Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Crushed and how you got together.
Mark Lauer: We got together when Jeff Garten, our drummer, placed ads in both the metal and alternative classified ads looking for people to jam with. Mike Halland (guitar) responded from the metal side and I had just come out of a gothy sort of band. Things just clicked and the two styles melded together to create an interesting sound. We found Mike Brown (bass) and then hooked up with Harry McCaleb (guitar/keyboards), who was from my previous band, and there you have Crushed.
How would you describe the sound of My Machine?
Dark and moody, but uplifting and accessible as well. We cover a lot of ground, from full blown screaming metal, to dreamy, ambient, acoustic guitar and keyboard driven tracks.
How did you get Mike Clink to produce the album?
Mike had heard a couple of our demos and the songs really grew on him. He eventually agreed to catch a show. I think he was pleasantly shocked by the fact that none our existing recordings really captured what we do live. So he agreed to produce a record with us even though we were sort of in between record labels at the time.
How was he to work with?
Mike was great. Even though he is a world-renowned producer with an amazing track record, he managed to put us at ease in the studio. It was humbling as well, at one point we were tracking in the same studio that Mike had recorded Guns n’ Roses Appetite For Destruction, that was kinda surreal. He really pushed me to get more emotion out of my voice. It was exhausting at times but it was also a very fulfilling experience. I am very proud of this record and the songs we wrote.
How did you decide on the title My Machine?
My Machine is from a lyric to our song “Further Down”. In the song, it refers to an answering machine, in the album art, we made it a literal statement, but it really is a metaphor for all those things we hold close to ourselves, the things that drive us.
What inspired your lyrics for the album?
Really just everyday life. Love, loss, frustration, hope. I think we touch upon all of these themes.
Fans of what other groups will like Crushed?
We have a lot of fans who don’t even normally listen to heavy music, but for some reason Crushed’ music resonates with them. As far as heavier bands go, we have been likened to Tool, Deftones, Chevelle, Filter, but we are more influenced by bands like the Church, the Cure, Dead can Dance, Sisters of Mercy, a lot of old school so-called goth music I guess.
What are your tour plans?
We will be playing all around the Southwest and the West coast this summer.
How did you get started in music?
I’m one of those people who has been playing in bands since I was a young teenager, since before I could drive even. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t play. I actually played in bands with Harry, our keys/guitar guy back then, high school parties, etc.
Was there a song or album that inspired you to want to perform music?
I always loved the Beatles and Black Sabbath, best of both worlds, I suppose.
Who are some current artists you admire?
Admire is a strong word. Anyone who has manged to have a long career and has stayed true to their own vision. People like U2, NIN, Tori Amos, Ozzy, you know, artists who have not sacrificed what they want to really do but still manage to have great careers.
What’s your all time favorite metal albums?
Black Sabbath – Vol 4, Aerosmith – Rocks, UFO – Strangers In The Night, the first couple of Metallica albums, the first couple of Korn albums, Guns ‘N Roses – Appetite for Destruction (of course). I also likeWhite Zombie, Helmet, Refused, Lamb of God, Daath, Isis, the list goes on.
What’s the metal/hard rock scene like in Phoenix?
There are always a ton of bands in Phoenix, many of them very good. The venues seem to come and go, but there are a few that manage to hang in there for years and new ones are always popping up. I’d say it is a pretty vibrant scene. There are different clubs in demographically different parts of the city and they all draw different types of crowds, so it is pretty diverse and there is always something interesting going on.
