Recently, I was able to schedule a Zoom interview with the band, Letter Kills, to discuss what made them want to start making music again. I asked the band about the memories they had from recording their well-balanced debut The Bridge, why they felt that the record didn’t get as much traction as they had hoped, as well as what went into the writing/recording process of their triumphant new single, “Right Where We Belong.” Letter Kills will also be playing a headlining show at The Observatory in LA with Dead American and Bullets & Octane on July 28th.
Thank you guys so much for your time today. Let’s first talk about your great returning new single called, “Right Where We Belong.” I had an early listen to it, and it definitely re-captures the spirit of The Bridge while still showcasing your growth as a band. So what went into the recording of the new single?
Matt: Yeah, for the new single, we basically had to quickly adapt to how music has changed and making music has changed over the last 20 years. Which is that we aren’t going to be able to get in the garage anytime we want and sweat out any of the songs that we want to write. We’re going to have to pass around some voice memos and some Pro Tools sessions, logic tracks, and all that stuff. And so that’s kind of how we started writing this song. And then we kind of pieced it together from there. And even when we got it, when we finally got in the studio, that’s kind of where I feel like it was the first time we were able to kind of hear it completely through. Which is a really weird way to do things. But it was awesome.
Tim: As Matt was saying, we threw ideas back and forth through text messaging and I would throw out a riff. So after several riffs, these guys locked onto one that was kind of like what they felt was their favorite of the bunch that I’d been sending. And so, they kind of just decided, okay, that’s the one. So we incorporated that into the choruses that Matt had built out. And then when we got into the studio, Kyle had some bass riffs that he had been hoping to get into something we were doing. He kept hearing a certain thing. So I was really glad that we got his riff in there. And then he was like, “which one should I do?” And I said, “Do both of them. Let’s get both of them in there.” So we got everything that we could. And then the song really kind of came together as we were tracking it. And then as more just kind of writing, the three of us from Letter Kills, the original Letter Kills, we hadn’t really kept in touch more than maybe checking in on each other every year or two and so just to kind of be communicating and passing ideas back and forth, and kind of getting the mojo going again.
Kyle: It was so refreshing to do that and exciting and I kind of when all that was happening I work in an area where Gene lives and we have a lot of history and know Gene well where our bands toured together in the past and kind of on the same wavelength, musically and our similar philosophy of writing songs and recording. So getting him on board and him being willing to jump on board, it fit so well. And being in the studio for the first time with the four of us along with Joey, it was just magical.
Yeah, so your debut record, The Bridge, came out right around this time in 2004. So it just celebrated another birthday, apparently on July 2nd. So, what have you each been up to since you stepped away from the band for a moment or two?
Matt: Yeah, so I I joined another band called The Wedding that I was in for a while, toured for about 6 years with that band and then got an opportunity to come off the road. The church I go to here in Fort Texas offered me a position as a pastor of the music and arts ministry of the church. And so I came off the road and I started working there. I’ve been there for about 10 years and have been doing music here and there. I started another project called Panther City Riots and just do that kind of on the side and then really just find my time for Letter Kills to come back.
Tim: Let’s see. So probably the day after we had to kind of go our separate ways back in 2006, the day after I started substitute teaching in Temecula and Murrieta, out where we were living. And then that summer, moved back to where I grew up, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and I went back and got my master’s degree in education. And I’ve been teaching freshman English for about 15 years now. And musically, for the last few years, I’ve been pretty busy playing gospel and praise and worship at the local church here, and I’m one of the music directors over there. And just electric guitar duties keeps me active and keeps me learning a lot of new songs and new ways of looking at a guitar.
Gene: It’s an interesting perspective from my point of view, ’cause my band, Bullets and Octane, used to play with Letter Kills, and we were all huge fans. I remember having The Bridge CD in our blue van when we would tour and so when I got the call from a mutual friend, about a year ago, that there was a possibility of this coming together and there was interest in me being a part of it. I was like, that would be so amazing, but I was just excited to hear that they were going to come back together. But the fact that I get to play drums in it was just with a cherry on top and everything. So you know I really appreciate the fact that we all trusted each other to come together, me as the new guy and I know those guys, they just said they hadn’t communicated too much or it musically especially. So for us to come together and just kind of be quickly put into a studio and go, OK, here we go. And for the song…You said it earlier that it just sounds like such a great continuation of The Bridge, and in my opinion as a fan, it feels like it never missed a beat. It just has more of a relevant sound of where it came from. It was the graduation record that we all wanted to hear from The Bridge. And I just feel so blessed to be a part of it that they put me at the helm of the sticks and entrusted my go at it. And I just couldn’t be happier. And I look forward to putting together more songs with these guys because it just felt so natural, and the timing was right, and I’m just so I’m just very proud to be a part of it, man.
