Gladyss Patches
With the recent
success of Nickelback, American fans are beginning to look North to Canada
to see what else that scene has to offer. We recently had the opportunity
to speak with Mike Hooten from Gladyss Patches, a Canadian rap-rock band
that just released their US debut CD on NFE Records.
RNW: Let’s
start off with the most obvious question. I’ve heard that I’m likely to
get a different story than those who have asked it before so where did
your name come from?
Mike: Let’s
see what is it this time? Renz was naming a cat and he had three names
down, Gladyss, Pia and Patches. We took out the Pia and came up with Gladyss
Patches.
RNW: So
it’s not a porn star in Ireland?
Mike: Not
today.
RNW: I
read in your bio that a psychic played a role in the formation of the group.
Mike: I
believe Renz was in the mall one day and it was a time that was basically
a turning point for the band. We weren’t doing much, weren’t really happy
with what we were playing. Frustrations in the band were quite high and
then Renz ran into a psychic in the mall. He started to vent and he asked
her what to do and I guess she told him to stick with it, a change in around
the corner. Then Renz and I got to talking one day and he decided that
he was gonna put down the guitar cuz he was playing at that time. So Alex
came into the band. We’ve known Alex a long time so we asked him to join
the band. So she basically said there would be a change coming and we went
from there. The weird thing is I never even know he went to a psychic until
recently, he never told me that. It was kind of a surprise to me but it
was really cool.
RNW: How
did you guys originally get together?
Mike: Renz
was playing in a band, I believe it was some kind of Nirvana cover band,
I think they called themselves Mirvana. They played around a bit and I
had put an ad in the local musicians paper saying “inexperienced guitar
player looking for a band” and Renz called me, we ended up hooking up and
things went from there. We’ve had a few member changes and here we are
six years later.
RNW: That’s
a long time for a band.
Mike: Yeah,
I’ve been real lucky this is my only band ever. I never really played with
a lot of different bands.
RNW: We
recently interviewed Nickelback and they told us that in Canada they are
one of the heaviest bands up there.
Mike: One of the heaviest bands?
RNW: Yeah
that’s what they told us, on the radio at least.
Mike: I
don’t know about that.
RNW: I
was gonna say if that is true then listening to your new CD it is readily
apparent that you guys are much heavier than most successful Canadian bands.
Mike: We’re
probably more middle of the road. There is definitely more heavier bands
up this way. There are some really heavy bands that drop their guitars
really low and start banging away. There is a lot of that up here, there
is a rather large metal scene as well as like a pop scene. But they’re
one of the heavier successful bands.
RNW: Maybe
that’s what they meant. Did you find that playing heavier than say
the pop bands has helped you gain exposure or hindered it?
Mike: Yeah
there is definitely a bit of an edge to the music that people really enjoy
but at the same time it kind of maintains a lot of hooks and sort of pop
influence.
RNW: I
noticed you guys use a lot of harmonies.
Mike: Yeah
that was just something that we grew up with that we really want to throw
that in so it’s pretty as apposed to just angst ridded.
RNW: Speaking
of that, who were your main influences?
Mike: It’s
different for everybody, right now I’m listening to a lot of rap. Renz
takes a lot of influence from like Prince and that kind of stuff, really
strong melodic popular music. As well, he’s into a lot of heavy bands like
Slipknot and stuff.
RNW: Do
you find a big difference between the American and Canadian music scene?
Mike: I
haven’t had a whole lot of time down there but when I have I noticed that
people are a lot more receptive. Maybe because we are from out of town
and they embrace you a little more but up here you’re just another band.
They don’t come out and support you necessary as much as they should or
I would support a band.
(at this point we started
to have some connection problems with the phone, so the conversation got
a little choppy. )
RNW: I
know we are talking about your CD but can fans still buy your debut “Novelty”?
Mike: Yeah,
it was sort of the same general idea; a little more rough around the edges,
that’s for sure and a lot more angry. We were a bit younger and we thought
we had all the answers, I think that now that we are getting up there,
well not old but a few more years to think about it, we don’t have all
the answers.
RNW: Did
you approach the writing and recording of this CD any differently than
with your debut?
Mike: Definitely
the recording. The last one we did in our jam space and this time we were
in a bigger budget studio so the whole recording process was definitely
different. As far as the writing process, no we just approached it like
we always do; write stuff that we like, that we would want to hear.
RNW: On
the new CD which songs really standout for you?
Mike: I
definitely like Headlights and Vanished. Vanished is a really cool song,
it’s about people putting on a two faced sort of mask when they are talking
to you they will be all nice but the second you’re gone they will take
it off and say what they really think.
RNW: Which
track on the CD do you think best represents the band?
Mike: I
would say Vanishing because its got a lot of the intensity of the rap that
we are capable of, as well its got the soaring melodies in the choruses.
It should a little bit of every side of us.
RNW: You
guys have whole-heartedly embraced the Rap and Rock Marriage?
Mike: Definitely.
Been a big fan of it since it came out a few years ago. But to tell you
the truth I never really liked rap back when I was younger, it sort of
all of sudden hit me a few years ago. Probably my love for rap came from
the metal-rap kind of thing.
RNW: What
would be your dream tour, who would be the ultimate band for you to tour
with?
Mike: Right
now hed(pe).
RMW: Final question, I always like to ask
this one. What do you think is the biggest misconception people who aren’t
in the business have about the music industry?
Mike: That
there is such a thing as an overnight success and that when you’re in a
band you don’t work hard. They think that its all fun and games. From the
people that I talk to there is not a lot of understanding for the things
that we go through. They never had to deal with all the politics involved
and the dirtier side of the industry, which is definitely a big part of
it, I find. So that’s kind of frustrating.
RNW: Any
final thoughts you want to send out to the readers?
Mike: I
just want them to come check us out live if they have the chance.
RNW: Ok
that’s it. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us and good luck with
the album and tour! We’ll see you when you hit southern California.
.
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more?
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