The release week for Cleveland based post-hardcore band Motives’ new album, Death Throes couldn’t have come at a worse time (the album dropped on March 13th, right when many states across the U.S. began implementing stay at home orders due to COVID-19) but the band is certainly making the most of it. Although they were forced to cut their tour dates short, there’s no denying that sonically, Death Throes arrived just when it needed to, allowing Motives to experiment with their sound more than ever, unafraid to step outside of their comfort zone and genre to make something that they were truly proud of. The album will easily pave the way for the band’s future releases, and as soon as they’re able to play shows and hit the road again, fans can be sure that their live performances were worth waiting for.
We caught up with Motives to discuss the writing process behind Death Throes and how COVID-19 has affected their release and touring schedule. Read the full interview and stream the album now below!
Can you tell us a little bit about Motives for anyone who might be hearing you for the first time?
We might not take ourselves too seriously all the time, but we’re passionate about our music, and I hope people can connect with the melodic aggression we put out.
How do you feel the music scene in Cleveland has shaped you as a band?
We all came from different bands in the area, so everyone had something different to bring to the table. We’ve been around for a while now, and Cleveland definitely has its ups and downs. We’ve kinda always done our own thing, regardless, but I think the scene is doing really well right now (aside from the coronavirus shutdowns).
You guys just recently released your new album, Death Throes. Now that the album is finally out and you’ve had a little bit of time to reflect on it, what are some of your favorite things about it? What are you most proud of?
I absolutely love this album. It wasn’t the easiest to write, but I think the final product speaks for itself. There are some extremely varying sounds on DT, but it all sounds great together. I like that we can have that range, while sounding like one band still. People seem to be really enjoying it too! Everyone has been very kind to us about this release.
Did you have any major goals in mind when you first started working on the album?
I think the biggest goal was to write something that evolved our sound properly, then tour the shit out of it. In the early stages, we debated on a “heavier” or “catchier” sound, but Death Throes is what came out when nothing was forced either way. Just write sick music ya know? Who cares what’s “in.”
What was the most rewarding or exciting part of the writing process?
Having a good producer who gave a shit, and finally hearing a fully fleshed out song. Actually, i think after most final takes we were probably saying “Yeah, that sounds sick!” Randy LeBoeuf was incredible to work with. Whether you present a freshly written song, or one we wrote two years ago and beat to death, a new pair of ears to help guide us had such a huge impact on the shape of the album. It was fun to be excited about what we were creating. That’s the way it should be.
Did you encounter any challenges when working on the album?
The actual recording process was the best I’ve experienced so far, and there wasn’t anything too crazy besides normal songwriting or timing constraints. Personally, I had a few things going on at home that really messed with my head while we were at the studio. It was really hard to get through, but I put that emotion into a few songs, and I actually really like how they came out.
How do you feel you’ve grown as artists with the writing and recording of Death Throes?
I truly believe we’ve really come into our own sound with this album. I’m only more excited to see what else we can create after this. It’s given us a chance to be experimental and see what works for us and what doesn’t.
Obviously, the COVID-19 situation has affected countless artists all over the world, and I know you guys were in the midst of tour when everything began happening – how has this affected you as a band?
Honestly, we couldn’t have picked a worse release week haha. The first two weeks out with Avoid were awesome, which made it that much sadder to stop. Fortunately, we were already home when everything was just starting to get canceled (Avoid had to haul ass back to the PNW.) Our hometown release show was capped at 100 heads, and this included bands and venue staff. It was weird, but it ended up being fun as hell anyways. Obviously we couldn’t sell records or merch on the road anymore, but people still got things online and have been streaming the shit out of “Death Throes,” and I couldn’t be more grateful. We’re staying positive and making the most of it!
Do you have any big goals for the rest of 2020 or plans to tour again or play live before the end of the year?
It’s kind of up in the air with the virus running rampant. We had a summer tour planned, but it’s getting postponed. Once the dust settles, we’re going to tour like crazy and see where it takes us.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Of course! Stay safe, stay inside, play Animal Crossing, and stream Death Throes! Thank you!
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