Settler

"Settler - War Wolves
Record Label: Unsigned
Release Date: Available NOW for free download.

When I come by a solely instrumental band, the group can hit me one of two ways. Sometimes I'll start listening to their stuff and I'll be digging it for a little while, but after about five minutes I turn it off and go listen to something more exciting. I just don't have the attention span for some instrumental music out there, even though I can recognize the talent of the musicians. However, other times the group will completely just hit the spot, and I'll be able to listen to them over and over again. There's never an in-between for me either, I can't really explain it. When I checked out Settler on their Myspace, I immediately knew they were going to fall into the latter category. A four-piece family band from Massachusetts, Settler is comprised of two brothers (Thomas & Curtis Emery) and two cousins (Matt & Jimmy Mullin). On their second EP, the four have an undeniable chemistry together as they plow through six tracks of punk-laced indie rock.

"Peace Tigers" opens the EP with quite a bit of noise, then explodes into Settler's go-to sound: heavy cymbals, wild guitars, and pulsing bass. The band's delivery is urgent, as if they wrote the EP to sound like they were in a rush to get somewhere. The result is some really passionate music that is easy for the listener to become immersed in. "War Wolves", the title track, is based around a catchy little guitar hook that Settler expand into a jam-worthy, furiously paced song. There's definitely a lot of music going on for an unsigned four-piece who probably recorded this in a low-budget studio.

All of this music, packed into such a high tempo, makes the listener feel as though they've been listening for quite a while, but the song chimes in under three minutes, and the EP as a whole comes in at only 16 and a half minutes. But it's 16 minutes of complete enjoyment, as Settler continue their onslaught with "Spare Rooms". This track shows a bit of range as Settler slow things down and pick them up again. Just when the EP seems like it might get repetitive, you hit "*", a relaxing number paced by electronic drums. It contains the only vocal melodies on the record, a continuous "ahh" in the background which adds ambiance. "Growing Up" shows the family's technical skill with dual tapping guitars made complete by the raging percussion. It sets up for the highlight of the EP, closer "Oxbow Bridge". This song isn't much different from the five preceding it, but it takes a little part from every song to form a winding five-and-a-half minute epic. The guitar work is there, along with the tempo changes, the break-my-own-drumsticks cymbals, and the punk lining to top it all off, a great closer for the EP.

Settler seem like the kind of band that just write music because they feel like it. With only four scheduled shows in the northeast over the next two months, it adds to the charm of being a family band that they put out this EP with genuine hard work. Their DIY style, energetic outlook, rocking tunes, and supposedly "raucous" live show put Settler near the top of my unsigned bands to check out this year. " -- Thomas Nassiff, Ap.net
- Absolutepunk.net

Thanks to Absolute Punk’s Free Music Fridays feature (the most recent one can be found here) I came across a band based out of Massachusetts known as Settler. This 4-piece has recently put up all of their releases, including the 5-song EP War Wolves, online for free here. Settler’s exciting sound has been earning them some buzz and have lead to some highly energetic shows which should not be missed. The self described “funrock” group took some time out to do an interview with me and here’s what Jimmy Mullen, their drummer, had to say:

Mind Equals Blown: Ok to start it off, give a brief history of the band.

Jimmy Mullen of Settler: A couple years ago Curtis, Matt and I (Jimmy) were in a band together and when that band broke up, we really wanted to keep writing with each other. We all had the same desire and ideas for what we wanted so it just made sense. After a lot of time off, we started things off full force this past winter. Curtis’ brother Thomas joined us on guitar and we just instantly started writing and gelling well. It’s fun because we’re like a family band. Curtis and Thomas are brothers and Matt and I are cousins haha.

MEB: Why did you decide to be an instrumental group rather than having a singer?

JM: Moving away from the generic song structure allows us to have more fun and the lsitener to make the music what they want it plus its much more accessible. We actually talked about this the other day, but a vocalist and lyricists job is to paint a picture, and sometimes it’s very literal and to the point. I feel like with us and any other instrumental band, it leaves a lot open to interpretation and the listener can feel and think whatever they want about the song.

MEB: Your sound feels familiar yet still seems to defy genres, how would you best describe your music?

