Interview: Ryan Patterson of Coliseum
The new Coliseum LP "Anxiety's Kiss" is less than a month away from being released. The last time we talked you were in the studio recording "Sister Faith" and you described that recording-session as the greatest musical experience of your life. Is that a statement that still stands or did this last recording top it?
While I think "Anxiety’s Kiss" is a better and stronger album, more diverse, catchier, and us operating at a higher level, there was a magic for me in the experience of recording "Sister Faith" that does still stand. The "Anxiety’s Kiss" sessions were like returning home, coming back to a comfortable, familiar place and working with J. Robbins is also comfortable and familiar, so it’s a bit of deja vu but in the best way possible. I think having that great previous experience with "Sister Faith" enabled us to make a better record and do better things as writers, performers, engineers, producers, etc., on "Anxiety’s Kiss".
With the two new songs you've leaked so far, I feel like "Anxiety's Kiss" is a natural progression from its precursor. Would you agree on that? What was in your mind when you sat down to put another record together?
I agree that it is a natural progress, I’ve felt that way with all of our records. The transition of "No Salvation" to the "True Quiet/Last Wave" single to "House With A Curse" was admittedly a bit of a leap, but even then the clear line of ideas can be seen through all the records, even when some of the way the ideas are executed differ. I feel that we’ve always moved forward with songs that came from within us. The important word and idea is forward. Never backward or sideways. We don’t want to repeat ourselves or stagnate. Some people who have heard "Anxiety’s Kiss" have felt that it’s a different direction or big change from "Sister Faith". I don’t see it that way, but that’s for the listener to interpret.
Would you say that those two songs are representative for the rest of the album? What else is there to look forward to?
As with all of our records, every song has its own personality. It’s very important to us, and something we pride ourselves on, that each song has an individual identity and personality. Each album overall has a big picture and perspective, but the songs stand on their own. There is always a first single that sets the tone for the album, then the story unfolds from there. "Anxiety’s Kiss" is by far our most diverse record yet, while also being the catchiest and most memorable, I think.
From what I've heard so far, I kind of feel that the drums and bass are a "bigger" than earlier and I love how that come across on "We Are the Water". At the same time, they don't steal space from the guitar at all. How important has Carter and Kayhan been to writing "Anxiety's Kiss"?
On the sonic/recording end of the spectrum, that is at least partially because I think that J. had more time in new studio and is getting incredibly great sounds there. "Sister Faith" was the first album recorded at the new Magpie Cage, so he’d had two years of experience and experimenting in the space since then and it shows in the sound of the album. But yes, Carter and Kayhan had a big hand in writing on "Anxiety’s Kiss". As on "Sister Faith", Carter brought in a song with the music fully written that we used (“Used Blood” on Sister Faith, “Drums & Amplifiers” on "Anxiety’s Kiss"). Kayhan brought in the basis to a couple of songs on bass (“Course Correction” and “Sunlight In A Snowstorm”) and the two of them wrote an entire song in the studio while J. and I were away at dinner (“Comedown”). That’s a huge part of why I wanted to jump right in to working on another album this quickly, because I knew this lineup was great and our inspiration was high and would guide us through to make something really special.
I guess J. Robbins was an obvious choice?
J. is practically a part of the band at this point. He’s one of my good friends and such a part of this process. I feel so strongly connected to him. It’s hard to imagine working with someone else on a Coliseum record. I really love the guy and he makes the records sound fucking amazing. So why go elsewhere?
When we talked about "Sister Faith" you mentioned that you've had a rough year prior to the recording and that it reflected the lyrics on the album. How would you describe this new LP when it comes to lyrics.
In many ways it follows our usual themes of the personal and social, but with some different angles. Since "House With A Curse" there have been more narratives creeping into the lyrics, bits of stories and characters that represent ideas or feelings I’ve had, or things that have moved me. With each record I strive be a better writer, just as we push ourselves musically and I push myself vocally, I want to challenge myself to progress lyrically as well. "Anxiety’s Kiss" explores love, class structure, empathy, escaping abusive relationships, obsession, lust, and the kiss of anxiety.
With the 10th year anniversary re-issue of your debut LP last year, you officially signed to Deathwish. How did that come about and how do you feel about being a Deathwish band now?
My friendship and connection with Deathwish pre-dates Coliseum and we have worked together in many capacities over the years. Obviously they released the "True Quiet/Last Wave" 7" but I’ve also released the Whips/Chains EP with them, designed many records for Deathwish, and toured with countless Deathwish bands. The guys in Converge are some of my oldest and best friends through music and have been some of the truest and most helpful people along this journey. It made sense on many levels and everyone involved was happy to join forces.
Tell me a little bit about the "Black Magic Punks" 12".
I’m not really a record collector, but I do buy any records I find from bands that I love. So I buy a lot of 12” singles and EPs from the 80s. I’m a huge fan of Killing Joke and they released a lot of these records, usually with no insert, a track from the album on side A and then a remix or two of the same track on side B. I wanted to do something like that for us, with no record label attached, very little information. Of course the project grew and many of our friends and people we admire came to be involved and we ended up with remixes by Atsuo from Boris, J. Robbins, Justin Broadrick, Will from Xerxes, Justin from The Austerity Program, and Wes/Cold Cave contributed a cover of the song. It’s actually a pretty great record on its own and the variety of sounds make it a worthwhile listen. I was very proud of the project and humbled that so many great people agreed to be involved.
Starting with "Sister Faith" you've been moving away from the classic Coliseum logo and in some way the classic Coliseum imagery as well. Would you call it a progression for you as a designer or is it more of a way to reflect changes you've gone through as a band? A way to mirror the fact that Coliseum are onto new things.
When Sister Faith was released a friend pointed out that with each new Coliseum album the logo deteriorated more and more, which is something I had not consciously noticed or intended but loved the idea. After the logo on "Sister Faith", which actually originated from a photo I snapped of our worn-down stencil on on of Carter’s drum cases, I didn’t see a way that it could crumble further and still remain strong. I didn’t want the logo to dissipate in wispy hairline lettering. Instead, I took some very obvious inspiration from a classic post-punk band and combined it with the Coliseum-specific elements of our logo and built something new that seems to be growing tall and strong without being bulky or weighed down by the past. It feels like a logo for a new beginning, and while I don’t see us as having reinvented ourselves for this new album, I did feel that we needed a new logo entering our second decade.
What's next Coliseum after the release of "Anxiety's Kiss"? Do you have a European tour planned? I feel bad for missing you in Sweden last year.
We are excited to get the record out and let people hear it, we’ll certainly we playing shows everywhere we can after it is released.
Links & Further Information:
Pre-Order "Anxiety's Kiss":
http://store.deathwishinc.com/product/DW173v.html
(Transparant Brown or Silver Vinyl)
http://shirtkiller.com/LiteCommerce/cart.php?target=category&category_id=255
(Semi-Transparant Brown, Silver or Clear w/ Silver Splatter Vinyl)
Official Coliseum Site:
http://www.coliseumsoundsystem.com
Ryan Patterson | Auxiliary Design:
http://www.ryanpattersondesign.com
Pre-Order "Anxiety's Kiss":
http://store.deathwishinc.com/product/DW173v.html
(Transparant Brown or Silver Vinyl)
http://shirtkiller.com/LiteCommerce/cart.php?target=category&category_id=255
(Semi-Transparant Brown, Silver or Clear w/ Silver Splatter Vinyl)
Official Coliseum Site:
http://www.coliseumsoundsystem.com
Ryan Patterson | Auxiliary Design:
http://www.ryanpattersondesign.com
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