Freshly Pressed – Not The Author “Cocktails and Clichés”

Sudbury, ON-based hard rock band Not The Author recently released their latest track, “Cocktails and Clichés”. It’s the second single from their new EP, Short Stories, and showcases the band’s nu-metal and metalcore influences. We caught up with Jamie and Mike to chat about the new music, their songwriting process, and how the band got its start.

From The Strait: Tell us about the new single, “Cocktails and Clichés“.

Jamie: This single sort of meshes modern hard rock with old school 2000s nu-metal along with some fun experimental/progressive elements, all in one package.

Mike: This song was heavily inspired by James Bond movies. We claim “It’s Doomsday” at the beginning, and we all know that Bond is the target of every single underground evil affiliation group. So, for them, he is the issue and the problem. But he gets in his own way when he falls in love with forbidden fruit – evil women. As is tradition. Then he spouts off some clichés during his monologues, and at the end, a conglomerate of people join in a circle prayer to bless his body with the spirits of the old tree folk that root their tree-souls into his veins and reanimate his body with their sprite-like leaf fingers.

We asked Dan what he thought of the last James Bond movie we showed him and he said “this isn’t James Bond.” Pfft. What does he know?!

From The Strait: What can listeners expect from the new EP, Short Stories?

Jamie: Short Stories is a hard hitting modern rock EP, with post-hardcore/nu-metal influences. There are a total of 6 songs, and each one brings something new to the table.

Mike: 6 songs and they all slap harder than Mike’s cleavage when he jogs home during a rain storm after he forgot his umbrella. Spoiler alert – Mike doesn’t even own an umbrella. Rob drums on this record.

From The Strait: Every band has their own way of creating songs – what is your songwriting process like?

Jamie: Mainly the process has been for Jamie (our lead singer and bassist) and Mike (our lead guitarist and other vocalist) to get together and lay down the tracks initially at Jamie’s house. After recording all of the parts in sort of a basic way, we go through each section of the songs, and see what parts are necessary and what we can do to emphasize the songs, with instruments or vocals. This process takes time and often our songs begin one way but end up being completely different, but it is all in the name of creating, what we feel, is an interesting, fun, song.

Once this is done, we send it to the other members to review. Rob (our drummer/producer) is fantastic at taking what we have done and taking it to another level to it with his drumming and songwriting experience.

Dan hasn’t been a part of the songwriting process on this EP, as he joined just after recording. He does have great experience and alot of talent on guitar, so his addition to the process will only strengthen and add to what is already there.

Mike: First, we buy a jug of milk, and they can be pretty expensive these days, but we scrounge up some money and get a whole jug. We add baking powder, food coloring and slices of lemon. We leave that outside our Canadian igloos for a week, and every other day we take a beaver and shake its tail over top of the jug for good luck. When the meese come (this is plural of moose) and start to lick at the edges of the jug, we know it’s ready. We take that completed jug and throw it away, and then Mike and Jamie alternate sharing files with each other, changing lyrics, adjusting guitar riffs, until we feel confident we made the best Meese Jug and Rock Song.

From The Strait: How did the band get started?

Mike: Birthed into the world. Insane talent developed. Happened upon each other through the power of PlentyOfRiffs (an online music dating site). Rob ignored us for a long while, but eventually he had to come into the basement and either join in or ask us to leave his house. He opted played, his wife no longer considered us “squatters”, and the rest is history.

Jamie: Our band started out a different project called “The Honour” which was more pop-punk/lighter rock. As time progressed, the lineup changed, so we felt as though a name change was necessary as this also affected our overall sound.

Not The Author currently has 4 members, who were all at some point, members of the band “Of Tall Tales”. This is where the name of the EP “Short Stories” came from.

From The Strait: What artists or bands are you listening to most right now?

Mike: All 3 different theme songs for the Drew Carey show, knowing fully well that one of these songs is the reason why he can’t get licensing to have the show on streaming services. I grow more and more angry with every listen. Moon Over Parma makes my blood boil. Did you know it was a cover?

Jamie: I personally love discovering new music, so I’m often tossing up random playlists or listening to online radio. I mostly listen to rock/metal stations.

From The Strait: If you could play any music venue anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Jamie: I wouldn’t say I had a dream venue but would love to play music in a different country as I have only played shows in Canada. Meeting other talent from different places and sharing the stage with them in their communities would be quite fun.

Mike: I have always dreamed of playing a reunion show at my high school. Not in a weird “I peaked here” kind of way, but just to return back to my hometown and for us to deliver in front of the people we grew up with. But my high school was torn down years ago. So, if I get rich enough, I’ll rebuild the school, throw on the concert as a benefit event, and take to the stage in front of a mediocre applause. After the audience calms down from their cheerful commotion, I’ll say “do you see me now, Mr. Miller? Too fat for fame, huh?! Do you see me now?!” And then, before we even play a song, I’ll instruct the wrecking ball to re-destroy the school. Then, we’ll fly to London and play at the Westminster Cathedral, dressed up as our favorite conductors. I choose Peter Schickele’s P.D.Q. Bach.

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Check out “Cocktails and Clichés,” the new single from Not The Author!

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