Brass Against talks about debut EP and more—exclusive interview
Brass Against is a brass-infused hardcore band from Brooklyn, NY and their incredible, original debut EP dropped earlier this month. The band started as a Rage Against the Machine and Tool cover band and has now evolved into an original heavy brass band. Brass Against is a highly-regarded band by Tom Morello and has already made major strides in the music industry. You can check out our review of their debut self-titled EP right here! We caught up with Brass Against's Brad Hammonds to talk about the shift from a cover band to an original band, as well as how the band is coping with the quarantine. Check out our interview below. Be sure to follow Brass Against on social media!
Take us through the EP writing and recording process. How was this different than the covers you did in the past? What were some of the challenges or surprises you faced when writing and recording original music?
Thanks for having me All Punked Up- you rule!! We started with a bunch of ideas I came up with on the road. The first song on the EP "Umbra" was the first one we wrote. We were at a soundcheck and I turned the band and said ‘let’s do this one tonight!’ I’m not sure if we attempted it that night but definitely the next and we found the crowd was really into it. Once we had some other ideas fleshed out a few of us (Sophia, Andy, Nate, me, and Chris) went up to a studio in upstate NY for a few days and wrote the rest of the EP. With the covers I choose a song, Andy writes the arrangement and we show up and have at it. With this EP we had to take our time (something I’m awful at). But ultimately it was such a blast and we can’t wait to keep going.
When did you realize you wanted to make a shift from a cover band to an original band?
We’ve all really wanted to write since our first show in 2017. The covers have been such a blast, but it was time to do our own thing. We all write in our own projects and knew from the beginning we had to give it a shot.
How would you label or describe the genre of music you create?
Horny Metal. It’s really a conglomeration of our influences with a ton of horns!
On average, how long has each member been playing their instrument(s)?
We’re all professional musicians and have been playing most of our lives. I’ve been playing guitar for about 25 years and I’m 26. Most of the band are professional jazz musicians which takes an insane amount of discipline and practice. It's not uncommon, after a show on tour to hear horns practicing in the back of the bus until super late; it’s really inspiring.
Which track from the EP best represents Brass Against?
Probably Umbra since it’s the first track we wrote together. Its heavy, has odd time signatures, Sophia sings and screams, the horns arrangement is intense and it’s about the living in the present moment.
What are some goals you have for this EP? For the band over the next few years?
The first goal was to prove to ourselves that we could do it and were happy with the result (we are!). The second goal was to see how it was received- so far no one has commented “stick to the covers morons”- so that's a win. And now, we have a runway to keep writing and establish ourselves that way. The covers are a blast but writing is better.
What are some strengths you think you have over the traditional 4 or 5-piece rock band?
I think it's just so powerful with all of the horns. There is so much sound and we can be really creative with the dynamics. The brass players have started playing around with pedals on stage and that’s also opening up a lot of possibilities. Also, the jazz musician aspect- no one is throwing TVs out of hotel rooms. There is a lot of hardcore tea drinking.
How have you been coping with quarantine and COVID-19? Are you taking any specific precautions? How have you been staying busy during this time?
It took me a few weeks to find my footing. I was kind of glued to twitter and the news at first. After a few weeks, I had to get back into somewhat of a routine for my sanity. I started playing a lot more, exercising, eating better, and stopped drinking. It’s still so surreal and there is a lot of anxiety. We have no real idea when we’ll get back to touring. I’ve been pretty pessimistic and honestly think it will be some time before we get back out there. But, obviously, music isn’t going anywhere- we just have to get really creative. We do a zoom call once a week and everyone is hanging in there!
Is there anything else you want to say to your fans or All Punked Up readers?
Try and recognize we’re all just dreaming all day. We’re sucked into this weird black hole that’s constantly pulling us from the present moment. The now is really simple and satisfying. Come back to the breath as often as possible and see how everything shifts a bit. Oh- and check out our EP if you want an escape.