Fair To Midland

Como prometido, segue aqui a entrevista ao guitarrista dos Fair To Midland (Cliff Campbell) que, apesar de andar seriamente ocupado com assuntos ligados à banda, disponibilizou algum tempo a responder a oito perguntas, tanto acerca do novo lançamento (Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times is True), como sobre a banda, em geral.

First, let me congratulate you for the great band Fair To Midland is and thank you for accepting to do this interview.

LAF - So, Cliff, tell me about the joining to Serjical Strike.
CC- Serjical Strike was the best label for us to get on because of Serj [Tankian]. It is very hard to find a label in this industry that has people that truthfully respects and cares about their artists. Serj is one of those people.

LAF - How is like to work with Serj Tankian?

CC - It is great. We got to put down the music on the album the way we wanted it because of Serj. He is a very enlightening human being.

LAF - Fables From a Mayfly... is receiving positive critics everywhere, Dance of the Manatee is getting airplay across America and you played at Coachella Festival last year. How are you guys facing the fact of suddenly have all the eyes over you?
CC - Well sometimes it is a little odd, but for the most part it doesn't phase us. We play the same show for 10 people that we do for 10,000 so it is all the same in that respect. We are very appreciative of the kind words people have been saying in reviews.

LAF - Your composition style is so original that is extraordinary to listen those rhythm variations and instrumental combinations. How works your composition process?
CC - Well a lot of the songs will be put together by one of us mostly and then brought to the table to add vocals too. I think that has a lot to do with where he ends up going vocally. We also have varying musical tastes in the band such as country, metal, pop, none, industrial, stoner rock.

LAF - In this record we are presented with a great sense of melody and strength , heaviness at the same time. Who brings the melody and who brings the heavy sounds?
CC - Darroh of course vocally, and Matt has a great sense of where each song should go when I am playing all of the heavier riffs I compose. I tend to be the heaviness.

LAF - Fables From a Mayfly... could be seen as the starting point of a great career?
CC - It could be looked at in many ways nowadays. I will be optimistic and say yes.

LAF - Maybe you have been asked this thousands of times, but what musical genres define Fair To Midland? Prog Rock, Alternative Metal, Art Rock?
CC - I can see art rock more so than prog. I remember this being the "no comment" question for me at all of the interviews [risos]. I always tell people we are a Patsy Cline cover band, but I don't think you can get away with that.

LAF - Could we expect an European tour this year?
CC - I am hoping for one, but moneywise I don’t see it happening for a good amount of time.