Exclusive Interview: Crowborn talk writing and recording “It Just Is”!

A second interview with multi instrumentalist and studio guru Matt Crawford, one half of Cambridge Groove centric Metal act Crowborn is available for your coffee machine reading as we plunge into the dark waters of the writing and recording of their debut EP “It Just Is“. The master of strings, Crawford also recorded, produced, mixed and mastered the affair which is one of those records that catches you off guard because it’s just so damn addictive…

How did your previous experiences writing and recording help to smooth the path of the new record? “I have a background in music production so I definitely had a better overall vision of where I wanted this to be, and how to achieve it. It’s one thing being a guitarist but to be the auteur of the entire sound was something I had to be a lot more conscious of when writing the songs. That’s a double-edged sword though, as it’s helpful for vision, but a hindrance for the practical aspect of getting things done in good time. Overthinking and micromanaging every facet of the process comes with its price”

How does the writing process of a new track start? Melody, riff or rhythm first? How does it evolve from there before you consider it the finished article? “It usually starts with a riff. I’ll play guitar until something comes out and then develop it from there, deciding whether that riff is a chorus, a verse, an intro, or whatever. Lately I’ve been attempting to run with ideas even if they’re not absolutely killer riffs, as ideas can then spiral out from that starting point. Before, I would write an entire song instrumentally and then think of vocals afterwards, but with more people involved we tend to write more collaboratively. I’ll send a verse/chorus just as a taster of what the song could be like, and vocal arrangements are trialled over that and we push forward that way. It’s a much more organic process, and something I wish I’d done in the first place!”

You went DIY or DIE in the studio, producing, mixing and mastered at Numbskull Audio Production. What was it like not having an outside ear on what you were creating? Were you your own worst enemy in terms of being a taskmaster and making sure the sound matched the vision? “100%. I’m incredibly picky. I have my preferences and I don’t tend to give up until it’s achieved. I have got better over time though, and have learned to know when good is good enough. “Better is the enemy of good” is something I’ve learned to live by. You can chase perfection forever, it never ends. At the end of the day, the vast majority of people aren’t going to notice the marginal differences in your guitar tone!”

If you had the opportunity to work with a guest in the studio next time around, who would you like to work with and why? “Hmm tough question. I think from a production standpoint it would have to be someone like Brenden O’Brien. He seemed to just own that mid-90’s sound that I strive for, where everything sounded massive but it still sounded like real instruments you know? Drums especially. King’s X – Dogman, and Korn – Freak On A Leash come to mind. Those albums are sonically mind-blowing and still sound current, even though they’re 30 years olds”

For us gear nerds out there, can you tell us what you’re using gear wise (pedals, strings, drums etc) to get your sound? “Ahh now we’re talking! I have two customised Charvel So Cals which are my main guitars. They both have Seymour Duncan pickups (Distortion bridge, Cool Rails neck), and I use D’addario strings. 

Amp-wise I have a Rivera Knucklehead K-Tre that I will probably end up being buried with (along with my Charvels!) This is, without a doubt, the most ridiculous high gain head on the planet. It’s somewhere between a Dual Rectifier and a JCM800, and has the best clean channel you’ve ever heard. Paul River is a genius! 

I boost that with a Catalinbread Naga Viper treble booster, just to tighten things up and maximise the definition. Nice and percussive chugs! 

Since I was the bassist on the EP too – I have a Spector Legend Custom 5 with EMG pickups and preamp. Absolute beast.”

What difference would it make to you as a band if you could land an endorsement from a gear manufacturer? “I think that’s every musician’s dream, ultimately, isn’t it! To have your name put to a brand you can get behind, and that represents you as an artist. Whether it actually aids you financially or otherwise, it’s certainly inspiring and would motivate me to play more, write more, and make more music. Absolutely”

“It Just Is” by Crowborn is out now and available over at bandcamp