Awsten Knight isn’t nonetheless. The Waterparks bandleader always busies himself, working extra fluidly when he’s being inventive — whether or not via writing new songs, selling the band by way of all-caps social media posts, or dreaming up vibrant streetwear for his clothes model hii-def. Naturally, the band have turned their consideration towards a brand new undertaking: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 2: LOST IN THE PROPERTY — a correct companion to final 12 months’s wildly experimental INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Whereas the unique revenge anthem “FUCK ABOUT IT” featured a gut-wrenching verse from blackbear, the brand new reimagining, “FAI2,” faucets their former FANDOM tourmate Zeph, who provides a contemporary spin to the observe. Within the phrases of Knight, the brand new model “takes the best components about what [they] each do and merges them,” so we put the duo in dialog.
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Collectively, they discover the creation of the brand new tune — together with some important trivia. Zeph, for one, made Knight depart the room earlier than laying down her verse, whereas the Waterparks frontman recorded the barking noises stay, fairly than counting on a pattern. Additionally they discover time to plot out (unhealthy) PR stunts, increase Otto Wooden’s “serial killer” lore, and mull over making a full-length film that includes Carly Rae Jepsen. As ever, although, their levity is buoyed by a years-long friendship as they reminisce on their first assembly, their need to raised themselves, and their mutual admiration for each other.
AWSTEN KNIGHT: After I first realized of you, I used to be having breakfast with Joel [Madden], and he was like, “Dude, this lady’s superior. It’s best to actually take a look at her stuff.” And I used to be identical to, “Rattling, you are proper about all of this.” I additionally keep in mind the primary time that we met.
ZEPH: Oh, my God, I used to be so awkward.
KNIGHT: You had been simply quiet, however you are at all times quiet so no matter. It was on the FANDOM tour. You got here out to the Baltimore present, and that is the primary time that we would met. However all proper, I’m going to leap in with a query. Did you fuck with Waterparks at first? Did it take a second to develop on you, or do you not like Waterparks in any respect?
ZEPH: I had heard of Waterparks, and I really had saved a tune on one in all my playlists, however I did not make the connection till later. I solely began actually listening to your music after the present.
KNIGHT: I keep in mind after the present you had been like, “I’ve by no means seen that many individuals crowd surf.” And I used to be like, “Yeah dude, they go onerous right here.” However let me ask you this: We have talked about being onstage and touring a bunch, however did it make you need to play reveals? What was the vibe once you noticed the present? Often after I see somebody play, I am like, “Fuck, I want I used to be taking part in proper now.”
ZEPH: After I see individuals play, I get extra impressed. I begin pondering of concepts — what would I do? The “Cherry Crimson” opening lives in my head, and I take into consideration the right way to open concert events huge like that now, though I’m scared to carry out. Now I’ve a query: Should you had an infinite finances for a “FUCK ABOUT IT” music video, what would you do?
KNIGHT: Limitless.
ZEPH: Limitless.
KNIGHT: I might straight up simply make it a film. I might have us do a whole full-length film, nevertheless it’s nearly the entire Otto [Wood] serial killer factor…
ZEPH: God. Nope.
KNIGHT: Simply grasp on. It is a film about it that is additionally bought factual data in it. Data after which factual details about Otto and his crime. Throughout his remaining homicide, the place he begins to be caught by the police, we play the bridge of “FUCK ABOUT IT” — the actual heavy half. When the credit roll, that’s when the precise tune premieres. It’s form of Halloween-y, in a manner.
ZEPH: On the finish, after the entire full-length film.
KNIGHT: Sure, with Carly Rae Jepsen lip-syncing it subsequent to the credit. Limitless finances, we will afford it. I additionally suppose the video that we made goes to be actually fucking loopy. The whole lot that I’ve seen up to now, it is trying so good. What’s a reminiscence that you’ve of doing this observe collectively?
ZEPH: Nicely, I wouldn’t allow you to hear me sing.
KNIGHT: Oh yeah. A memorable second throughout the recording of it was undoubtedly you being like, “I will document now, and it’s essential depart.” And I used to be identical to, “Shit effective. So long as it occurs, I am completely satisfied.” I got here again in and listened, and I used to be like, “Fuck yeah.”
ZEPH: For me, I additionally keep in mind watching you document the barking half stay. It was fascinating.
KNIGHT: The factor is, I attempt to not use samples or different individuals’s stuff if I haven’t got to. Simply because the much less of it that you simply do, the extra no one could have the sounds that you simply’re doing.
