Trance-fusion group The Disco Biscuits released their ninth full-length studio album, Revolution in motionout late March 2024. Released in 4 parts and produced by Derek VanScoten, aka Cloudchord, the album is a space opera that tells the story of a group of aliens who arrive in New York City to freeze and abduct humans. .
However, what the aliens didn't plan is for The Disco Biscuits to come save the day. We then follow the band of misfit aliens back to their home planet with the members of the Biscuit gang to show the alien queen the power of music and how she can calm the unrest among her people.
The Disco Biscuits are in the middle of a 35+ date coast-to-coast tour, but vocalist and guitarist Jon Gutwillig found time to talk to XS Noize about the concepts behind it. Revolution in motionwhy the album was released in four parts and its unique guitar tone.
What inspired your new album? Revolution in motion? Tell us more about the wildly imaginative concepts behind the album.
We had a lot of music built up during the pandemic and realized we could dream big with the types of stories we tell and the characters we create. So, we tried something as big as we could get. And in today's space age, it led to a gigantic story about space and aliens and, of course, the universal language, music.
Revolution in motion will be released in four parts. What is the reason for that?
We had a giant concept album on our hands and we wanted to tell the whole story to everyone right away. But the question was how can all the character details and chronological events be conveyed in a single release? So, we decided to release it in pieces because of the details. Each chapter has its own story, events and emotions. We wanted to be able to capture each one individually within the music, of course, but also within the animated videos and detailed discussions of the podcast, as well as the feedback conversations on social media. It's important for us to have space in the timeline to allow fans to interact with us in the narrative and add their thoughts and expressions to what we're releasing.
Who is in The Disco Biscuits and what instrument do they play?
The Disco Biscuits are Marc Brownstein (bass and bass synths), Aron Magner (keyboards and synths), myself (Jon Gutwillig) on lead vocals and guitar, and Allen Aucoin (drums and electronic drums).
What's the best part about touring?
The best part about touring is the sleep schedule. Waking up at noon every day is really great. Plus, shaking up big audiences of happy people, there's that too.
What is the worst part of touring?
The hardest thing about touring is saying goodbye to your loved ones when you leave home. Everyone understands and agrees, but it's always a sad day.
How did you get started in music?
I don't think there is a “start day” of music for me. I liked music and studied music for as long as I can remember. Even when he was little, he played electric guitar with Eddie Van Halen in the attic. My dad listened to a lot of country and classical music and my older brother played the piano, so I was born into a very musical background.
Did your sound evolve naturally or did you deliberately push it in a certain direction?
Our sound changes and evolves very naturally. We spent a lot of time incorporating new instrument sounds, vocal samples, etc. When we are improvising with new sounds, we let it happen freely 100% of the time. After writing the setlist for each night, we don't like to write any scripts at all. For us, it just doesn't work and feels canned and limited. When we find a recipe that we like we return to the general concept of it, but there is no planning beyond the general concept.
Are there any special recording techniques you used in the studio for this album compared to your previous albums?
We start doing a bounce (a demo mp3) at the end of each session. Simply bounce it before you leave and share it with the group. This small change has been amazing for our process. I don't know why this helps so much, but if you make a bounce at the end of each session and share it with everyone and everyone listens to it, the project will become something amazing.
What is your definition of tone? And has your tone changed over time?
People do all kinds of crazy things to gain tone. And I was one of those guys for a while. Hollow body guitar, bass amps, boutique reverb pedals, etc. But then I started thinking a little beyond my setup. I started thinking about the cabinet mic, the snake going to the FOH, the FOH plate, and finally even the main speakers. When I started down that path, I realized that my pedalboard was too inconsistent and unstable. My guitar tech was very integral here. Together, we achieved some important wins that contribute to what I think is an excellent and extremely individualistic guitar tone.
What inspires your writing? Do you draw inspiration from poems, music or other media?
For me, writing is something very blue-collar. You have to put in hours to come up with inspired things. Music and music production is a very athletic job. You have to make these noises with your voice and your fingers, and you have to teach them how to do these things. You have to teach your ears how to hear these things. Everything takes time, too much time for a day's work. If you can find other humans who help inspire you and can help you work faster and have more fun, that's the best process. Work with people and have as much fun as possible. I also listen to a lot of music. I'm constantly listening to new dance music and old jazz guitars. I try to find poets, but it's hard to find them.
What can you share about your writing process?
Share your demos early and often and let people join you in the writing process. Even if they are not writers. Music is universal.
Which artists in your opinion are making waves right now?
I'm not sure who would say, but here's my Spotify history right now: Blond:ish, Solomon, Raf Rundell, Yussef Dayes, Hugel the Thug, Al Di Meola, Otis Redding and Stanley Clarke. Ha, it's been a good week.
What can your fans expect over the next six months?
We're playing amazing shows. Fans can expect some really cool live experiences from The Disco Biscuits. EDM kids love it and jamband kids love it! Come out and see a show!
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