Easy on the eyes and not bad on the ears, Matt Webb of the emo pop band Marianas Trench has released a second EP with four tracks he hopes fans might blast on a night drive.
This month he will take his new tunes to fans across Canada, playing in Edmonton on March 21st at Avenue Theatre, Calgary at the Den on March 22nd, and in Red Deer’s Memorial Centre on March 23rd. Webb will be playing this tour with a full band and special guests Jessica Lee and Fake Shark – Real Zombie!
Since roughly 2001, the lead guitarist of Marianas Trench has been writing songs practically his whole life - though not for the band. This new solo career, heading into its fourth year, is his first dip into the ink, so to speak.
"When people put out their first record their songs are always a collection of stuff they’ve put together from their whole life time," Webb says. "This time around I was able to learn from the mistakes I made on the first record."
One of these mistakes may have been what he has been quoted as calling recording a ‘shit mix’ of tracks that didn’t add up to one cohesive voice in the EP Coda and Jacket. Despite this, the dancy synth sound of Bad Girl is certainly a fun listen and YouTube view.
"I knew the sound I wanted to get," he says speaking on the assembly of this current release, the four-track EP Right Direction (604 Records/Universal Music Canada). "I think it turned out."
He describes this sound as "really stripped down, not a lot to it, not a lot of production; organic," in contrast to the "pop powerhouse, really slick, well crafted" sound Marianas Trench pumps out.
"It’s just different," he says. "I’m hoping that some of Marianas fans will enjoy what I’ve done."
Humbly he admits that some won’t.
Webb says that he and the rest of Marianas are lucky to have the fan base they do – fans that embrace everything the musicians put out for them.
"Music fans are really smart; they just know good music," he says. "You don’t see people these days get obsessed over a particular genre...as long as it’s a good song."
He says this is how Marianas fans are – simply enthusiasts of sweet music. And he "loves them to death" for it.
"I’ve got my fingers crossed," he says, in hope that they will dig this new release.
Opening track Heartbreakers is a great start to the EP. It’s catchy, sing-along-able and radio-play worthy. The following tracks kind of decrescendo and slow down after that. It’s Webb, his guitar and his life-inspired lyrics; as he describes, very little production and very little backup instrumentally. The lyrics are honest and the vocals innocent. It just lacks the pizazz and polish of some of the other music he has been involved with.
Though his lyrics are personal and based on life experiences he doesn’t wish to get public about, his hope is that listeners will find a kinship with them.
"People don’t have my experiences – they have their own," he says. "People identify with music because they can tie it in with their own life."
"People can interpret meaning of songs as they see fit. I do [the song writing] for me and hopefully people can relate to that somehow."
His songs touch often on the topic of being away from home. This helped him to decide the name of the EP and its title track.
"I think it definitely has to do with honing the sound," he says. But mainly it’s about
"Being on the road and wanting to head home in the right direction."
Webb states proudly that his band has been very supportive of his solo project.
"Everybody’s sort of doing their own thing in their own time," he explains. "Everybody in the band just wants everybody else to be really successful."
"We’re a family; we wish nothing but the best for everybody."
Asked if producing music on his own is a break from band life he says it’s anything but. The busy pace never stops.
"It’s just a switch up; it’s a different vibe," he says. But his devotion to music is a daily duty. After wrapping up this month’s tour, Webb will be right back in the studio with Marianas recording an album slated for a summer release. Then it will be back on the road touring that album.
"I’m really satisfied," Webb says. "I just wish I could have had more songs for people."
Webb laments there just hasn’t been enough time between the hectic Marianas schedule to write more.
Right Direction was released on February 4th, but if ordered through iTunes one also receives two additional B-sides not included on the regular EP.
Webb is excited to be presenting these tracks live.
"I can’t wait to share this stuff with as many people as possible."