ZEPH: With the canine toys.
KNIGHT: I do have canine toys. I feel it is effective. I feel everyone ought to have a canine toy as a deal with. However anyway, subsequent query. Should you may describe our collaboration in three phrases, what would they be and why?
ZEPH: The primary three that come to thoughts is a very long time coming.
KNIGHT: That is really very reasonable as a result of we had talked about doing this for years, and I had despatched you guitars earlier than, and also you had despatched me vocal layers earlier than, however we would by no means achieved a correct function.
ZEPH: And y’all don’t do loads of options, so I am honored.
KNIGHT: It is true. 100%. I actually solely do options for those who I’m actually simply buddies with. what I imply? I do not know in case you get these, however generally I get DMs from individuals the place I am identical to, “How do you even learn about us?” The place they’re like, “What do you cost for a function?” And I am identical to, “I am not doing this. I do not know you. I do not need to be related to you.”
ZEPH: Do not need to pull a Drake “Wah Gwan Delilah.”
KNIGHT: I imply, possibly we must always cowl that. That could possibly be our subsequent collab… After I hear songs, they’re at all times little moments or facets that I get very enthusiastic about — whether or not it is part of an instrumental, a piece, or one thing that occurs to transition. What are your favourite moments on this observe?
ZEPH: Nicely, to not toot my very own horn, however I actually just like the strings. The entire tune is a distinct vibe from the unique. I really feel such as you bought loopy with it. You understand how as soon as you are taking an image and also you deep fry it?
KNIGHT: You suppose deep-fried fuck about it. That is enjoyable. It suits in a bizarre manner. I like that it goes from hyper-futuristic to completely orchestral, after which it begins merging the 2, after which it simply will get heavy as shit.
ZEPH: I additionally just like the scream sound on the finish. It seems like a dentist drilling right into a tooth. There are loads of brain-tickler moments.
KNIGHT: It takes the best components about what we each do and merges them.
ZEPH: So lots of my songs swap genres within the center. I even have a bunch of songs I am making from my album, and there is one in all them that switches genres three or 4 instances. I’ve a query associated to this. How do you steadiness staying true to your creative imaginative and prescient whereas collaborating with another person?
KNIGHT: I feel I’ve mentioned this earlier than, however I really feel like I was extra protecting, the place I am like, “No, nobody can contact something.”
ZEPH: That is form of how I’m.
KNIGHT: It is tremendous cheap to be that manner, particularly once you’re so used to having to look out for your self like that. I’ve achieved classes the place I can inform the early on, “Oh, these writers simply don’t care.” It makes you get a defend round you nearly. So to reply the query, I really feel like that is another excuse I like working with buddies a lot. It’s such a trusting course of, the place somebody’s going to allow you to do your factor but additionally recommend enhancements. If you’re working with individuals that you simply additionally respect as an artist, then it makes you extra comfy.
ZEPH: You belief them to not make the tune horrible.
KNIGHT: Yeah. I used to be prepared to go away the room as a result of I used to be like, “Hear, Zeph may be very fucking good. I will go get a espresso.” Then I got here again, and I listened, and I used to be like, “Yeah, this slams 100%.” Do you suppose we’ll collaborate once more sooner or later, and if that’s the case, what sort of initiatives would you envision?
ZEPH: We bought to make that film. Should you may have a 3rd function on the tune, nevertheless it must be acoustic, who would you might have featured?
KNIGHT: Oh man, that is actually onerous. The issue is I might need it to make sense acoustic, so I am instantly like, “Let’s get Demise Cab on this.” However the factor is, my life can be higher if I had any kind of Donald Glover collab.
ZEPH: It’s best to hit him up.
KNIGHT: I do not need him to know I exist. I’ve met so many individuals that I like that at this level, I simply need to have just a few that also have mystique round them.
ZEPH: Yeah, that is smart. It’s bizarre. I will go to a celebration and simply hang around with and speak to somebody that I used to be begging my sisters to get me signed vinyl from them two years in the past. What recommendation would you give to aspiring musicians primarily based in your experiences?
KNIGHT: There are such a lot of angles and so many issues that folks would wish recommendation on as a result of it consumes every thing you do. I really feel like I may reply this one for the subsequent three days, however I feel one of many extra common issues I may say is predicated on a dialog I had a few months in the past the place this dude that I do not know got here as much as me and was speaking to me about music like, “I’m simply attempting to get began. How do you earn money with this?”