JM: We write music that narrates our personal lives. We thrive on being outdoors and just doing fun things in general and I really think that our music directly reflects our lifestyle. I don’t really know what type of genre to place us in, funrock would work if that exists. I think sometimes we tend to sound like a Mid-West emopunk band with no singer. So whatever you want to call it is fine.

MEB: All of your releases so far have been done DIY style. Have you been searching out any labels to try and expand with?

JM: Currently, no. We sent out a handful of presskits to labels initially, but we’re comfortable right now. We all absolutely love the DIY style and even though it’s financially draining some times, it’s a very proud moment when everything we’ve touched from start to finish is out there and it’s because we worked for it. All of the songs we’ve ever recorded were recorded by us and we’re protective of what we want to do, so staying DIY is a pretty natural feeling.

With that being said, we’d certainly be open to finding a home with a label that has the same mentality as us. If any of you labels are looking, we’re single and ready to mingle!

MEB: In a clear act of embracing the digital age, you’ve released your 3 EPs for free. Why did you decide to give them out rather than make them purchasable?

JM: As previously mentioned, we recorded every song ourselves. Earlier in the year we broke down and bought the best recording equipment we could afford on our budget (which wasn’t very much) and just decided that for the start of this, we were going to do it ourselves. Coupled with the fact that we essentially didn’t pay a lot to have these recorded, we also love having anyone and everyone hear our music. We pressed about 100 copies of War Wolves ourselves and have been giving those out at shows along with the digital downloads.

I genuinely think it’s helped us immensely because we’re making ourselves incredibly accessible to people, and that’s been our goal to start. Blurring the line between bands and fans is awesome because it’s so personal and fun. Plus, people can’t deny free stuff haha.

MEB: On the complete opposite side of the musical medium spectrum there are vinyl records which seem to be coming back into style. What’s your opinion on this?

JM: Our general consensus is nothing but love for vinyl. We all collect or own albums and are avid listeners. With that being said, I don’t think it’s for EVERY band even though a lot are jumping on the bandwagon. Almost all of the bands in the popular scenes today are recorded with digital enhancements, as in drum triggers, guitar sound editing, etc. When those bands put their albums out on vinyl for some bonus pre-order release thing, I don’t think it translates as well as a band who recorded their album naturally, with natural drum and guitar tones. There’s a certain tone and sound to records and that’s the appeal, to us at least. We’d love to put a release out on vinyl if it were done right. Hopefully in the future!

MEB: Any tour news?

JM: None yet. We’ve been trying to build buzz in our home state of Massachusetts, but our scene is geared more towards heavier bands so it’s been a battle. It’s definitely crossed our minds, and it’s on our radar for the very near future. We’ll be sure to let you know when it gets set up.

MEB: What are your musical (and non-musical) influences?

JM: Life is a big non-musical influence. That sounds sooooo lame but we really love just hanging out and doing what we think is fun. That absolutely reflects in our music and is a big influence. Musical influence is from every direction. Obviously, we’re big fans of other instrumental or experimental bands doing their thing like This Will Destroy you and Fang Island. Those two bands are big influences and inspirations.

MEB: Of course I have to ask, where does the name Settler come from?

JM: The honest and boring answer is that it’s the only name the 4 of us liked and felt fit our style.

The epic and not-entirely-truthful answer is that we, like settlers of this very country, are attempting to break ground and begin a new life in a territory foreign to us. The winters will be tough due to illness and lack of food or sustainable shelter, but we will persevere and be known throughout history as the SETTLERS that laid the groundwork for the genre known as funrock.

MEB: Ok, fun questions time. What’s your dream tour?

JM: Super Dreamland: Kiss, Blink 182, Lynyrd Skynyrd

Regular Dreamland: To tour with bands as laid back and fun as As Cities Burn and Fang Island to heavier bands like Every Time I Die

MEB: Any hobbies outside of music?

JM: Bridge jumping, bike riding, wiffle ball home run derby, ice hockey in shoes. Fun things haha.

MEB: If you could hang out with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

JM: Will Ferrell and Sean Connery. Two men that need to be in the same room together at the same time.

MEB: Thanks for talking with me and good luck in the future!

JM: Anytime! Thanks for asking us to do this!

