With their second album, Everything, released on September 1st, An Autumn For Crippled Children took time out to briefly reflect on the band's progress since their 2010 debut, Lost and their goals for their new album.
SoT: First of all, thanks for taking time out for this interview. 'Everything' is a great album (my review is here) that juxtaposes many styles and is almost schizophrenic in nature, it's both melancholic and positive and is very uplifting. How do you work to combine such distinct opposites?
I think, to us, it's not schizophrenic. To us it comes naturally. I agree this album turned out a little more positive, i would say: more 'real'. We tried to capture all human emotions, not just negative once. But i think melancholy is the prevailing feeling on this album.
SoT: How do you feel the band has progressed since 'Lost'? And how is it reflected in 'Everything?
We progressed in the song writing and production department. I think the songs on 'Everything' work very good and the 'flow' is also good. It all sounds more mature and real.
SoT: What kind of sound did you have in mind when preparing for 'Everything'?
We never have a plan. We just write and work on the music until it sounds right in our ears.
SoT: What goals did you set for yourselves when writing the album? Were you consciously trying to push yourselves or do you find that your music evolves organically?
We all agreed on doing good 'songs'. Pay lots of attention to the flow of songs and the structure. I would say our music evolves organically yes.
SoT: When did writing begin? Are the songs all new or did you have ideas leftover from 'Lost'?
Writing began immediately after recording 'Lost' which took a year to come out. We finished June 2010 with this album. 'Absence of Contrast' and 'Cold Spring' where the first thing we did right after 'Lost', then we took a break (due to busy schedules) and started again a few months later.
SoT: How did the songs for the album come together? Did you approach the writing for 'Everything' in the same way as 'Lost' or were you purposely trying to find new ground?
We basically approached it the same way. Writing riffs at home, come together, work on songs, record bits etc. We usually record song frames and colour them later with overdubs. If the 'frame' of a song works, we record them right away.
SoT: What are the main themes on the album? And is there a concept that links the songs?
No main themes, it all deals with personal experiences and thoughts.
SoT: What's the significance of the title?
It stands for everything we've been through. I had a friend in my youth and when you asked him: 'what's wrong' he always replied 'Everything'. He was a troubled soul. It always stuck with me. Since we had a song called everything/nothing (which is the same, from a certain point of view) and we wanted something minimal, 'Everything' was a good title.
SoT: Can you tell us about the artwork and how you think it relates to the music and the album title?
We wanted simple, minimal images. The art, for me personally, evokes: Loneliness, vastness of nature, a sense of being lost, the feeling you get that everything will go on once you are not here anymore, majesty of nature, being truly free. It reflects melancholic aspects of our music.
SoT: Again, thanks for taking time out for this interview. We look forward to hearing more from An Autumn for Crippled Children in the near future.
Jason Guest
(Click here to read our review of Everything)
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