The new album, Danza IIII: The Alpha – The Omega, is set to drop next month, how excited are you?
Josh Travis: Very excited for people to finally get this record. Jessie and I really went a lot deeper with this one than we did with D3.
The album was recorded last summer, how come it hasn’t been released sooner?
Josh Travis: Sometimes in the recording process you can find yourself running into major hiccups… sometimes in art design, manufacturing, or even getting it on the calendar for release. I’d say we ran into issues on everything possible aside from delivering the actual music. So Danza has been waiting on it to come out just as much as everyone else.
Some of the songs are more punchy than previous material, what was the thought process behind the album?
Josh Travis: The thought process was way deeper and much more thought out for D4. We completely threw away the idea of being super techy and all over the place, and decided to really get into the raw feelings behind our songs. There’s only a handful of “not so serious” on this one. Hell, there’s even an argument between guitars on it…
The effort sees Whitechapel’s Phil Bozeman and Obey the Brave/Despised Icon’s Alex Erian as guests, how did the collaborations come about?
Josh Travis: As for the guest spots on the record, Danza toured with Despised Icon back before I was in the band so I’d imagine that’s where the friendship between Jessie and Alex started. Being major fans of Despised Icon and loving Alex’s sound and style, we had to get him on a track. To be totally honest I’m not sure if Danza ever toured with Whitechapel or not, before my time, but it was again the same thing. Seriously, who the hell doesn’t love Phil’s voice? Don’t lie… We had to have him as well. “The Alpha The Omega” for Jessie and myself really represents the beginning and the end, that’s why we had them both on that specific track. That track really hits home for us.
So I guess the big question is, why the decision to have Danza: IIII be the last album?
Josh Travis: D4 was the last record that Danza was under contract for with BMA, so at the end of the process, we talked about it, and decided that we would bow out now. No bad blood anywhere whatsoever in this decision. Understand we haven’t really “broken up” but we aren’t touring or writing anything at all. Who knows what could happen.
In hindsight, how has the journey been over the past 8 or so years? Any memories you would like to indulge?
Josh Travis: The memories, man, knowing that I haven’t been in Danza since Day One, I know the OG guys could tell you some serious off-the-wall stuff. However I did get to share a lot of time with Jessie, Layne, Butler, and Mason. Layne and Butler together? Dear god…. you’d cry from laughing around those guys. I have a specific video from when we were out with Arsonists Get All The Girls, and it was one of the absolute most insane epic nights I can remember. We call it, Johnson City Mon… maybe we can get Layne to post it sometime. Just know, it was unreal.
TTDTE has toured with the likes of Cattle Decapitation, The Acacia Strain, Despised Icon, The Red Chord, Unearth, Veil of Maya, and many others. If you could tour with any of these bands again, who would you want to go out with and why?
Josh Travis: As for bands we toured with that I would love touring with again? There’s too many to list to be honest. To name some, I’d personally say Oceano, Suicide Silence, Within The Ruins, A Life Once Lost, and always, Arsonists Get All The Girls.
Any other music projects going on, aside from Glass Cloud?
Josh Travis: As for other projects, I know Layne has some stuff he is working on that’s top secret at the moment. I haven’t even heard it yet, but I’m sure it’s going to destroy everything. He is insane.
Will you guys be touring in support of Danza IIII, what’s next for the band before all is laid to rest?
Josh Travis: It’s not likely we will be touring on Danza IIII, however I won’t rule it out as a slight possibility. Just don’t hold your breath on it. Maybe if the record actually sells, and there is a demand for it, it could happen.
Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions, is there anything you would like to mention?
Josh Travis: We just really want to thank everyone that stuck by us through everything, and everyone that supported and continues to support us. You really made it all worth while. We hope you dig the new record as much as we loved making it for you. Hope to see you all again someday.
Interview by: Matt Darcy [@NefariousDarcy]
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