Settler’s Myspace can be found here and all of the group’s releases can be downloaded here FOR FREE! - MindEqualsBlown.net

1. How did you get your band name?
We had gone through a handful of awful, awful band names and I stumbled on the word "settler" in a text book and thought it would make for a fantastic band name.

2. How did this band get started?
Matt (guitar), Curtis (bass) and I (Jimmy, Drums) had previously played in a band together for 3 years and when that band ended, we really wanted to keep writing with each other. The 3 of us have been writing in this project for almost 2 years now but it's finally begun to take off this past year or so, finally finding a second guitarist, Thomas and finishing our new EP.

3. What bands are you influenced by?
I genuinely believe that we are influenced by all kinds of music. As a group, we definitely have the same core bands that we listen to now and look up to, but I think we range anywhere from good ol' classic rock like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin to more modern indie stuff like Pavement, Fang Island, etc.

4. If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would it be and why?
Kiss. That tour would absolutely rule because we'd probably get to have crazy fireworks and stuff. More realistically? Touring with an instrumental band like This Will Destroy You would be a blast.

5. If you were a furry, what animal would you be? Why that animal?
As a group, I think we could fit well as a pack of Horses. I'm not entirely sure what a furry is, but horses are majestic and have huge peens.

6. Why should people listen to your band?
Our M.O. as this band is to have fun, and make everyone that is watching us have fun. I speak for all of us when I say that the best shows are the ones where no one wants to leave and everyone is having a good time. Our main goal is to bring those good times by playing some fast, fun, upbeat music. Perfect fit for your local Kegger!

7. If you were chosen to be in Guitar Hero/Rock Band, what song would you want in the game? How hard do you think it would be to five-star on expert?
Probably "Growing Up", because that song is all tapping for both guitars for the majority of the song. It would be pretty ridiculous to play on 5 star expert, and considering that we can barely play it on real instruments, it has to be harder on a fake one.

8. If you won a Grammy, who would you thank?
Friends, Family and the Big Man downstairs!

9. If you could change something about the music industry, what would it be?
I think this reflects more towards the music listener than the industry, but it would be to weed out the fake shit and just ignore it and let it die. All I see now are band's getting bigger off of the hate and unintentional hype they receive.
Also, I would love to stop seeing these carbon copy bands get picked up by a label after only being a band for a month or so. I don't think you can fully appreciate the experiences and opportunities you've been given if you don't have to work for it.

10. Memorable tour experience?
Memorable show experience: Playing our set and having everything possible go wrong. Drum kits falling apart, tubes blowing, pedals not working, the works. What awful nights those are.

11. What does AP.net mean to you?
This is the one community that really encompasses what is happening right now in whatever sort of "scene" you're in. I feel like other places stick to specific genres and are afraid to branch out and cover more bands. I know you guys get a lot of shit sometimes for posting about bands that aren't "punk" or that people don't like, but it's the integrity and unbiased delivery of news that a lot of media is missing.

12. What is your favorite song to play?
Either "Growing Up" or "Oxbow Bridge". They're both really, really fun songs to play.

13. What is your vacation spot of choice?
Washington State in the woods. I've always thought it'd be a great experience to live in the woods and just write an album, uninfluenced by outside sources.

14. What music reminds you of your childhood?
Any of the 90's bands like Third Eye Blind, Semisonic, Nine Days, etc. hahaha

15. If you could have any super power, what would it be? Why?
The ability to pause, fast forward or reverse time. Or maybe I already have that power, and you just don't know it.

16. Do you feel that your band has "made it"?
Not at all. I'm not really sure what the definition of "making it" is, because I know it has to be different for all bands. In a sense, we've definitely crossed off some big milestones on a list of goals, but we're at no point to say that we've made it.

17. What is something that most fans don't know about you?
We're a of siblings and relatives. Curtis and Thomas are brothers and Matt and I are cousins.

18. What's your favorite holiday?
4th of July! That is the essential holiday for Settler party jams.

19. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Up until recently, it was watching Lost. Now its more like going bridge jumping into scummy ponds, bike cruising, all things outdoors pretty much.

20. What kind of hidden talents do you have?
None for me, and as for the other guys I'm not sure. Curtis does have the ability to kill funny jokes, though. So there's one. - Absolutepunk.net