Interview with the band Razorwire Halo… Where Bowie’s Fa Fa Fa Fashion Takes an Industrial Crunch

By: Carlotta Overdrive

RAPMM: Thank you Razorwire Halo for taking some time out to speak with us at Rock All Photography. Are all of you from the Kansas area? if not where is your hometown?

Tak: Yes, I have always live in the Kansas CIty, Missouri area.
Skylar: Half of us are actually on the Missouri side of KC. 😉 I’m originally from Wichita, KS, and have also lived in Texas and on the Kansas side of the metropolitan area.
Billy: Overland Park, Kansas!
Kyle: Grew up in Olathe, KS!

RAPMM: There has been a mix of sounds come from your area. What have been some of the most well-known bands?

Tak: I believe Tech 9 is based out of Independence, MO, which isn’t far from where I live now.
Skylar: Puddle of Mud is from here.
Darrell: Ultimate Fakebook.
Billy: older band called “Shooting Star” is from kc! (Fun fact: I took drum lessons from the drummer Steve Thomas of Shooting Star)

RAPMM: What were you all into when you were younger in High School and College?

Tak: In high school I was really into music and video games. Musically I was into industrial rock and alternative rock.
Skylar: Musically? I’d always been a huge Depeche Mode fan growing up, thanks to my older brother. Outside of music, I was (still am) a big nerd! I’m a math geek; sci fi/fantasy/dystopian book, tv, and movie enthusiast; and a collector of all kinds of things related to said media!!
Darrell: I played a few sports, outside of being an alternative music fan.
Billy: Music, I always had headphones in listening to metal, or I was on drumline in high school.
Kyle: I did everything, Music was always the big focus but I played all the sports I could (football, baseball, wrestling, track and field, etc.). There’s something to be learned from every experience that can be utilized in creativity!

RAPMM: How did you all come to your own sound?

Tak: It took many years of trying new sounds and techniques. I found having a large range of pedals and keyboards helped me find that defining sound for us. I will take a simple guitar pedal and melody and run it through several other effects to break the sound down into a very unique sound that isn’t even recognizable as a guitar. Making guitars sound like synths is one of my favorite things to do.
Skylar: It has definitely evolved over the years. Each new instrument, keyboard, pedal, and synth brings more options and more ways to define and change our sound.

RAPMM: Do you find that your sound is settling into one genre in particular or do you find with each song you write that another influence of some kind is making its way in?

Tak: Most of it has an underlining rock feel to it but we work with hip hop drums, some dubstep and various other style aspects. When we write a song we don’t really focus on the genre but rather how does it make us feel.
Skylar: I think music is pretty fluid when it comes to genre. It’s difficult to say where one ends and another starts. In other words, we are constantly evolving. (Apparently “evolve” is the word of the day! lol)
Darrell: I think influence finds its way into just about everything, and because we have some different backgrounds, it stays a bit moveable.

RAPMM: Your album cover art for ‘Retaliate’ who created it? What does it signify and how does everything tie into the wicked digital feel of your press photos?

Skylar: We do tend to have a futuristic dystopian feel to our look, and it does come from our music. As to what the particular piece of art we used for the cover, I think you’d have to ask Kenn Little, the artist.

RAPMM: It is always fascinating to hear about artist and bands process they go through to create an EP or Album even. Can you describe the process of how this album came together, and what it has meant to all of you?

Skylar: Much like every album/EP, this one started with multiple song and sound ideas; almost none of which actually make it to the end product. We approach each album (in this case, each song) with a storyline writing style. It definitely keeps writing interesting and engaging for me.
Darrell: We write in different directions until we have the song that feels right, then we sort of build around that one.
Billy: start with an idea and work around it. It was cool to see all of our different influences coming together into this.
Tak: exactly what everyone said. We always start out just experimenting with tones and flows for tracks. We then will lock in our soundscape which sets the overall feel for the album. Then we just write until we write that one song that makes us say that is the one. Then we set the others aside and build the remaining tracks around that one track. This allows us to make the overall album flow correctly and allows us to really think about the concept of the album. Our latest album “Retaliate” is very personal for us all as this is the first time we decided to make the lyric content truly about each one of us rather than telling a story or concept.

