Interview — Strung Out

Brandon Russell

Strung Out
By Brandon Russell

A few years ago, Strung Out’s singer Jason Cruz didn’t think another record was in the cards for his band. In fact, he didn’t even think they would survive what he called the death of punk rock. Emo sucked what it could from the scene and left the Southern California-born rock that ruled the 1990s’ gasping for air, Cruz thought.

Instead of blazing-out into a mess of uninspired mediocrity, Strung Out continued to put out record after record that sold as well as anything Fat had produced, ever. It’s now Fall 2007, and Strung Out just spent the summer promoting their latest work, BLACKHAWKS OVER LOS ANGELES. Not only does it retain all the energy, powerful vocals, and seamlessly blended punk subgenres that fans have grown to love in their seven-disk catalog, but it refines an inimitable sound that has been 15 years in the making.

In a recent interview from a tour stop in Portland, Oregon, SKRATCH got a look into Cruz’s ability to talk religion with Oregon’s fine transient population, and he shared his thoughts on the new record and how it fits into the Strung Out progression, among other things.

SKRATCH: The new album kicks right off with some fast, flamenco guitar. It was unlike anything Strung Out had done before. Where did the idea to lead off with that come from?
JASON: I’m obsessed with writing songs about L.A. and I wanted something that reflected that L.A. flavor.

SKRATCH: What does a flamenco song say about L.A. flavor? Do you mean some sort of metaphor for the Hispanic, Latin influence on Southern California life?
JASON: Yeah, it was not that specific but I liked it because I’m a huge country music fan and it kind of felt like a Mexican standoff or something… [pause]…Yeah, that’s right, fuck god. Fuck god.

SKRATCH: Huh?
JASON: Oh sorry, we just got to Portland. I was talking to some bum on the street.

SKRATCH: Alright, anyways, ah, where was I? Yeah, I think “All the Nations,” is one of the coolest Strung Out songs ever. It feels similar to “In Harms Way,” to me, or maybe similar to some of the poppier stuff on TWISTED BY DESIGN. “King Alvarez,” maybe? Was that ever part of the writing process—to write a throwback Strung Out song?
JASON: No, Chris wrote the riff on that one, I sang it and it took off from there. I think a lot of this album is about Chris stepping up. But I don’t look back. I won’t do something to please anybody but myself. That sounds selfish but it’s true. I think “All the Nations” is an original song though.

SKRATCH: Well maybe the vocal pattern is similar to some of that older stuff? There’s something that sounds familiar.
JASON: Yeah, you might be right. Maybe more like “Deville,” or something.

SKRATCH: The image behind the title of the album is strong. What kind of effect were you going for?
JASON: I was trying to show that false sense of security we live in. It’s all about the distractions that come along with that American, California lifestyle. I kind of wanted to go for an Orwellian feel.

SKRATCH: The last two songs are certainly standouts in my mind and it occurred to me that every time Strung Out makes a new record these days, the last song is just fucking rad. I think that goes back to TWISTED BY DESIGN. Is that something you guys consciously try to do?
JASON: I’m glad you said that. “Diver” was one of my favorite songs this time. I think the idea is to write a last song that is as strong as the first. We try to write good records rather than a few good songs.

SKRATCH: AMERICAN PARADOX was Strung Out’s, and I think Fat’s, most financially successful record. Why haven’t the last two records had the same sort of pull?
JASON: I’m going to have to disagree with that. I think EXILE IN OBLIVION sold more that AMERICAN PARADOX. It sold faster at least. A lot of people wrote us off after AMERICAN PARADOX. Emo rose up after that record and punk sort of died. When we did EXILE, I think we surprised a lot of people. I know we surprised Fat Mike with how well that record did. But to be honest, I am surprised we’re still around right now. I think BLACKHAWKS OVER LOS ANGELES is doing just as well now too, so that’s a good feeling.

SKRATCH: If Strung Out were still playing in five years, would you be surprised?
JASON: Honestly, yeah, I would be. I try to take this one day at a time. As long as we’re still able to do this for a living, I’ll be happy. We’re not rich or anything. We’re not like…fucking millionaires or anything. I don’t do this to pay bills, I do it to make music. That’s the beauty of Fat. We can just call it quits when we no longer have the inspiration.

SKRATCH: Speaking of that, what about these bands that come up out of nowhere, that you guys used to tour with and stuff, that have gone on to be hugely popular? You guys have the same sort of fan base they had, you know, and the same capacity to become wildly popular. I’m thinking of Against Me!, for example. How does that feel to have been around for fifteen years and kept in this niche while these bands come out of nowhere and make boat loads of money overnight?
JASON: I don’t pay any attention to that stuff. I have my little world with my family and friends. I don’t care about the financial success and the fame and that shit. To be honest I haven’t even heard the new Against Me! record, or anything A.F.I. has done in a while. I don’t really care about that stuff. I can’t lie…there are times I wish I was rich and stuff, but I’m fucking stoked on our career and everything that we’ve done.

Strung Out’s new record, BLACKHAWKS OVER LOS ANGELES, is available in record stores everywhere, as well as Online at www.fatwreck.com and on iTunes. Digital downloads of the new disk from iTunes receive a bonus track, “Novella.” They will be touring the U.S. and Canada through October with Evergreen Terrace and I Am Ghost.

To comment on this or anything you see in SKRATCH, email us at speakup@skratchmagazine.com.

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