The Stream Vol. 6

Wise Words From Zac Carper Q: What’s your songwriting process like? Is it more of a collaborative process or do you guys write on your own and then bring it to the band?

A: I’ll probably just make a demo, and then bring it to the guys, who can add their flavor to it– you know what I mean? It kind of just bounces around, from time to time. There’s not really a set way we do things.

Q: FIDLAR has influenced a lot of up-and-coming punk bands. Who are some of your influences, either personally or as a band?

A: I just remember having all these mix CDs of Cyprus Hill and Rage Against the Machine and Beastie Boys, and shit like that. A lot of those sort of bands were influencing me, a lot of hip hop and rock. The one band though that has stuck with me through the years is probably Green Day. Q: You produced SWMRS’ “Drive North”. In an interview with Canadian music blog AMBY, they said, “He found a way to abusively bring out the best in us.” Can you describe that experience from your perspective?

A: Okay. Here’s the fucking 411 on that shit. These kids, nowadays, and look– I’m gonna sound like an old man here, but they’re like, “yeah yeah yeah Zac, we practiced it. We got it down man.” I get up there– and they don’t have the fucking song down! They’re all playing different things!

One time, I was like, alright, just jam. And they looked and me and were like, “oh, we don’t know how to jam.” How do you not know how to jam? Like these kids nowadays man, they don’t wanna jam, they don’t wanna fucking put the time in, they just wanna be on fucking Instagram– get them likes and all that shit. But look, those guys are like family to me. I’ll always work with them and support them. They’re extremely talented, they just drive me fucking insane sometimes– mainly because I pushed them harder than they’re probably used to being pushed.

It’s amazing that they let me do it. I feel like people in general don’t like getting out of their comfort zone. But to me, that’s what making a record is about.

Q: Your last album, “Too”, came out about a year ago. Are you working on any new music, or are you giving yourselves more time to tour this album?

A: I just started writing. I’m excited! Each record has like a different theme, and on each one we kinda try different things, you know? Some of these songs I’m writing now, I showed a manager the other day, and he was like, “dude. this is stadium rock.”

Q: My playlists have been getting really stale. What bands do I need to check out?

A: Have you heard of this band called Violent Soho? Cause bruh, your mind’s about to be blown! They seriously changed my fucking life dude, it’s crazy! This band is so massive in Australia. They don’t break in America, but they’re just amazing dudes. Check out their records “Hungry Ghost” and “Waco”. My other recommendations are “How to Be a Human Being” by Glass Animals and “Take Control” by Slaves.

Spread by: Suah Cheong & Meghan Nash