That is simply not the query that try to be asking. There’s a lot to it, and in case you’re actually in it, it’ll be hectic, and there is going to be peaks and valleys, and it’ll absolutely eat you. Should you actually find it irresistible sufficient, you must determine that it is price it. You need to do issues that you’d do free of charge, and the one manner you are going to succeed is in case you do it since you find it irresistible and you’d simply do it it doesn’t matter what. There are anomalies and issues come and go, and generally issues have a flash within the pan, however for essentially the most half, you simply should hold doing it — do it each day since you actually find it irresistible. You have simply bought to be a lifer with it. Present up each day and do not instantly anticipate to be profitable as a result of nobody outdoors of Houston actually knew who we had been for 4 years, and that is with us selling nearly each day. It is a very sluggish, lengthy factor. Should you’re in it strictly to win it, it needs to be a facet factor.
ZEPH: I really feel like I simply bought so fortunate although. I take into consideration how onerous y’all promoted Waterparks for therefore lengthy, and I really feel like I did not do something to get right here.
KNIGHT: Typically being tight is simply sufficient. And by chance, there’s additionally the issue of you do not have to be a social individual to reach sure methods. Should you simply go browsing and put up cool issues, individuals will comply with you. Folks will comply with your journey in the event that they identical to you. It is such a giant issue of leisure immediately, and it is good and unhealthy.
ZEPH: It is also simply actually cool that I bought to collab with anyone that is my buddy and who I look as much as.
KNIGHT: Hell yeah. Persons are really going to shit over this. Actually, I did not know individuals had been going to love “SOULSUCKER” as a lot as a result of that one, to me, wasn’t single materials. This appears like a single and a cool tune. It has each of these issues. So I am identical to, “Rattling, if individuals like that one, they will freak over this.”
ZEPH: Loopy. Shout out Zakk [Cervini].
KNIGHT: Shout out Zakk. That blend is ridiculous. One factor I’ve realized is engaged on issues alone versus in a studio, I will hear issues in another way. Simply doing something in entrance of different individuals or displaying anyone else a tune or a demo. If you’re engaged on it by yourself, you are like, “That is the shit.” However then you definitely test it out within the automobile with a buddy, and also you’re listening to it with them proper there. You are like, “Oh, I sang that somewhat bizarre. I can try this higher.”
ZEPH: You may enhance.
KNIGHT: Yeah, I hear with a barely extra important ear if anyone else is round. You need to push your self extra. I used to do sizzling yoga on a regular basis. However the purpose I needed to go to a spot with a bunch of different individuals doing it was as a result of if I am house, there can be instances I let myself fall, but when I am round a bunch of individuals and no one else has gone down, I am like, “No goddamn likelihood. I am not going to be the primary one.”
ZEPH: Extra strain to be good and to attempt.
KNIGHT: Sure. You give your self extra leniency by yourself, however you need to be at your finest, at your peak round different individuals, particularly if you recognize that they are good at what they do. That is undoubtedly an element for me. Once we had been engaged on it, I am like, “I do not need to suck. I need to be actually good.”
ZEPH: Assist me provide you with a PR stunt to advertise the tune,
KNIGHT: It is “FUCK ABOUT IT.” We pay 5 pc individuals to obtain each porn video on the web, re-upload it, and all of them have the tune taking part in within the background. I imply, that is a reasonably strong transfer proper there. And that is simply off the dome.
ZEPH: We wanted an enlargement on the Otto lore.
KNIGHT: Certain. How about this? The following tune, the subsequent advertising marketing campaign is Free Otto. After we put him in jail.
ZEPH: My God. You may flip him in.
KNIGHT: He’s already turned in, so it is like we have advised everybody. He is gotten all his cellphone calls, like mother and father, relations, and other people he is aware of in actual life known as him about it apparently. Let’s simply say we save Otto from loss of life row. That is our subsequent stunt. We put him in jail, however now we’re going to free him as a result of we’d like him for Lollapalooza. Do not fry him but. He must play “Silly For You.”
ZEPH: We talked about potential clear variations of the tune whereas taking pictures the visible. What are a few of your favorites?
KNIGHT: The most effective clear model is the BYU model. Soak about it. However what about this? We drop a model that simply would not have the phrase “fuck” in it. We depart it clean and let different individuals fill it in.
ZEPH: We must always simply put out a model the place we take out that phrase.
KNIGHT: All concepts are good concepts.
ZEPH: I am unsure about that.
