Four members of the Oklahoma City sextet The Uglysuit have played together since their early teens, but Matt Harrison (bass, guitar), Crosby Bray (vocals, drums, guitar), Colin Bray (vocals, guitar), Jonathan Martin (vocals, piano, organ, guitar), Israel Hindman (vocals, guitar), and Kyle Mayfield (vocals, guitar, bass, drums) first came to musical prominence ten years later during their early twenties. The group's bright and breezy sound (akin to that of fellow Oklahoma City band the Flaming Lips) caught the attention of Quarterstick Records, which signed The Uglysuit in 2008. The band immediately set about recording its debut album and scheduled a release date for later that year.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello The Uglysuit. What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
Crosby Bray: I believe that all of my bandmates care about each others parts just as much as their own part that they are playing. Meaning....we all just love listening to each other play. We all love what our band mates are playing and we are selfless in our approach. I have the best spot "in the house" as the drummer, because I get to sit back and listen to everyone play their melodies and just bask in that shit! It's amazing!!
Dustin Maynord: I don’t believe I’m a great musician, however, playing music with The Uglysuit makes me feel great
Colin Bray: Adaptability. Rhythm. A good ear.
Who inspired you to make music?
Crosby: My oldest brother Evan started showing me tasteful music when I was in my early teens. As I listened to more good music my desire grew stronger to create!! So I started a punk rock band with some buddies and the love for music grew stronger and stronger. There is nothing more beautiful than creating a musical composition from scratch, and seeing the evolution as the song takes shape. Love that crap!!
Dustin: My mother, Nirvana, Built to Spill and the wonderful people in The Uglysuit
Colin: Sigur Ros, The Deftones, Thursday, Pink Floyd, Coldplay.
Your latest release is 'Before The Suit'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
Crosby: This album was recorded almost 20 years ago. It's almost a "classic".....these songs are the culmination of the greatest music endeavor of my life. The molding/forming of The Uglysuit. I think the most beautiful part of this record is the birth of The Uglysuit. And to answer your question about unusual....if the members of The Uglysuit are creating music, there is nothing usual about it......it's going to be unusual from the get go. Sadly I would need probably a whole day to talk about all the unusual stuff that happened when creating these tracks. HAHAHA!!
Dustin: It was my final project for Audio Engineering school. Thought we could kill two birds with one album.
Colin: This was our band called Corban Eldra. 5 of the 6 of us from The Uglysuit had before. Started as heavy, screamo type, and changed slowly over time into what these 8 songs sound like.
Can you shortly describe each of the tracks that are on the album?
Crosby: I'm going to try and only use 1 word for each description, here we go:
Kansas : Love
Another night into the day : Angsty
The other side of town : Home
Dobbs : Epic
In this, the sun : Emotional
This side of town : Climax
For Longer days : Ancient
Dustin: Kansas – Love Song; Another Night Into the Day – a Journey; The Other Side of Town – I don’t know; Dobbs – A wall of sound; In This, The Sun – L-I-V-I-N; This Side of Town – Beauty; For Longer Days – A dead dog
Colin: I can’t! The words won’t happen. But in a sound I would describe them all as, HUMF!
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest musical trends?
Crosby: Honestly, I kinda try not to. I'm not all that enamored with the latest music trends. There is a lot of good music out there, don't get me wrong. But I tend to like bands that aren't really coinciding with the latest music trends.
Dustin: Friends and bandmates
Colin: Mostly friends and family and word of mouth.
What do you feel is the best song that you have ever released and why?
Crosby: BrownBlue's passing might be my favorites song The Uglysuit ever composed. I specifically remember being in the studio when we were tracking that song, and Israel and I stayed up late sitting on a couch writing the lyrics. We had so much fun writing this song about a giant whale passing on to animal heaven. BrownBlue will live on in that song forever! Thats a beautiful thing.
Dustin: I don’t think it has happened yet.
Colin: On this new release, this side of town. The energy and melody resonates with many.
Why do you want to record and release your own music?
Crosby: There is something special about creating original music. It is sonic information that can affect someones life in a big way. Music has created some of my most emotional moments in life. I think that says something! Considering when you break everything down to the smallest molecule, and you discover that it's vibration. I think that's your answer right there. We are all vibrations....which is sound....we are all music.
Dustin: The music that my bandmates write and I get to be apart of should be heard.
Colin: t is therapeutic, having the creative release and ability to make a wall or sound like we can when we come together is a magical feeling and thing to be apart of.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans.
Crosby: The Uglysuit always kind of shied away from "the fan" word. We always treated our "fans" as friends and family. The Uglysuits following was always one big family. Or that's what I always desired.
Dustin: Gratitude
Colin: Face to face is best but with social media now I’m sure that’ll play a role.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Crosby: Don't give up, Don't stop. Making a living as a musician is probably the hardest occupation in the world. But don't let that stop you from creating. And don't sell out. Create what makes you happy. Have fun! Explore! Pioneer! Be yourself and be original!!
Dustin: Work hard and don’t give up.
Colin: Jam! Feel out different feeling stuff. Let the evolution happen naturally.
What are your plans for the future?
Crosby: Be a good human, good husband, good father, good friend, good son, good brother, just as good as I can be. Shine light when things seam grim and dark. And make a little music on the side!!!
Dustin: Keep making music
Colin: Hopefully to keep creating with my best friends and brothers. The only people I’ve ever made music with.