The Dear Hunter interview (Casey Crescenzo)

The Dear Hunter are known for their wonderful, eclectic progressive rock records. This year they preserved their progressive spark and showed us their alternative/indie rock shape in the magnificent album called "Migrant", their most commercial and at the same time most endoscopic release to date. We contacted the group's mastermind, Casey Crescenzo. Here's what he had to say...

Hello Casey. First of all, I’d like to tell you that I am a huge fan of your new album. Let’s start with the obvious question; Don’t you think it is an almost 180 degree turn? Why did you decide to put aside your prog and even post-hardcore influences to create a dreamy indie/alternative record? Is it that your musical tastes have changed and you felt that it was time for that to be reflected on an album?
First of all, thank you so much for doing the interview. I don’t know if I would consider it a 180 degree turn... that would imply I was on a straight path before. I think that the only real guide for me has been passion, and this is what I felt passionate about when it was time to write a record. I think the other thing to mention is that I don’t have any post hardcore influences beyond the band I was in before The Dear Hunter. In The Receiving End of Sirens, I was the guy who brought everything else to the table. The guys were very steeped in post hardcore music, and I personally had no real ear for it. Most likely whatever elements that carried over were a result of habit. The prog I do listen to is not really standard either. Bands like Cardiacs, and fusion like weather report... and I think those influences still ring true in what I did with Migrant. Most importantly, I don’t really view my life from record to record, as much as I feel I am building a body of work throughout my life... like any road or trail between point ‘a’ and point ‘b’ there will be twists and turns, valleys and plateaus, and thats what makes it a journey... so I feel no real necessity to be repetative, or redundant.

When you started The Dear Hunter, you intended to put out 6 concept albums which follow the same story. Yet, you stopped at Act III, in order to release the EP’s and “Migrant”. Is “Migrant” an intermission? How are we to perceive it in the whole journey of The Dear Hunter’s wonderful career?
I don’t know if I would consider it an intermission... possibly. I wouldn’t like to think that the closing track of Act VI will be the curtains down on my career, either. In the world of the Act records, I suppose it is a bit of an intermission, but more so for me. I know there are plenty of people whose anxiousness has passed the point of excitement and moved on to upset, and feel that they are waiting for something that might never come. Truthfully, it is a matter of time and passion. I have to have time, and be passionate about continuing on to Acts IV, V and VI... but I know that I will.

“Migrant” has a sound that could potentially be a pretty big commercial success. Reaching mass audiences couldn’t be achieved with the eclectic and difficult sound of The Acts. Do you think that sometime in the future we may listen to your tracks on the radio?
I don’t know... There are plenty of songs on the radio now that, had you asked me 5 years ago, I would have laughed at the idea of their success... but I think that just goes to show how disconnected I am. It would be amazing if the world was to pay more attention to the music I am putting out, but my first love and goal is creating, and more than just that, creating honest and moving music without exclusivity to a genre. The song ‘Whisper’ off of “Mirgrant” has seen some small success at different markets in the US, but I haven’t really toured since the record release, so I don’t know how that translates to show attendance, or the overall success of the band. We will see.

How difficult is it to find the thin line between commercial and qualitative? Do you think that there are hugely successful rock bands out there that have sometime achieved such a balance? Muse perhaps? (I think that your song “Girl” is influenced by them)
I’ve never really thought about it to be honest. I think we’ve all been programmed with enough pop music over the years to have it work our way in subconsciously, so the bits that are ‘hooky’ or ‘pop’ in what I do, are really just there organically. The song ‘Girl’ was actually more influenced by David Bowie, and Prince.

In “Migrant” I can distinguish influences by Kings Of Leon, U2, Muse and at the same time Porcupine Tree or Jeff Buckley. All in a unique dear hunter-ish mix. Observing it from a distance, who do you think that are the artists that played an important part in shaping its sound?
Rufus Wainwright, Elbow, The Beatles, Jeff Buckley, David Bowie, My Parents, Antony and the Johnsons, Doves...

