Outline in Color Photo: Out of Step Photo
Outline in Color has spent the better part of July trying to beat the heat in the Arizona desert while recording their third full length album. The Oklahoma based hardcore band took a break after a long day of recording to grab some dinner and give Kill The Music an update from the studio.
To start things off everyone loaded up on pizza and engaged in a casual, off the record discussion about a twisted new video game found only on the deep web. K.C. Simonsen (clean vocals), Trevor Tatro (screams), Peyton Carvell (guitar), See Jay Cochran (guitar), Michael Skaggs (bass guitar), and Nick Taylor (drums) settled in and the interview began. I soon realized that the interview was going to be a little unconventional and let's just say that things got a little weird.
Why Phoenix? Why did you decide to come all the way to Arizona to record during the hottest month of the year?
Trevor: Cameron Mizell. Yeah, Cameron Mizell. He's worked with so many of our favorite bands. At least for me, I wanted to work with him since I was a teenager. He is based out of Glendale and has Chango Studios located in Glendale at a place called Jivemind. He's been based out here since 2005 or so. It took a while to get it scheduled and when it all came together we realized that we'd be here in July. It has been so hot but worth it.
What can you tell me about the writing and recording process so far?
K.C.: Well, I wrote most of the music and as usual Trevor and I wrote our own lyrics. I recorded the guitars and bass because I already knew them. Then Nick recorded the drums. We'll be finished soon and then Cameron will work his magic and make it sound all wonderful.
When do you think it will be released?
Trevor: This year.
K.C. Yeah, I definitely hope that it will be released by October or November of this year.
You guys have been touring almost nonstop for the last year. How did you find time to write new music?
Trevor: I went to Oregon and K.C. wrote it. Nick lived with him for a while but K.C. did most of it. He really tried to write some things that I’d get excited about. He wrote choruses that got him wrapped up and then I wrote a little bit and Nick wrote a little bit and built off what K.C. did. He'd call and ask what we thought of something or send files for us to listen to. He went above and beyond. This is by far the best thing that I have been a part of. I spent a month or so with him but he had it mostly written. He demoed it out himself and then we did all the pre-production.
Nick: He pretty much demoed it out when we weren't touring.
K.C.: I pretty much worked at Chipotle and would come home and work on it until I fell asleep. Yeah, pretty much.
What inspired the music that you wrote and are recording right now?
K.C.: It's a pretty dark, depressing album; mainly because this type of music calls for either more angry or sad lyrics. When I was writing I was listening to a lot of AFI, Billy Talent, Saosin, and Coheed and Cambria. I think it's cool because a lot of it sounds like 2007-2008 music.
Trevor: But presented in a new way.
K.C.: It has that influence but has the heavier vibe that our music has always had.
Trevor: Our producer said that we sound like the new My Chemical Romance. [laughs]
K.C.: [laughing] Yeah. He said that today actually.
Trevor: It is like MCR on steroids.
K.C.: That is it! That's perfect!
There was a new study released yesterday that said that listening to metal music has the same effect on a person's mood as a warm hug. What's your go to, metal music or hugs?
Trevor: Damn. That's a hard question.
Nick: I'd kill two birds with one stone and hug while listening to music. I just listen to metal and hug Trevor every night.
See Jay: Hugs. I don't think that most of us really listen to the type of music that we play that much.
Peyton: It's all about finding balance.
Trevor: I don't know. I think the stuff on this album sounds like the stuff I like to listen to. I love hugs though. Hugs are really cool.
K.C.: I am on Nick's page. I like to hug while listening to music.
Trevor: [to K.C.] Yeah, you listen to Slayer while hugging your grandma, man.
K.C.: Every time I give my mom a hug I am hearing a blazing double bass drum [laughs] and the deepest growl voice.
Trevor: [in a growl voice] I love you too, mom.
K.C.: So I think the study is accurate. We'll continue to test that theory.
Nick: We'll test the waters.
Is there anything that you want to tell your fans about the album?
See Jay: Listen to our album.
Nick: I think that this is the coolest thing we've ever done.
K.C.: Of all of our third records this one is definitely going to be one of the best.
Trevor: I have been doing this for six years now and See Jay and Mike have been doing it longer. I have always felt honored and privileged to be a part of this. Now more than ever things are coming to fruition. I am excited for the record.
Nick: Can I just add that Trevor ate a lizard tail the other day? It was on our Instagram.
Trevor: I did. It was alive. I was trying to catch this little tiny guy. It was a little baby lizard and its tail came off in my hand. I said to myself that I am Indian and we honor every part of the body, so I did a dance and cherished the tail and then I ate it.
K.C.: That is so weird. That's quite the tale, Trevor.
Is there any place that you haven't been that you'd still like to play?
Trevor: Hawaii
Nick: That's true, Hawaii.
K.C.: Hawaii? Hard core dude.
Trevor: I want to go to Florida but only when it's not summer. We are signed in Japan and it would be cool to go there. We have a good fan base there and we'd like to play for them.
See Jay: It would be nuts to go to Japan.
K.C.: I am down to go to Canada. The U.K would be cool. I don't want to go to Alaska or Hawaii or anywhere in the United States or Australia. If I could just play one show on the moon that would be great [laughing].
Trevor: We are hoping to find a wormhole someday and we'll just travel through that and play shows. Ha!
Outline in Color may not be appearing on the moon any time soon, but they will be playing a few shows in August on the way home from Arizona. To watch studio updates and find tour dates follow the band on Facebook.