Ahead of their debut EP, Modern Spirit, Pembroke, ON’s Gatlin Black have just released their third single, “Lazy Susan”. We caught up with the band once again, this time to chat about the new music, how they hope audiences feel after hearing their music, and what would go on their rider if they were selling out stadiums.
From The Strait: Tell us about the new single, “Lazy Susan”.
Gatlin Black: “Lazy Susan” is about watching someone slowly disappear into addiction… Caught in repetitive behaviors, burning bridges, and circling the same mistakes until there’s nothing left. It’s inspired by real people and real losses, not from a place of judgment, but from frustration, sadness, and helplessness. The title reflects that endless spinning, motion without progress, where everything looks the same no matter how many times it turns.
From The Strait: How would you like a music fan to feel, after listening to your music or seeing your show?
Gatlin Black: In terms of this song: Reflective, and perhaps sympathetic, or at least empathetic. Even if the song’s message doesn’t resonate with them, it’s possible they may know a “Lazy Susan”, in which case, they could apply the lesson of the tune to their personal relationships. Not everything is what it seems, and people struggling with these behaviours may not have always been this way. The struggle is real and these are human beings who are stuck on a certain level of life. People who are just looking to take some comfort in what they’ve found to ‘remedy’ themselves, or somehow feel connected to it all, even if artificially. Victims of the system. And yet we see these people on the streets and we pass them by. In cities, we’ve normalized walking by people who are ODing and offer no help… I suppose it’s always been a horribly sad creation. I would just hope this song can create some connection between the people who have life locked down and striving, to the people who are struggling and lost. We are all in this together, we are all human, and we all deserve second chances. I will always be rooting for the second chancers.
After seeing our show: I would want them to feel exhilarated. I would hope they could have enjoyed some escape from real life and hoped they have delved into the live music experience, in hopes that we provide a musical experience amazing enough for them to escape in!
From The Strait: Imagine you were selling out stadiums – what would you put on your rider?
Gatlin Black: 7 orders of Chicken-Waffles, 2 Deep fried watermelons, some Niacin, 2 cases of Mott’s applesauce, an umbrella, a few packets of Nes-Quick Chocolate Milk powder, and a monkey who plays the accordion. Oh, and a case of water!
From The Strait: What do you do when you have an overload of songs written – how do you choose which ones make the cut?
Gatlin Black: I currently have that problem! However, I’ve been building my life around this problem. I have always wanted and still strive to be a songwriter with an amassed repertoire. With heroes such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and others alike – artists who have lasted decades, and have released catalog continuously throughout their careers – I have shaped my goals to achieve something similar! But in order to be able to record a tantamount of songs and not blow the farm on production costs, I would need a way to record continuously! So I went to recording school (Metalworks) and built a recording studio out in my house, dedicating 3 rooms to accomplish gnarly live off the floor recordings. We now plan to record EVERYTHING! Once we start stacking up tunes, I suppose it will all be up to their sonic vibes and values to see if songs fit together appropriately per project!
From The Strait: What are your favourite – and least favourite – parts of being a musician?
Gatlin Black: Favourites: Playing shows, recording, networking, seeing new places, playing new venues, playing familiar venues, the people you meet, the traveling, the other music you hear & of course the work that goes into it – so purposeful and fulfilling! Love the constant growth (as a human and an artist), evolution of sound and ideas, and the spiritual journey.
Least Favourites: how difficult it can be to be heard by the right people. Constant rejection sucks but it tests if yer tough enough! How hard it can sometimes be to land a gig despite hard work – although we know the answer to this is to keep working hard and putting the energy in the right place! Can be intimidating, but not impossible! Something’s gotta give…
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Check out “Lazy Susan,” the new single from Gatlin Black!
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