Mit ihrem zweiten Studioalbum „You Can Come Out Now“ melden sich Alphawhores eindrucksvoll zurück. Nach dem vielbeachteten Debüt „I“, das vor allem persönliche Tiefpunkte verarbeitete, zeigt sich das neue Werk als deutlich gefestigter, reflektierter – und musikalisch vielseitiger. Wir haben mit der Band über ihre Entwicklung, die Zusammenarbeit mit Grammy-Gewinner Adrian Bushby und Langzeitpartner Evan Rodaniche, ihre erste Headliner-Tour durch Europa und die thematische Tiefe ihres neuen Albums gesprochen.
Frontstage Magazine: You Can Come Out Now is your second full-length album – in what ways does it reflect your growth and evolution as a band compared to your debut I?
Alphawhores: “I” was essential for creating our sound and the blueprints of how we work together. Also, lyrically, it comes from a sadder place as we were both going through some rough times. You Can Come Out now, although perhaps a bit denser, comes from a stronger, more decisive and confident place, hence the title.
Frontstage Magazine: You worked with two-time Grammy winner Adrian Bushby and longtime collaborator Evan Rodaniche. How did their involvement shape the sound and direction of the album?
Alphawhores: Adrian helped us by pointing out the places within the songs that needed work and allowed us to work them out ourselves prior to the final recording. He also has a good sense of where the songs needed overdubs and extra arrangements. Evan is just a master mixer that really understands what the songs call for, sonically so we brought him back for this very reason. So Adrian and Evan were both very important contributors in helping us to create this album.
Frontstage Magazine: Your blend of heavy riffs and distinct harmonies stands out. How do you strike the balance between raw energy and melody in your songwriting?
Alphawhores: Good question. We usually work on the instrumentals first which come out mostly from jamming. This is where the raw energy comes from. We later try out different melodies to see what suits the song better and eventually come up with harmonies to those melodies. We grew up listening to bands that accomplish blending heavy riffs with poppy melodies, and also a lot of 80’s pop, so it’s something that comes out very natural from us.
Frontstage Magazine: You recently completed your first headlining European tour – how did that experience impact your connection to the new songs? Was there anything about the European audiences that surprised you?
Alphawhores: We were playing 5 of the songs from the new album even though only one had been released at the time. It was a great sounding board seeing how crowds reacted to them, which was always incredibly positive. For example, we found out a few gigs in that the song “T-Rex Masseuse” is a great opener for the shows, even though it was a track that nobody had ever heard. European audiences embraced and elevated our confidence like never before. They made us feel like rock stars. Their energy during the shows and in conversations with fans afterwards were always very encouraging. We can’t wait to go back!
Frontstage Magazine: The album features ten new songs, with a bonus track available digitally. Is there a thematic thread or specific mood that ties You Can Come Out Now together?
Alphawhores: Yes, You Can Come Out Now, just like “I” is a form of therapy for us, although YCCON tackles different emotions and other kinds of human relationships, including the one we have with one another and our music. It comes from a place of maturity and coming out of a deep dark hole with battle scars and a stronger attitude.
Fotocredit: Tito Herrera
