City Of The Weak

City Of The Weak are a great American band and one of the hardest working. With their new album Pulling Teeth out now. Stef w/ an F answered my questions and the go check out their tunes.

https://www.cityoftheweakofficial.com

1. How did you get into music?

When I was a kid growing up, I was always really lonely. I wrote stories which turned into poetry, which turned into song lyrics once I was gifted a piano from my grandma around age 8. I wasn’t really exposed to a whole lot of music since I was from a small town & my parents didn’t listen to music. So whenever I wanted to hear something, I just wrote what i felt like hearing.

2. How did the inspiration for the album come about?

Working in the music industry & dealing with all the bullshit that you come across is literally pulling teeth. Everyone has an opinion about what you need to do different or better, & everyone has something to say. There’s never merit behind any of it, & you have to remember that one person’s opinion is just that; it’s an OPINION. We’ve never fit in with any of the cliques that come in the rock scene, nor do we want to. Pulling Teeth is our raw, real story that showcases exactly who we are and why we are here to stay.

3. How did the recording and production process go for the album?

We went into the studio in May 2016 w/ Craig Owens & Jordan Disorbo to get 3 songs done. Then we came back Oct/Nov 2016 & finished the rest of the album. Working with Craig & Jordan was literally the dream team. It was so great to work with a team that was insanely invested in authentic, original work. It was never about “you can’t do that cuz that won’t sell” or “you can’t say that because it’s too specific” like working with a lot of producers is. It was quite the opposite, & Craig encouraged me to get deeper & more specific, & it felt great to say all the things that I’ve been wanting to say. It felt amazing not to be stifled in our creativity. We had definitely been in a box for awhile, & breaking out was fucking phenomenal.

4. Was the recording process different to earlier releases?

Yeah, we really took things slower this time around & made sure things were recorded exactly how we wanted them. We just were a lot more mature & more familiar with the recording process. Our first two EP’s were very experimental & we were very new at the whole process so we just went with the flow. This time around we really took charge.

5. Has your songwriting changed from when you were starting out?

Oh yes! Our first two EP’s were written solely with jam sessions. Everyone plays their part in rehearsal & when you get to the studio everyone is discovering what things sound like for the first time ever. For “Pulling Teeth” we demoed everything out beforehand, & listened to what we were doing before making final decisions about what to lay down.

6. What has been the best piece of advice you have been given about your music career?

“Enjoy the journey because being on top isn’t what it seems.”

7. Do you have set theme for your music or does it go with the flow and changes?

We are very socially conscious so we like to address injustices that we see around us, we’ve written about child abuse, animal rights, gay rights, & more. Obviously whatever issues we are facing in our lives at the moment are our biggest inspiration. A common theme throughout our career has been about not giving up when the world is against you, & that you are in control of your own life.

8. Do like to write with out inspiration or distractions or do you need a bit of both?

I like to write just a few minutes every day. I feel like all my best ideas come right away. The longer I sit there trying to think about things, the more forced it becomes. 20 minutes at a time is what works for me.

9. How important is having a plan in place for your music?

Having a plan is everything. So many bands fail at various stages of their careers, simply because they didn’t have a plan in place. You have to be prepared for everything, & know how to face obstacles when they arise.

10. How important is your brand City Of The Weak?

Our brand is everything. We are very edgy, modern, & we don’t give a fuck what people think. We are more than just a band, we want to build an empire. We want to lead a movement of people who don’t fit in anywhere, people who have been the underdog & been underestimated. We want to show people that they are not what other people think about them. They define themselves.