It's been ten days since Dave Hause released his new record "Kick" and it's safe to say the hands-on musician has given us a record full of songs that add new facets to his musical work - but also characteristic tunes that capture the essence of his songwriting. Kind and awesome as we know him, th 41 year old vocalist/guitarplayer/lyricist from Philadelphia took the time to answer a few questions about the new record as well as the challenge of staying positive in disturbing times. Spoiler alert: It has something to do with taking responsibility for others.
Dave, thanks for answering our questions. Here we go: I believe that every record tells a story of the musician(s) that record it, whether it is a breakup record or one that copes with the death of an important person. What's the story behind „Kick“?
This record was written against the backdrop of very divided, inhuman times in American history. During that time, my brother and I both got married, we were touring all over the world, and my wife became pregnant with our twins. This formed a big set of questions, the main one being “How do we maintain our humanity when it feels like the country and culture we live in is increasingly more inhuman?” Another question that we kept asking was “when the tide turns, and is threatening to pull you out to see into the abyss with it, what do you do?”
What's the biggest difference in the songwriting and recording process when you compare „Kick“ and „Bury Me In Philly“?
The two biggest differences were Andrew Alekel, who mixed and mastered Kick, and the fact that when we recorded the record I was under enormous stress with my wife being 8 months pregnant with a high risk type of twin pregnancy.
Andrew delivered the record to us that we set out to make, he was pivotal in seeing through the vision we set out with, despite the very difficult process it was to work on the record while having so much of my anxious attention diverted towards my family.
You mentioned that your brother Tim has been involved in the songwriting if „The Ditch“. Has he played a big role in the making of this album?
Yes, we wrote the whole record together. He’s my musical soulmate.
Are there peculiar musical influences that have played a role for the new record?
It depends on what you mean by peculiar. I usually get called a “punk rock troubadour” or “punk singer-songwriter” or something along those lines, but I don’t listen to very much punk at all. So many of my influences musically would seem peculiar to anyone who assumes I’m “punk”. I just love music, and so much of what we listen to and enjoy ends up making it into the soup.
The guitar part with the crashing riff in „Saboteurs“ reminds me of „Baba O'Reilly“. Is this an intentional nod to The Who?
Who?
Although you don't mention the name Donald Trump, there are clear allusions, „I know November broke your heart“ in the song „Warpaint“ for example. How do you experience the current political climate in the US? What are your hopes for the future? How can the country come back from this polarization after Trump is out of office?
It’s been heartbreaking, exhausting, and infuriating. My hopes for the future are that humanity, dignity, empathy and forgiveness all come back into play as the country moves forward. This man is the classic con man, and has been a cancer on an already sick system. I hope my sons live in a world that is more governed by female energies, the masculine has really made a mess of things.
How do you stay positive in these strange times?
I don’t. I just try. I assume it as a responsibly to my wife, my kids, my siblings, by band, my friends, and my audience. You gotta stay positive, the alternative is oblivion.
Last time we spoke, I asked if you plan to have kids soon. What's the biggest difference in your life now that you are a father of twins? And how will this influence your touring?
The biggest difference is that I’m ultimately now living my life with the idea that there are two very reliant creatures counting on me, and that my wife is a champion and a saint. I honestly don’t know how it will effect touring. We’ve done 12 shows on the new record and my sons are 13 weeks old, and it’s been totally brutal. I don’t want to leave them. So, either I will find a balance and a rhythm and continue my life as its been, trying to find peace with the fact that I leave them to go work, or it will be too much to bear and I’ll find other work. This European tour will be a big test. We’ll see, it is a very uncertain time. In that sense, I’m looking at every show like it could be my last. Hopefully that makes certain that it isn’t.
Who is the girl on the cover?
Her name is Harper. She’s a friend of mine’s niece.
More Dave Hause on this Blog: I did interviews with Dave Hause for his previous records "Bury Me In Philly" and "Devour" - but that was when I still blogged in German, so I hope that works for you. Or you can take a look at my concert pics I took in October 2017.
"Kick" by Dave Hause was released via Rise Records on April 12th. More Information: www.davehause.com.
Here you can see the video for "Fireflies":
Dave, thanks for answering our questions. Here we go: I believe that every record tells a story of the musician(s) that record it, whether it is a breakup record or one that copes with the death of an important person. What's the story behind „Kick“?
This record was written against the backdrop of very divided, inhuman times in American history. During that time, my brother and I both got married, we were touring all over the world, and my wife became pregnant with our twins. This formed a big set of questions, the main one being “How do we maintain our humanity when it feels like the country and culture we live in is increasingly more inhuman?” Another question that we kept asking was “when the tide turns, and is threatening to pull you out to see into the abyss with it, what do you do?”What's the biggest difference in the songwriting and recording process when you compare „Kick“ and „Bury Me In Philly“?
The two biggest differences were Andrew Alekel, who mixed and mastered Kick, and the fact that when we recorded the record I was under enormous stress with my wife being 8 months pregnant with a high risk type of twin pregnancy.
Andrew delivered the record to us that we set out to make, he was pivotal in seeing through the vision we set out with, despite the very difficult process it was to work on the record while having so much of my anxious attention diverted towards my family.
You mentioned that your brother Tim has been involved in the songwriting if „The Ditch“. Has he played a big role in the making of this album?
Yes, we wrote the whole record together. He’s my musical soulmate.
Are there peculiar musical influences that have played a role for the new record?
It depends on what you mean by peculiar. I usually get called a “punk rock troubadour” or “punk singer-songwriter” or something along those lines, but I don’t listen to very much punk at all. So many of my influences musically would seem peculiar to anyone who assumes I’m “punk”. I just love music, and so much of what we listen to and enjoy ends up making it into the soup.
The guitar part with the crashing riff in „Saboteurs“ reminds me of „Baba O'Reilly“. Is this an intentional nod to The Who?
Who?
 |
| Dave Hause during a show in Lindau in October 2017. Foto: TA |
It’s been heartbreaking, exhausting, and infuriating. My hopes for the future are that humanity, dignity, empathy and forgiveness all come back into play as the country moves forward. This man is the classic con man, and has been a cancer on an already sick system. I hope my sons live in a world that is more governed by female energies, the masculine has really made a mess of things.
How do you stay positive in these strange times?
I don’t. I just try. I assume it as a responsibly to my wife, my kids, my siblings, by band, my friends, and my audience. You gotta stay positive, the alternative is oblivion.
Last time we spoke, I asked if you plan to have kids soon. What's the biggest difference in your life now that you are a father of twins? And how will this influence your touring?
The biggest difference is that I’m ultimately now living my life with the idea that there are two very reliant creatures counting on me, and that my wife is a champion and a saint. I honestly don’t know how it will effect touring. We’ve done 12 shows on the new record and my sons are 13 weeks old, and it’s been totally brutal. I don’t want to leave them. So, either I will find a balance and a rhythm and continue my life as its been, trying to find peace with the fact that I leave them to go work, or it will be too much to bear and I’ll find other work. This European tour will be a big test. We’ll see, it is a very uncertain time. In that sense, I’m looking at every show like it could be my last. Hopefully that makes certain that it isn’t.
Who is the girl on the cover?
Her name is Harper. She’s a friend of mine’s niece.
More Dave Hause on this Blog: I did interviews with Dave Hause for his previous records "Bury Me In Philly" and "Devour" - but that was when I still blogged in German, so I hope that works for you. Or you can take a look at my concert pics I took in October 2017.
"Kick" by Dave Hause was released via Rise Records on April 12th. More Information: www.davehause.com.
Here you can see the video for "Fireflies":