RAPMM: Looking back over the project, how satisfied are you all with the final product? Any notes of things you might change or try differently next time?

Tak: I am very proud of these 6 tracks. We experimented with releasing an E.P. instead of a full length album. I was worried I would not like how short the final product is but I am actually very happy with it. It’s just long enough to keep your attention. Each track in my opinion reflects the best of RWH and keeps the listener wanting more.
Skylar: I’m pretty proud of what has come together for this EP. We learn something new about the process each and every day.
Darrell: We are very proud of this group of songs. Excited to share them with everyone.
Billy: probably my favorite release, these turned out better than what we thought, they sound amazing, Kyle did a phenomenal job mastering and perfecting these songs.
Kyle: I mixed and mastered it which means I will forever be hearing things I could have done better haha! But in all seriousness I think we are all very happy with the final product.

RAPMM: Spotify and YouTube seem to be the two most important places for musicians to be seen and heard nowadays. What elements did you put together as you were story-boarding for your first music video off the album “Sweat?”

Darrell: The track is a very simple one. It’s sexy, so the logical place to start was sexy.
Tak: What Darrell said. “Sweat” doesn’t have a deep meaning behind it. We never really go for a sexy feel in a song and we wanted to see what we could do with it. We like to push ourselves into uncomfortable spots to see what we come up with. The video for “Sweat” will be very visually and sonically pleasing.

RAPMM: Certainly most bands are already planning a year or more ahead. What are some things you as a band would like to develop? Songwriting-wise? Instrumentally wise?

Tak: We are constantly working to be better musicians and stage performers. I try to learn as much as I can about recording, live sound and as many instruments as I possibly can. Drums have been the hardest for me to grasp. Too many moving limbs.
Skylar: The day we stop striving to become better is the day we stop being musicians. We’ll be taking our live show to the next level over the course of the next year.
Darrell: I have always tried to learn something from every I meet. I know i can always be better as a musician, and a person.
Kyle: Everything we possibly can. There is always room for improvement. But currently there is talk of a upgraded stage show and expanding our touring range.

RAPMM: What about a Razorwire fashion line?

Skylar: I’m not sure our abilities reach to fashion design, but I’m sure none of us would mind working with someone who does have said skills!! In the meantime, we will stick with our t-shirts and hoodies. ^_^
Darrell: Fashion is a great Bowie song.
Billy: What skylar and Darrell said!
Kyle: Only if I can walk down the walkway!

RAPMM: Out of this process of emerging what so far have you all found to be the most valuable lesson that you have learned?

Tak: Never stop and always be professional.
Skylar: I knew it would take work, but I have been surprised how much of a variety of new tasks have come our way!! I just keep moving forward, and try to keep up. 😉
Darrell: The devil is in the details.
Billy: It’s about the grind to make things happen. Never stop, the second you take a break you could get behind. Always something to do and keep everything as professional as possible.
Kyle: Professionalism and organization is key. Without those nothing gets done properly!

RAPMM: Best quote or advice you can think of to give up and coming bands about sucking it up and just work harder than everyone else?

Tak: Just dont stop. Don’t stop learning, practicing and growing as an artist.
Skylar: You want the reward; you put in the work. It will pay off if you take pride in it, no matter the outcome.
Darrell: Do it for the right reasons.
Billy: Think about why you are doing this, and what are you willing to sacrifice to make it work.
Kyle: You said it already, you have to put in the work and make the sacrifices. There is no other way. Additionally, don’t fall victim to trends and do your own thing. Be true to yourself and your own sound, that will stand out more than trying to make music that will please everyone. In short, be genuine!