Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
https://youtu.be/iD9cP78y34w
Changing Tymz’s new single, “Shark Attack,” is a promising example of what we can expect from their upcoming album. The song is a touching and masterful tribute to drummer Tony Rossi’s late brother and former bandmate, Peter Rossi. They wrote the towering first riff together before Peter passed from a fentanyl overdose in 2017, and the song draws a parallel between the suddenness of his passing and a shark attack. The maze-like series of guitar runs resemble the tangled paths of grief, while Wolfe’s melodies and lyrics speak to the psychological pains of addicts and those close to them.
The music video for “Shark Attack,” directed by Rossi and friend Tom Fox Davies, explores the damaging consequences of drugs. In the film, a group of martial artists becomes confronted by the real violence that drugs bring to their community. While we’d expect them to be prepared to fight, it takes more than fists of fury to overcome addiction and its miscreants. They suffer losses but ultimately find peace and recovery in connection. As the video fades out, the band stands almost at salute behind Peter Rossi’s guitar, a remembrance and memorial to a life lived in music.
Oddly, even with having changed vocalists and a guitar player, how we write or come up with things really won’t and hasn’t changed much, if any, at all. Musically, other than “Shark Attack” or the song “Emptiness” off the EP we released in early 2020, which were written around drum lines, we start with a guitar idea for a song. The drummer works through that to find his groove, adds breaks and works it back and forth between the guitarists until we have it where we want. Once that is established, we send it to Bryan, who works with the drums, but yet adds a melodic bass that compliments the rhythm guitar. Then it goes to Joann; after she has the melody, Tony writes the lyrics to fit and Joann then works them into the song. Lastly, we add in the guitar solos and, if needed, a lead rhythm as well. Fortunately, we have the capability to do all this by sending our tracks around as we all have home studios; this couldn’t happen without that. So, the collaboration process is one that allows us to work out our ideas at home at each individual’s creative pace, and then share them with the band instead of the pressure and limits of writing in the same room. It truly is a perfect set-up to work as a unit and allows the highest level of creativity from us as individuals.
What is the songwriting and production period like?
It’s a very enjoyable process writing songs when working with seasoned committed players. We are all on the same page from A-to-Z. It is an exciting time to watch ideas become songs and keep getting refined with ideas and creativity. That will usually run its course as we let all the ideas and input have a say. Once the creative work is done, we then move to production. Our bassist, Bryan, has a state-of-the-art studio in Columbus, Ohio where we do all the final production. Bryan is a pleasure to work with as well as a virtuoso on the bass. When we go to final production, we all know our parts, having every hit/note accounted for, which makes things easier to record. This allows drums to go 1st, then all others can just record their parts to the drum tracks, which produces a tight polished sound at the end. Bryan then works the magic mixing it all together. The final stage is the mastering which is done in California by Maor Appelbaum.
“Shark Attack” is a heartfelt tribute to drummer Tony Rossi’s late brother and former bandmate Peter Rossi. Can you describe the experience creating the track?
It was inspiring to take such a tra,gedy and turn it into a positive thing. The loss of Pete will never go away so it’s good to have a sense of pride knowing as a band we are creating a song that will plant the seeds that show the destruction and violence addictive drugs cause. Pete would want that. We, as a society, need to plant these seeds as the fentanyl crisis is a VERY serious problem. The last drum line Pete recorded for Tony before Pete passed from an overdose of fentanyl was the beginning of the music video/song. The exact drum line was re-recorded in Columbus and worked into a song, under the idea: “What would Pete have written over this.” We wanted to capture that, and we did. Creating this track and the video gave us the feeling Pete was still working with us and is as much a part of this song as the actual band members themselves, and Pete now is also helping us to warn others of these dangerous drugs. This gives us all a feeling of accomplishment.
What can you tease about your upcoming album?
It’s an album where the melodies and lyrics will grab you and the powerful diverse music will call to your emotions. We consider CHANGING TYMZ to be a band that writes outside the box, opens up lyrically and musically, and, in doing that, has created our own unique sound. The upcoming album debuts 11 new tracks including songs that deal with the loss of a loved one; fighting for your dreams; the spirits of black shadow people; and the valor of knights of old that knew truths about the foundations of life. The album will take you on a journey through your thoughts in the hopes of opening your mind to better decisions, leaving the listener with a positive vibe. Musically, we pulled out all the stops! Throughout the album, we showcase the passion we have for our instruments, yet, as seasoned veterans of the trade, everyone writes with maturity to create a polished tight sound as every piece is thought out with purpose. Whether it’s good music, good songs, or inspiring lyrics with flowing melodies that you enjoy, this album will leave listeners satisfied.
Is there a specific song you’d like fans to look out for once it’s released?
One we feel strongly about is called “So Far Away.” The idea was spawned as a result of Bryan’s fiancée passing when the band was first together. The idea evolved to be a song for anyone that has lost someone close and will be the single released ahead of the album.
Why were the music video’s topics of martial arts and the impact of drugs and violence the best way to represent the song?
Tony’s brother, Pete, owned and operated a recording studio named Shark Attack Studios. The song’s lyrics came from the studio’s name (Shark Attack) using the analogy of a shark attack representing a drug addiction. Addictive drugs usually bring in some kind of violence in one way or another sometimes resulting in death, much like a shark attack. Addiction and shark attacks are so similar as they are hard to get away from and they both can end your life. The correlation was so fitting following what happened to Pete and the name of his studio.
The martial arts came into play as our drummer, Tony, has a passion for karate and has a 2nd degree black belt in a state-of-the-art martial arts academy in the south hills of Pittsburgh, PA. The ATA McMurray Martial Arts Academy, having produced three world champions, just seemed to provide the perfect backdrop for an action-packed storyline that shows what happens if addictive drugs enter into even such an honorable environment as a Martial Arts community. The video was filmed in Pittsburgh at the ATA McMurray Martial Arts Academy dojo and surrounding areas with the school’s Demo Team. So the Use of martial arts not only provides a powerful element that drives home the point, but was also a HUGE Blessing as it was accessible. Master Stadtfeld and the whole academy were a joy to work with.
What are Changing Tymz plans for the future of the group’s music career?
Changing Tymz is a strong unit as we have had to make changes in our line-up, learning to grow and trust each other. We now have a solid line-up, so as long as we are able, we will continue to write and record music. We are also hoping to attract the attention of promotors with increased airplay and our growing fan base. This would land us in opening spots for national acts. We would welcome the opportunity to tour and play our music live on the stages that will have us. As it stands we are self-contained, but if a label wants to team up with us, we would be open to that possibility. So for now, continue to expect us to produce Great songs with passionate music, dynamic vocals that are electrifying and deliciously melodic with inspiring lyrics that will open your mind to positive views on life. In turn, we will be expecting to meet you out on tour. Till then, the Metal Lives On! Blessings.