Awesome, and welcome aboard too!
Kyle: Gene, has had some big shoes to fill with being behind those drums and he’s he’s, he’s got some chops, man. So he’s so fun to play with. Some big feet himself.
Yeah, I think I’ve seen Bullets and Octane before. You guys used to play with Zebrahead and Unwritten Law before, right?
Gene: That’s right.
Ok, yeah then I’ve seen you guys a couple different times. You guys kicked ass!
Kyle: Yeah, just to go on record, I’m a fan of Bullets and have continued to be a fan for years…
I understand you guys are gonna be playing a few shows coming up this summer, at least one that I see on the website right now. So what are you most looking forward to getting back on the stage together? And what do you think your band chemistry is gonna be like?
Matt: I think it’s gonna be a lot more fun because just sharing the stage with people, it can be lonely, or it can be intimate. And I feel like the way that we’ve been able to develop our relationships over this year, or seven months, or wherever we’re at in the year and invest in this song, I just think we were all a lot more present and connected in the writing of this process. So that for me that’s gonna make the stage that much better and that much more rewarding to be able to get up on stage with these guys because without getting too much into it that, we got so big so fast with The Bridge and we didn’t really get a chance to develop that type of connection off the stage. And so, I’m excited about playing these songs. I was kind of nervous to sing The Bridge record 20 years later to see how my voice would hold up with some of these songs and some of the attack, but so far the newer one is actually the harder vocal one. So we’ll see how that goes.
Gene: Kyle didn’t get a chance to mention that he is one of our heroes, as a first responder. He’s been working at a fire department and doing a great job out there in our communities. And so he’s California’s finest!
Kyle: Alright, that’s a little generous. That’s a lot. Yeah, I have. I’ve been working for a fire department as a paramedic firefighter. Then, yeah, married with a few kids and enjoying life. And I’m very blessed to be doing what I’m doing.
That’s great! I think I remember that I discovered your guy’s band when I was shopping at Target one time, back in the early 2000s, and the music video for “Don’t Believe” was playing on the TV in the store. So, of course I bought the CD right then and there of The Bridge. Why do you think the record didn’t get as much traction as you would have maybe hoped from Island Records?
Kyle: I mean, we all kind of have different perspectives on it. I think there are a few things that kind of stick out in my mind. The label wanted to push a certain song and we didn’t feel like that represented us best for a first impression, so we went with another one, with that song being “Don’t Believe.” When that came out to radio, there were a bunch of other established bands. There’s only so many spots to get on. And there were five or seven established bands that came out then that we couldn’t compete with, right? And that coupled with our label getting a new CEO kind of mixed in all of this. Our first single didn’t take off like we had hoped and the new CEO came in, wanted us to just regroup, get off the road, and write another record. We felt like we were just ready to take off. So it kind of took the wind out of our sails a little bit.
Tim: That’s kind of from my perspective what happened. I can agree with that to a great extent. We were pulled off the road within about six months of the record coming out and when you’re off the road like you’re out, you’re not visible anymore. So we weren’t in front of people. So it was really just back to the garage to write another record. Meanwhile, that’s missing out on all the opportunities that we could have had to go get out there in front of people and to continue to win people over through our live shows, and as Kyle said, without that push at radio, it was just “it”. We literally disappeared from everyone’s radar. But it really wasn’t our decision and our choice. With our management and the record label, they felt like that was the better move for us to go in and knock out a second record. But in reality, that just meant we disappeared, so. That’s probably something that played a factor for you.
Yeah, it’s unfortunate because the songs are so strong on The Bridge. It’s a really balanced record.
