Having already established themselves on the scene with a wealthy of riveting releases these last few years, Phoenix-based outfit Some Days Are Darker return to the fold once again with their anthemic new single 'Downpour'.
Capturing more of that rich and enigmatic alt-rock aesthetic they are known for, 'Downpour' makes for a wonderfully warm and immersive listen. With its dynamic textures, soaring atmosphere, and mesmerising vocals layered throughout, they are continuing their ascent as one of the more captivating names doing the rounds right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with bandleader Lear Mason to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Fell in love with? My American blonde Bigsby telecaster. I used it on most of Love + Truth and our self-titled LP. I guess you could say I have a thing for blondes.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
The same music I love now. Depeche Mode, Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy. Dark romantic stuff. On the other hand, a lot of gritty, punk stuff like Misfits, Cursed, American Nightmare. Darkness can be a balled up fist or it can be something more subtle. Like longing.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I had a lot of dubbed cassettes before I ever actually bought an album. I remember having one with South of Heaven on one side and Ride The Lightning on the other. That was a pretty formative cassette.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Lover You Should Have Come Over by Jeff Buckley. I think it’s one of the greatest, most visceral love songs ever. At the same time I’m glad he wrote it and I didn’t. That way I can still enjoy its perfection. If it was mine I would always find something in it I could have done better.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Fire. I like to burn things. Probably because of the love affair between destruction and creation. I burned a 1950’s Gretsch New Yorker in the video for Bones. It was the right time. I’ve been collecting some other broken down gear for a similar thing. I always wanted to do a video for Demons where we light everything on fire but it’s been a bit logistically complicated.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of modern darkwave stuff like Boy Harsher, Soft Kill, House of Harm. I’ve also really been enjoying Preacher’s Daughter by Ethel Cain. And all of Jesse Rutherford’s work under his various monikers. Something about his depression speaks to my depression. If you put all of that into a cauldron and brewed it, you’d end up with something that tastes like Some Days Are Darker.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Dead? The Ramones. Alive? Depeche Mode. But on a more down-to-earth level, Chelsea Wolfe. There’s a dark magic to her music that I can’t get enough of.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
When people who don’t know me personally connect with the music. That may seem a bit odd and reductive, but it’s the best way for me to know that the emotion I’m trying to convey is resonating. I write highly emotional music. So the first half is pouring all of that out. In a lot of ways that’s a very vulnerable process. The second half is getting feedback. Did it land? Do you hear what I’m saying? Do you understand? Does it mean anything to you? If I only ever did the first half, the music would be more like a personal diary. The fact that I get to share it and experience people connecting with it creates more of a sense of unity. Or community. Or maybe just humanity.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Having an original sound. It’s a blessing and a curse. It’s hard to describe or pitch original music. It has to be experienced. Then you see other bands come along and hop on the genre bandwagon of the moment or ride the coattails of another band’s sound. It’s easier to gain success that way. But it’s boring and unimaginative. It would be much easier if someone said, “what do you sound like?” And I’d say “The Cure.” And we both walk away. But it’s not that simple and I don’t see the point in that. The world already has The Cure.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Mike Hasty from Earthmover once told me that if I thought I wrote a great riff but didn’t remember it the next day, it wasn’t a good riff. He said you don’t need to record your good ideas. Good ideas stick. I do record a lot of primitive demos into my phone when I’m writing and I still find it’s the ones you don’t have to force that end up being the best.
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Some Days Are Darker's new single 'Downpour' is available to stream now. Watch the new video for it in the player below.