Interview with Stonepit Drive Drummer Matt Curchin

May 11, 2020

Interview with Stonepit Drive Drummer Matt Curchin

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: Do you feel there is a need for the music of today to recapture some of its former glory as many critics have preached or are these individuals just missing something? Have they gotten too old to appreciate music's evolution into the 21^st century?
Matt Curchin: Music is always changing. There's room for old and new. The beauty of today's music scene is bands can be as modern or as old school as they want. Some things are better now and some things are worse. You just have to navigate through everything to find what suits you.

CV: A number of critics would also contest that music just doesn't have the same substance as it once did; that it has become too manufactured. Would you agree? Has something been lost in the digital translation, so to speak, with today's music?
MC: The music itself is still real. A group of people in a room writing songs is a pure as it gets. The promotional side is the manufactured side of it. A lot of bands have gimmicks or stage costumes and things like that. That’s all fine but it's almost as though you need that these days. 4 guys in the type of clothes they wear everyday isn’t as eye catching or as memorable as a band that look like Kiss.

CV: With Stonepit Drive having a diverse musical background, ranging in styles from Alternative, to Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, do you feel this mixture gives the band a more cutting edge approach to songwriting and fan appeal?
MC: We feel our music has something for everyone…within the alternative range of Rock, Metal and Grunge. We're all big fans of a wide range of music and we take inspiration from it all and try and find a mix. We try and have a bit of something for everyone.

CV: When writing and arranging songs, what does Stonepit Drive consider to be a must include? Is there a specific element that is the Stonepit Drive sound and style?
MC: There's no rule when it comes to writing and arranging our songs.The only “must" is it has to be a song we'd enjoy listening to. Not every idea ends up as a song we'd play live or record but in the initial stages there are no limits.

CV: Many new artists feel their shot to make a living playing music is just about near impossible these days. Do you agree? Has the current music industry climate greatly impacted new, young bands and their opportunities to make a living creating and performing their music?
MC: It’s hard to make it these days. You have to redefine what making it is to suit yourselves. If all you ever want is to play your songs to a crowd and you achieve that then you've made it in your own way. The odds of any band making it to the level of someone like Metallica are so small. You need to be realistic with your goals. And if/when you get them, anything else is a bonus.

CV: Only just a couple of years ago, many were talking that Rock was dead, that it had nothing more to offer music fans. However, this is to the contrary as we see fan interest peaking. Why do you think such a sentiment was running rampant among the music community? Was there any truth in it?
MC: Who knows why? Rock music is always changing. Maybe in the mainstream it seemed like it was dying or dead. Pop music trends change all the time. But there's always a band playing somewhere. You just have to go out and look for them.

CV: The belief is that no press is bad press when it comes to promoting your brand. But are lines an artist or band should not cross just for media attention? Are meager, trivial attempts at easy press for some artists even worth the possible backlash in your opinion? Are there particular dos and don'ts Stonepit Drive tends to adhere to?
MC: The problem with saying no press is bad press is that you can't always take back what you said or did. It’s a lot easier to get a bad reputation than a good one. We just try and be sensible with what we say and do. We've been fortunate that we haven't had much in the way of negative things going public. We try to keep it behind closed doors.

CV: For an artist, more fans are without a doubt always a plus and in turn can equate to a possible increase in sales as well as higher attendance numbers at shows. But is more necessarily always the way to go with regards to achieving higher levels of success as a way to maintain sustainability as an artist? Can more success lead to burn out?
MC: You need the fans if you want to do this. Do you need 50,000 people in an arena watching you? No. But you need a certain level fans to keep going. We need fans to buy our CDs so we can produce the next batch of CDs.

CV: What do you feel are a few main components every band should consider as they focus on building their unique brand and connecting with an audience?
MC: Try and bring something different…try not to do what everyone else, or want you think everyone else, wants you to do. Be yourself. Honesty is more appealing than anything you try to force. And have fun!

CV: What’s next for Stonepit Drive?
MC: Next for us is recording our first album which we hope to have done and ready to release by the end of 2020/early 2021.

CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.

Check out Stonepit Drive at:
Official: http://www.stonepitdrive.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stonepitdrive/

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.