while Payton tries to win it over by giving it candy... but it is still Tim’s brain baby. We all raise it and work with one another to foster a proper upbringing for each song but I really wanted Tim to do his thing. So not really any new directions. Just unfettered.
TIM: Payton has been amazing since day one. He blitzed through all the old material as if it were his own and we've been writing like crazy since last summer. He can do anything I ask him to do and has plenty of worthwhile ideas of his own. In describing the sound of Runescarred versus DEP, I would say it is less "fast" but more "quick", like a prizefighter getting lean and dropping a weight class. It is a more melodic and expansive sound, no less heavy but not quite as claustrophobic. I'm excited every time I pick up my guitar because I know Ven and Payton will make these songs the absolute best they can be.
enFOCUS: Future for Runescarred?
VEN: The fucking stars.
TIM: We have the songs. We can take this as far as the universe will allow.
enFOCUS: Closing remarks?
VEN: Adversity molds character. You see artists and individuals for who they are once they are faced with conflict. Though I consider the drama that preceded Runescarred to be minor and fleeting, I believe it has served the grand purpose of setting our focus. Everything is exactly as we intended and new beginnings always outshine old endings. I can’t wait to share with everyone what we have coming!
TIM: Quite simply, I can't wait for people to hear what we've been cooking up these last several months. This is the best music I've written and I'm blessed to have two bandmates in the class of Ven and Payton. We hope you all agree!
VEN: A lot of things happened! The biggest change was, Mason Evans‘s departure. There was a lot of discussion and there were a lot of questions leading up to that. Particularly, what is the end game after making whatever move we decided upon.
It was clear to both Tim and I (and at the time, Aaron Canady as well) that Dead Earth Politics had run its course. Artistically, the ceiling was hit with elements in that line up. Another thing that was important to me was the distinction between how D.E.P. started off, musically, and where we were going. Or trying to go. I also looked at where we were after Mason’s departure and said, “I am the only original member remaining”. I’m not Axl Rose. I did a ton of work for D.E.P. but I didn’t do it alone. I don’t own the heart of the band. No one does. Regardless of what you might hear.
Ultimately, we decided to move forward with a fully rebranded product. That product is Runescarred. We have the authorship that knocked D.E.P. into the level it enjoyed and now we have Payton Holekamp on drums. That dude is a friggin monster. Quick study, great ideas and way more technical than anyone we played with in the past. He knows the essence of drama within a song. He knows when to show off and when to dry hump the pocket!
The short version – what happened? We grew up, decided who or what was detrimental to our enjoyment and made the proper moves to get us where we need to be. Making kick ass music, butting heads with one another less frequently and setting up professional marketing strategies.
TIM: I can see how from the outside, it may have seemed like we were firing on all cylinders; and to be fair, we had been doing a lot of good things in the last few years both artistically and career-wise, in as much as spending one's own money to record, perform and promote one's music can be considered a "career" heh heh. In reality, wood rot had begun to set in with the band and certain conflicts just could no longer be resolved. Ven, Aaron, and I decided that we wanted to continue without Mason for a variety of reasons, and in doing so it made sense to continue as "Runescarred" and rechristen this new project. In a sense, "Runescarred" is the final stage in the metamorphosis that began when I joined DEP almost six years ago and took over the bulk of the songwriting. Everyone involved is clearly pulling in the same direction, and the feeling is positively invigorating!
enFOCUS: Nobody starts off the day wanting their work to crumble and have to start over. But what advantages are you taking from this opportunity?
VEN: Clarity – nothing crumbled. D.E.P. is simply legacy. Tunes can and still will be played live. Everyone involved in that band has that legal and artistic right.
The biggest advantage is being able to jump in as a “new” band with twelve years of do’s and don’t, connections, experience, and passion behind us. We have been writing non-stop since last July. Material is pouring from Tim and Payton. Which is another advantage. As a three piece, the material is less stifled. There is still compromise but there is less compromise, if that makes sense.
TIM: I wouldn't say that anything has "crumbled". In fact, I would say we are in a better position now than we were a year ago. We are happier, making better music, and are actually getting along with each other. We can still play any of the old songs, should we decide to. The records are still there for anyone who wants to listen to them. We aren't erasing or whitewashing history; we've just moved on to the next step, as painful as it may have initially been. We're fortunate enough to have formed good relationships with many people in various parts of the business; people who really believe in and support what we're doing. In that respect, very little has changed.
enFOCUS: How will this affect your music? Any new directions?
VEN: The biggest affect on the music is that this really becomes Tim’s baby. I may slap that baby around a bit and teach it to piss its daddy off while Payton tries to win it over by giving it candy... but it is still Tim’s brain baby. We all raise it and work with one another to foster a proper upbringing for each song but I really wanted Tim to do his thing. So not really any new directions. Just unfettered.
TIM: Payton has been amazing since day one. He blitzed through all the old material as if it were his own and we've been writing like crazy since last summer. He can do anything I ask him to do and has plenty of worthwhile ideas of his own. In describing the sound of Runescarred versus DEP, I would say it is less "fast" but more "quick", like a prizefighter getting lean and dropping a weight class. It is a more melodic and expansive sound, no less heavy but not quite as claustrophobic. I'm excited every time I pick up my guitar because I know Ven and Payton will make these songs the absolute best they can be.
enFOCUS: Future for Runescarred?
VEN: The fucking stars.
TIM: We have the songs. We can take this as far as the universe will allow.
enFOCUS: Closing remarks?
VEN: Adversity molds character. You see artists and individuals for who they are once they are faced with conflict. Though I consider the drama that preceded Runescarred to be minor and fleeting, I believe it has served the grand purpose of setting our focus. Everything is exactly as we intended and new beginnings always outshine old endings. I can’t wait to share with everyone what we have coming!
TIM: Quite simply, I can't wait for people to hear what we've been cooking up these last several months. This is the best music I've written and I'm blessed to have two bandmates in the class of Ven and Payton. We hope you all agree!