My interview with Something Clever
- mandyparker76
- Apr 27, 2020
- 4 min read
Something Clever, an active rock/metal duo from Charlotte NC.
Something Clever released a new song Let It Kill Me April 17, 2020. They found inspiration for the new song and video through their transformation into a two member band.
Something Clever has played festivals such as Blue Ridge Rock Festival and Carolina Rebellion.
Check out my interview with Something Clever below and on my Facebook page Mandy's Music Blog then please go check out their music and social media pages and give them a like!
Mandy: First off I just want to say thank you for taking the time to have this interview with me. How are you?
Kelly: Good thanks! Just taking it day by day right now in this wild time.
Adam: Great! Bored. Sleepy. But great!
Mandy: I have been interviewing a few bands that are playing this year's Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Something Clever got to perform at this festival in 2017. What was that experience like for you?
Kelly: The 2017 Blue Ridge Rock Festival was great. The weather was on point, we played the main stage right before Saliva, and we got to watch Sick Puppies play from side main stage. So that was a pretty cool experience.
Adam: We were also on the 2018 one. That one had a car fire!
Mandy: What is the story behind your name, Something Clever?
Kelly: Back when we came up with the name, all the "cool" sounding names we were trying to come up with just sounded lame to me...like trying too hard. So we went with the cheesy sounding one.
Mandy: Something Clever just released a new song and video, Let it kill me. When you wrote the song you were going through a transition into a two member band. What impact did that have on the writing process?
Adam: What's odd is when we transitioned we still had collaboration with some musicians that have played in the band as well as the producers on all aspects of the song, and i think that made it stronger. Hope we can keep writing them like this.
Mandy: For the video of let it kill me, you have stated you wanted it to portray feeling locked down, restricted, breaking free, and then reaching to portal that represents what's next. I think we're all feeling that way during the covid19 quarantine/lockdown. Did that inspire the message for the video at all?
Adam: Well, we wrote the song back in November and we filmed the video back in January. The outbreak wasn't public knowledge yet so it didn't come into play at the time, but man what timing. It's ironic that THAT's the concept we were going for and now we're living it. Maybe part 2 can be the other side of all this. Kelly: I think the direct inspiration was how we were feeling as musicians and feeling like transforming into the two piece band we are now was our "portal".
Mandy: Angels and Demons is one of my favorite songs you have written. What was your inspiration for that song?
Adam: That song came together REALLY quickly. This was before I knew I had depression/anxiety to the full extent, and the lyrics are sort of a dive into that dual life feeling people can sometimes have. We try to be good people but sometimes the demon comes out.
Mandy: Speaking of favorites, what is your favorite song you have written and why?
Kelly: I think its going to have to be Let It Kill Me...I feel like musicians always say its the newest songs they've written. It may be because its fresh and you still have that excitement. But in this case I am also pumped on this one because I feel like we've stepped our game up. The production of the track, the video, the brand...everything, and I really enjoy where its headed. Feels like we've just began a new chapter of something that is going to be very cool to unfold.
Adam: Let It Kill Me is so far a favorite of mine, just because i felt way more comfortable writing and tracking this one. The style of production fits me better and I think it's gonna help us get momentum on newer material out to fans.
Mandy: Who are your biggest influences in the sound you have created with your music?
Kelly: Personally I love all the modern rock and metal bands. The new I Prevail album, new Asking Alexandra, Of Mice and Men. As a guitar player I love meaty chunky guitar riffage. Last year we joined a Nine Inch Nails tribute project called "Pretty Hate Machine" and we feel like within learning all those songs, and performing them, we have grown a new appreciation for the "Industrial" genre as well...so that has definitely been as inspiration for writing the new music...and I think that will come through even more in some tracks to follow Let It Kill Me.
Mandy: If you could choose one singer, for only one song to perform on stage, Who would you choose?
Kelly: I think it would be awesome to play with M Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold.
Adam: Johnny Hawkins from Nothing More. I would just want to pick his brain about voice modulation.
Mandy: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me. I really enjoyed learning more about Something Clever. Stay safe.
Adam: Thank you for the opportunity, Mandy! Anytime!
Kelly: Thanks Mandy!
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0a0EIVVyDWdJuMrq1VNrfk?si=YAteRYGDSXKXibYjsI0NEQ
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