Interview with Disalto bassist Joe Friedman

One Beacon in the Strand is the sophomore release from Los Angeles hard rockers Disalto. This disc is a collection of songs that could easily be heard on virtually any modern rock station across the country. It is a high-energy rock album that begs to be played at top volume. The skillful musicianship and dazzling production make this disc quite and enjoyable listen. Recently I submitted a number of questions for the band to answer which bassist Joe Friedman took the time to compile and submit. Here is what the band had to say about their new release, One Beacon in the Strand.

Now that your new CD, One Beacon in the Strand, is complete how do you feel about it? Are you satisfied with the outcome?
Joe: One Beacon in the Strand definitely proved to be way more challenging than our debut album, Accepting the Sequence. Working on a strict budget obviously limits the amount of time you can spend in the studio so there are a number of things we feel we could’ve done better. However, working with a producer for the first time demanded that we check our egos at the door and do what’s best for each song. We learned how to listen to each other on every aspect of the song and we got a better understanding of our strengths and weaknesses as musicians, since they were all magnified. As for our satisfaction with the album as a whole, we would definitely have to say yes. Working with Mike Major during the mixing and mastering process showed us how important it is to have an engineer that understands the flow of the album and knows how to maximize its sonic potential.

What was the writing process like for this CD? Did you guys all write together? How long did it take?
Joe: The writing process was very refreshing at first because of the wide array of ideas we each brought to the table. Some of the foundations and melodies of the songs began as early as the summer of 2008 after our first overseas show in Tel Aviv, Israel. However, most of the album was written and fine-tuned before our performances on the Vans Warped Tour in 2009. As we came closer to the studio date, things started to become a bit more arduous. 99% of our songs were written together in our rehearsal studio, so we were all hell-bent on having everything done before we went into the recording studio. We knew things could change once we started recording, which they did, but we wanted to know our songs as well as possible beforehand.

Give us some insight into the meaning behind the title One Beacon in the Strand?
Joe: The title came from a love/hate relationship with Los Angeles and the “eclectic” music scene that some people claim it has. Yes, we do feel that L.A. has a lot to offer musically, and we definitely have a list of talented local bands who we love to share the stage with, but we also feel that you have to sift through a lot of shit to find it. That’s where the title came from. We know that Disalto is not reinventing the wheel, but we definitely feel that we provide a breath a fresh air or a beacon of light, so to speak, in a cluttered and predictable music scene.

Are there any tracks on this disc that are personal favorites or that have good stories behind them?
Joe: The whole album tends to carry a theme of pursuing what you love, pushing through self-doubt, and experiencing the emotions throughout the whole journey. Musically and lyrically, the whole band loves “Lightbulb” since we feel it represents all of those elements, however “Passport” is nostalgic because it was inspired by our amazing experience of playing in Israel.

What is the toughest lesson you have ever learned in the studio and on the stage?
Joe: In the studio we learned that it’s very difficult to get things to sound like you originally envision. Happy mistakes are sometimes prevalent and it helps the songs take on a life of their own. On stage, we found out that the best shows happen when you roll with the mistakes and leave it all out there. It’s important to play well, but it’s more important to perform relentlessly and do everything possible to connect with the audience.

What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?
Joe: We’ve already touched on both a little, but it would definitely be playing the kickoff show of Warped Tour 09’ in our hometown and playing live in Tel Aviv, Israel. Both experiences helped us realize why we do what we do and what being in a band is all about.

Every band has its musical influences. What are some of the other bands and artists that have greatly influenced you guys and your music?
Joe: Wow, there are so many to choose from. Collectively, we were definitely inspired by the groundbreaking Alternative bands of the 90’s such as Radiohead, At the Drive In, Deftones, Tool, and Refused. Some of the more contemporary bands would be Dredg, Sigur Ros, Glassjaw, and Circa Survive. Individually speaking, we all have our favorites: Oren’s into Disturbed and Dream Theatre. Dana loves Rage Against the Machine and Incubus. Carlos has a lot of respect for Thrice. Joe and Dave are influenced by Death Cab for Cutie, Bloc Party, and Mogwai.

If you could jam with any famous musician, dead or alive, from any century, who would it be and why?
Joe: Dave would love to jam with any and all members of Radiohead. He feels that their range and diversity, use of electronics, and immense understanding of movements set them apart from the rest. Carlos would wanna jam with Mitch Mitchell of The Experience and Santana. Dana is captivated by Jimi Hendrix so he figures why not? Joe is floored by Jon Theodore’s drumming style (formally for The Mars Volta) and Les Claypool’s undeniable virtuosity on the bass. While Oren, on the other hand, just feels privileged to be in a band of Disalto’s caliber, so why should he desire anything else?!… honestly… he’s just happy when he’s creating with any talented musicians at any given time.

Do you have any touring plans made yet?
Joe: Tour dates are in the works for the remaining months of 2010 and early in 2011 but nothing is set in stone yet… we’re always open to suggestions so let us know if you want us to play your town!

Will you be going on the road with anyone in particular?
Joe: No one specific, but we definitely have some potential fits that would make a great tour. I guess you’ll know when we do!

Any closing words?
Joe: In closing, sometimes great music is built and matured through adversity. If it comes easy, it’s probably not as good as it can be. Hopefully, new fans can listen to our album, come out to our shows and know that our music comes from an honest place. That being said, thanks for listening to Disalto and please support your scene!  [ END ]