It's really hard to maintain a band as a democracy. Again, I think there's been a shift. There's a lot of emphasis put on style and a singular personality, as opposed to a more anonymous group of people playing music. It's more about can I dress this person up? Are they going to look pretty? I feel like the cult of personality is back, for sure.
Ed DrosteI'd much rather speak up and stand behind something I believe in than worry about pissing off a couple hundred people. And if they're more pissed off than if I never said anything, well, sorry but not sorry.
Ed DrosteIt's really hard to maintain a band as a democracy. Again, I think there's been a shift. There's a lot of emphasis put on style and a singular personality, as opposed to a more anonymous group of people playing music. It's more about can I dress this person up? Are they going to look pretty? I feel like the cult of personality is back, for sure.
Ed DrosteEvery album has a thing where it's like, "How are we going to marry our four ideas and personalities?" The older we get, the more people become comfortable with their strengths and weaknesses. Being in a band with such a long history can be frustrating and slow, but ultimately it's so much more rewarding.
Ed DrosteI don't want to do a gimmick. It's a bummer that that's how it is. I would say, personally speaking, consuming music now is harder than it was before. It's like being stuck in a slot machine. There's just so much noise. It's just constant noise. It's harder to clear your head and give the time to music that a lot of it really deserves. It's really crazy how different your relationship to an album or music becomes, even if it's digital, if you spend the $7 to $10 on it. It forms this relationship where you're not just going to throw it away.
Ed DrosteI have the right to speak up. If you don't want to listen, just unfollow. If you're so upset about it you can't even listen to my music, because you're upset that we're not supporting Trump or whatever, then fine. Don't. Don't listen. Moving on. End of story. I'm more disappointed in fellow artists that stay mum for fear of losing a handful of fans.
Ed Droste