E: Coretta Scott's debut just came out on Rise Records a few months ago... how smooth would you say your band's entrance into the public eye was once you had material written and ready for release?
Preston: Since we are still a smaller band, the process of getting into the public eye is a constant battle every day. The album being released nationwide on Rise in August has definitely helped us gain some great momentum and we've even experienced some perks from it, but for the most part we are still struggling to get our footnote in the rock and roll history books just like the next touring band.
E: When you as a band plan your working schedule--releases, touring periods, rest periods, etc.--what factors do you keep in mind?
Preston: Although we like to plan everything as strategically as possible, our main objective right now is touring at all costs to push the record. Although it is hard for us and our friends/family at times, we do believe in this enough to basically put our lives on hold for now.
E: Are there any specific buzz sounds or musical characteristics present in today's scene that you tried to emulate on your album? Or was it all unintentional?
Preston: We in no way try to limit ourselves to just what is going on in the popular scene. We would be lying if we tried to claim we weren't influenced by what is going on today in the popular rock scene, but we also are just as honest about all of our other eclectic influences as well.
E: How do you think fads or trends will affect a band's success in this decade?
Preston: Fads and trends will always make and break bands. History has proven to repeat itself over and over again. What is cool now will not be cool in the not-so-distant future, but what is real always seems to come around again, even if it is a little trendy. If you think of where all the 80's hair metal bands were 5 years ago, you wouldn't believe that they now selling out arenas. Those that stuck around are now seeing the benefits of sticking with something they believed in for better or worse.
E: What inhibitions or road blocks does your band face when it comes to the songwriting process?
Preston: To be honest, one of the main roadblocks we face at this point is having the time off to rehearse and write new material. Typically, when we set out to write new material it goes pretty smoothly.
E: How certain were everyone's intentions to make Coretta Scott a full-time thing around the time of its formation?
Preston: It was a 100% intention from the beginning to get to the full-time point we are at now in the band... although we have had a few member changes because it turned out to not be a realistic intention.
E: With most major bands having gone through at least some member changes, how well do you think a band can function with its lineup subject to alteration?
Preston: A lineup change is scary at first, but I have seen that time and time again it can and will be overcome if the band is willing to move on and change.
E: As more and more bands cite influences that vary substantially, do you think that new styles of music today can ever truly be called revolutionary and new? Or is it all simply unprecedented combinations of previous breakthrough genres?
Preston: I would say that it would have to be both simply because to make music one must be inspired by something else. Everything is a combination of previous breakthroughs, but every once in a while something comes along that combines previous influences and is truly revolutionary in its own way.
E: Thanks a lot--anything else you want to get on record?
Preston: Thanks for reading this far and please help support touring bands in any way you can. We are on tour for most of the winter, so please check out our tour dates @ www.corettascott.com or www.myspace.com/corettascott. |
