Die aktuelle Situation trifft auch Bands in den Staaten wie Cuffed Up aus Los Angeles hart. Trotzdem versuchen sie sich durch die Veröffentlichung ihrer Musik, sei es in Form von YouTube Sessions oder ihrer EP „Cuffed Up“, an das Gute zu erinnern. Am 12.02.2021 gibt es ihr Werk, welches eigentlich bereits im letzten Jahr erschienen ist, endlich auch als Vinyl. Der perfekte Punkt, um für unsere Redakteure Kevin und Jacky bei Frontmann Ralph Torrefranca nachzuhaken, ob so ein Release eigentlich etwas anderes ist als das vorherige Veröffentlichen der EP.
Frontstage Magazine: Hello dear friends, we hope that you are well. How did you start the new year?
Ralph: Truthfully, we started 2021 back in strict quarantine in our homes as Los Angeles was dealing with a huge COVID spike. Apart from that, we’ve been busy writing new music in whatever way we can.
Frontstage Magazine: Yes, it is horrible. Due to that current situation, you have not been able before to see each other for weeks. What was it like when you could meet again and make music together?
Ralph: Towards the fall of 2020 we were able to meet in person for the first time. It was honestly an emotional moment being in the same room again. First and foremost, we are all close friends so not being able to see each other has been very difficult for us.
Frontstage Magazine: In this time, you started to publish live videos regularly on YouTube. Could this format generate at least a little concert compensation for you and your fans?
Ralph: We currently only have a couple of songs and a cover released, so we didn’t think that it was justifiable to charge our fans money to watch a full set behind a paywall. We may eventually do that once we have a full record, but for the time being, we’d like all of our fans to be able to watch our live videos for free.
Frontstage Magazine: Nice! Your self-titled EP was already released last year and now the release on vinyl (in Europe and UK) will follow in February. What’s more exciting: the release on all major music platforms or that of a CD/vinyl record? After all, streams take only virtually place, while the other medium delivers a solid you can really hold in your hands.
Ralph: We’re all huge fans of physical vinyl! It’s honestly a lot more exciting to us that our fans can order the Yellow Vinyl in the UK + EU or the Clear Vinyl in the US. Nothing beats having a tangible medium that you can feel in your hands, it’s truly the most personal experience that an artist can have with their fans.
Frontstage Magazine: We do think the same. In October you covered Death’s „Politicians In My Eyes„. Proceeds from the song will go to the Detroit Justice Centre. What is behind this action?
Ralph: We were very angry by the conservative administration that was in power at the time. We wanted to release a cover that not only took a stand for the upcoming election but also benefited the same community that the song originated from, which is why we donated bandcamp proceeds to the amazing DJC organization. DEATH are absolute pioneers of the punk scene and we wanted to do a cover that honored their political message at the time that rings true now as much as it did in 1974.
Frontstage Magazine: What are your plans for 2021? Can we expect new music? Or do you have other plans, if they can be realized at all due to the current situation?
Ralph: Hopefully we can put out new music this year but it’s currently all up in the air! But we’re definitely planning on it.
Frontstage Magazine: If you had to record a song in another language, which one would it be and why?
Ralph: We would like to travel the world with the band so naturally languages like Japanese, Spanish and Korean is very special to us. Hopefully, we can bring our live show around the globe after the pandemic is all said and done!
Frontstage Magazine: We hope so as well! Thank you very much for the nice interview and your time! We appreciated that!
Fotocredit: Ana Karotkaya
