Diandra Interviews Black Pistol Fire: Staying Competitive And Clear
Black Pistol Fire’s performance style and music can ignite an organized chaos; pushing people to dance and mosh as if life was a barrel of wild grapes beneath their feet and they had to smash it into wine. Yet, what is fascinating about them is that, in real life, they are very clear and calm. Eric Owen and Kevin Mckeown are like brothers bound by music, good humor, and the wisdom that comes from both. In our interview, we discuss the competitiveness and privilege of being a working musician.
Diandra: You moved to Austin for its creative scene. How has the location changed or taught you to re-approach your sound?
Eric: It is competitive, and it makes you always move forward. There, you always want to push yourself; knowing how many talented people there are, you always want to move forward because there will be someone to take your “spot.” You have to keep going as much as you can.
Diandra: As a duo, how have you seen each other grow as musicians and persons?
Eric: I have known Kevin for a very long time. As a teenager, he was a very very funny and wild person when he was a teenager, and now he kind focuses all that on the stage. He is also one of the best songwriters this generation has ever seen.
Kevin: OH S**T!
(Me: dying of laughter)
Eric: I say it all the time. He is one fo the best frontman of this generation, and, especially frontmen that play instruments, no one is in his league.
Diandra: How about the changes you see within yourself?
Eric:I would say I am more focused and trying to be more creative and open minded as far as how things can be; not limiting myself in terms of genres.
Diandra: From breakups to vindictive ex-lovers, you sing to the dark disappointments of love. What is one this about love that you find happy and surprising?
Eric: That is a very good question. Ummmm….I guess it is kind of true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I do find that being away from a family member or partner, I have found that love builds up.
Diandra: You have cited Muddy Waters and Chucky Berry as heavy influences. How do you feel The Blues embodies the highs and lows of living?
Eric: When the blues began, it was these guys that had these awful miseries going on in their life. All they could do was play the guitar and spit out that misery that is going on. The low was playing to how life can be negative and the high is someone hearing it and taking something positive out of it.
Diandra: Describe a moment in your life when music brought you peace.
Eric: I broke up with a girlfriend and I was pretty bummed out about it. There is an album by My Morning Jacket, and there is this song called Dondante. It is, actually, about his friend that committed suicide, and the song builds and builds until it explodes in sound. For some reason, I find that build and explosion comforting.
From Bob Dylan to The Beatles, you love classic rock. What is one classic rock song that redefined how you appreciate music and why?
Eric: “A Day In The Life” by The Beatles. They are two totally different songs that should not go together but yet they do. I think it is a song that shows the endless possibilities of music.
Diandra: What inspired your song Black Halo, and how does it reflect your future sound?
Kevin: I was messing around with this instrument called the banjolele. I was reading these articles about the California wildfires, and how all these people lost their homes and lives. I remembered watching tv and seeing how these fires would not let up. So Black Halo is about losing everything but still finding some silver lining. There still is a message in pain that like, “I’m still here.” As far as the sound, it is more surfy. It has a very West Coast vibe and it is different for us.
Diandra: Has creating a song ever surprised you with how you feel about a situation?
Kevin: Absolutely! Whenever I try to write about a specific thing, it never works out. It, usually, comes from the back of my head and then I talk about it and I’m like “Why am I talking about this? Why is this so dark?” I think the best way to create is to be a channel and then sort it out. For musicians, it is great to have music as an outlet to release whatever is swimming in your brain. It’s therapeutic. I am very grateful to have this outlet that makes me write music that excites me.
Diandra: With the lyric, “What do you take me for?” Level feels like an affront to anyone that tries to challenge you. Who have been your greatest challengers and champions as an artist?
Eric: Definitely, our champions have been anyone that is on our team. Challengers… there has definitely been some people. There are roadblocks as far as “gatekeepers” that block bands from getting popular. People at bigger companies.
Click Here For More Information On Black Pistol Fire.