I think that “Shame” is one the best songs you’ve ever written. I would like to tell me a thing or two about this song in particular.
That song was written at a rehearsal one day... I don’t remember how it happened... I think my brother was doing one of his normal ‘in between song drum grooves’ and i started playing and singing, and i had the verse... then all of the sudden I had the chorus... and then the bridge... and it was all there. Lyrically, it is written about a certain person I know, but shouldn’t name.

I’d like to tell you that you did a really awesome work on the production of the album. In which aspects of your sound did you emphasize?
This was the first time I took a step back and said ‘No fixes’... we couldn’t shift timing, reamp guitars, quantize midi, etc... I wanted it to be organic - instead of laboring over the vocals, I wanted to be myself, and pure, and natural... so my vocals were recorded in 4 days... the whole record, and some of the migrations annex. I also wanted to strings to be lush and organic... I guess I am being redundant - ‘Organic’ is the word.

What are your intentions, currently? Are you going to return to your previous conceptual prog rock sound? Or are you going to evolve further in this new face of yours?
At the moment, I am actually writing a symphony to be recorded in November by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in Brno. I am raising funds for this through Pledgemusic.com/thedearhunter

How difficult is it for a band to change its fanbase?
I think the hard thing for a band is that if you ‘try’ to change your fan base, that means you are being inauthentic. If your fan base ebbs and flows with the natural progression of your band, then it’s the easiest thing you can do... but any time you attempt something unnaturally, you end up upsetting the fan base you have already, by almost disowning them, and bothering the fan base you attempt to attain - because they can see through you. Artists should just be themselves. Why would I consider one fan to be better than the other? The most wonderful thing about us, is that we seem to draw people in from all walks, and from all genres.

I would like you to point out the main differences between writing a demanding song with complex structure, organic flow and many changes throughout its duration and writing a 3 or 4 minute long, catchy song with melodies that stick in your mind. What is there that we, the listeners, do not know?
I think the most important thing to remember is that inherently, there is no difference. There are goals with both approach, and to be honest, I think it is harder to write a memorable 3 minute song. Not a bubble gum song, but a memorable pop song... that is very hard. Of course, an 8 minute epic carries its own set of hurdles... The hardest thing, in any form, is to convey worth and meaning. If you have something to say that takes 8 minutes, then take 8 minutes... if you have something to say that takes 1, then take 1... the most important thing is - if you only have 3 minutes of worth, but you are addicted to the mentality that you need to write these lengthy prog epic jams... then you are going to end up with filler - which is like... creative antimatter.

This February you are going to travel to Bahamas on a prog rock cruise with Mike Portnoy and many groups. Are you looking forward to that experience? Which is the band on that cruise-ship that you really want to hang out with?
I am definitely looking forward to this. Being out with amazing musicians, in such a different, and strange setting? Count me in. I am honored that they would ask us to do it, and its going to be a blast. I’m very excited to see Animals as Leaders.

Are there any barriers left to be broken in the progressive rock genre?
I think there are barriers left to be broken in every genre. If I knew them I’d be doing my best to break them down.

What are your plans for the future?
They symphony, as I mentioned, and then anything and everything I can do. I would love to write and record a soul record... would love to get on to the next TDH record, and also have a feeling of needing to return/move on to Act IV... I can’t tell what to do just yet. I am also trying to get my label, Cave and Canary Goods, up and running. The first release will be a full length from the band Naive Thieves from Riverside, California.

What are the albums that have shaped your musical taste as a teenager?
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced?, Bold as Love, Electric Ladyland, Bjork – Vespertine, Mr Bungle – California, Weather Report - Heavy Weather, Pedro the Lion - Control

What is the most memorable gig you’ve ever played?
The Color Spectrum from start to finish in Somerville, MA a couple years ago.

Is there really any chance having a band like The Dear Hunter play in Greece, sometime in the future?
That would be a dream. Help us make it happen!

Thank you a lot for your time, Casey. The last words are yours to say anything you want to The Dear Hunter’s fans in Greece.
Thank you so much for reaching out and conducting the interview. It means a lot that you would take the time, and do what you can to help get the word out about the band. Thank you.