Matt: So, thanks Adam. I just yeah, that I mean the timing has so much to do with music. I mean that’s why we can find some of our favorite bands and really question why the world doesn’t know them or love them like we do and. So we had the new CEO takeover at Island. He brought in a band, who by the way was Fall Out Boy. So it’s like, what do you…there’s only so many options you have as a band, especially on a major label. They’re really hedging their bets. And so for us to kind of, like Kyle said, for us to kind of fight the single that the label wanted to push. I just think I don’t know that we would do it differently. I think that’s a hard way to look at things. But I do think it definitely plays a role in you know when you have an investor trying to figure out where they want to place their money and time and effort and things like that. And then on top of that, like Tim said, if we could have I think if we could have toured a little bit more and kind of had more time to ask the questions that we needed to before we went into the second record. I think that would have helped a lot too.
That’s a very, very short turnaround time in the industry. For six months to be pulled off after the album’s out there. So yeah, that does surprise me, too. So do you guys plan to shoot a music video for “Right Where We Belong?” And if so, what are some of the concepts you guys are kind of toying with at this time?
Matt: So we’ve talked about shooting a music video. We’ll see if we can make that happen. I mean, for us coming back, even though we’re established and we have a fanbase and we’re able to kind of step back on a certain level, we still don’t have money. Because we’re basically like a band starting out for the first time when it comes to capital and stuff like that. So you know we want to play some shows, get some music out and if we can make a music video happen we’re going to do it. Basically anything we can make happen, we’re going to do creatively and stuff like that. So we’re going to play this show, and hopefully play some more shows this fall. Hop on some shows with some friends and then next year, oh, we talked about potentially releasing a single this fall, too. And just kind of like starting to kind of write right now and toss back ideas to see if that’s the possibility to go and follow it up. So we don’t just put out a song and then people kind of wonder what else.
Yeah, don’t disappear again right away! (Laughter)
Matt: <Laughter> Yeah, so we’re gonna try to put out another single. So here’s hoping for that this fall and then next year, hopefully with the 20th anniversary of The Bridge, play some shows across the country to kind of commemorate what The Bridge was, and kind of give us and our fans that moment to kind of like honor and celebrate that record. But then, hopefully by next fall we can release a follow-up record.
Excellent. That’s great to hear. So after 19 years since the debut record came out, what do you hope fans will feel once they hear the new single, in full, on July 21st for the first time? What do you hope people will most take away from listening to this?
Kyle: Well I was just going to say I thought that I had as you were asking that question was we have there there are still so many people who have never heard of us, and I’m not ashamed at all to show them The Bridge if it’s their first time. I’m super proud of that record. I think it holds up really well and I think it sounds really good too. Just sonically, it’s a good sounding record. It’s an exciting, well-balanced record. So when I show people that record and they’ve never heard of our band, or knew about us before, usually the reaction is positive. So I’m hoping that we can still get behind the songs that we put out 20 years ago and add to that some new new music.
Matt: So I think it’s probably a combination of winning over new fans as well as reacquainting ourselves with the old fans you know that are still out there. I think yeah plan the show. I wanted anybody who has heard of us. That’s gonna come out and see us. There’s gonna be some nostalgia there, but I don’t want it to feel like we’re just doing it for memories there. Of course that’s incorporated. But I want to have a feeling of like we’re hitting the ground running and picking up where we left off. Absolutely back, stronger than we were. So that’s what I hope they can feel and and and and and hope for some more out of us in the future. Nice, good way of putting it, yeah.
And some people have asked in our forums when we put out the news release about the new single, is there ever going to be a vinyl of The Bridge?
Matt: At this moment, with the 20th anniversary, I will say I would love to make that happen. Yep, we’d love to. We’d especially love to put it out on vinyl. The Bridge, It feels like it fits us. The biggest thing is if we can get the rights to do so. So it’s tough, but we’re gonna be working on that because that would be a really great thing for us to be able to do.
And the clock is ticking because it takes almost a full year to get a vinyl record out, you know?
Kyle: Yeah, right now it’s crazy. Yeah, we do have a guy that’s playing with us. I don’t know if the guys know this, but a guy that’s playing guitar with us on the 28th is married to someone who is in the vinyl industry. So again, just throwing that out there.
Any last words for you guys fans or or reason to check out the new single on the 21st?
Gene: These are words of our lead singer and our fearless leader, Matthew. When it’s all said and done and the pads go down, we all come together and we’re really right where we belong. And that’s the bridge that connects us.
<Laughter> That is beautiful. That’s definitely a mic drop moment! Thanks again for your time!
Letter Kills: Thanks, Adam. Appreciate it!