Year in Pop: 2016

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Snuff Redux

The new gentry of the northwest—Snuff Redux; press photo courtesy of the band.

The new gentry of the northwest—Snuff Redux; press photo courtesy of the band.

There is a steady buzz swirling around Seattle’s underground loves Snuff Redux. Having captured the imagination & attention of many with the beloved EPs Toy Kingdom & Besides You and now premiere their video for the new single “No Reasons Good” that commemorates their 2016 Infinity Tour. Recorded in Chicago with engineer Chris Lee; Skyler Ford, Daniel Chesney & Dylan Arlick run through all the introspective rationales & inner-reflections that spill out in an earnest song that shares the sentiments of summer energy to help soften & heat the snow & ice of the winter season.

The privy view to Snuff Redux’s 2016 Infinity Tour begins with a man on the street providing the prelude of approval with the wave of the future…guys that really get down….if you want to see a good band….holler at Snuff Redux. The tour visuals for “No Reasons Good” feature all kinds of natural environments, mountainous ranges, lily pad ponds, sky scrapers, live performance footage & band-van hang times. Animals make cameos from personal pooches to wild turkeys; Snuff Redux embrace the open road with the spirit of carpe diem where lakes, art spaces, parks, patios & more are explored & appreciated. “No Reasons Good” illustrates anecdotes of truths, fallacies & miscommunicated desires & needs that anything but simply or easy to express or act upon. These moments, feelings, intentions & mis-connected instances are illustrated through collected chords progressions that wonder & wander like a host of unspoken feelings that serve as the song’s subtle melodic subtext.

And more than just a video for “No Reasons Good”, this is the official Snuff Redux tour adventure road film short. Skyler, Daniel & Dylan put you in the roadie role where you hit the highways & rural trails from gig to gig; whilst enjoying all afforded downtime in between. From stage shaking shred fests, campfire warm-ups & lakeside escapes—Snuff Redux’s new b-side single about rocky relationships is provided with one wild highway rolling odyssey to tide you over until the band releases their debut full-length in 2017. Read our following interview with Skyler Ford where he announces the new record & a whole lot more.

Walk us through the progressions of creating Toy Kingdom, Besides You, to the rationales & reasoning behind the b-side “No Reasons Good”.

We spent this year writing and completing the songs we will record for a full length album, but certain sketches of songs got fleshed out that we decided wouldn’t fit on the album. So on tour, we were itching to do something with those ideas and this is what happened.

The tape is on ice—Snuff Redux's "No Reasons Good".

The tape is on ice—Snuff Redux’s “No Reasons Good”.

What were some of your favorite memories & inside the Chicago studio space inspiration for the the b-side?

The studio space was actually a makeshift studio the engineer, Chris Lee had built in his basement at his house. We had never met him before, we only corresponded through our road manager Peyton, who had heard of him throughout his time as a local fixture in the DIY scene. It was the day before the fourth of July. He made us really comfortable and was super patient given our circumstances of only having a day to put things down. We were pretty tired but ready to just get something done while we were in the middle of our tour.

Throw up your hands with Snuff Redux; tour video still courtesy of the band.

Throw up your hands with Snuff Redux; tour video still courtesy of the band.

Highlights from this year’s tour, as depicted in the on-the-road visuals that make up the video for “No Reasons Good”?

So many good, crazy things…dogs, cats, birds, bugs, horses, new friends, good food, bad food, Brooklyn, hanging with Great Spiders in California and playing a few dates with them, seeing half the country, the good the bad and the ugly…and all of our friends along the way…Boy Romeo, Olivia, Jeff, and everybody else who hosted us graciously on our adventure, because without them we probably would have died on the road.

What & who are on the come-up right now in the Seattle DIY scenes?

Hands down, DoNormaal. Everyone will be talking about her this time next year if the world has any damn sense left in it. She is a Truth Speaker and a Soul Seeker, and we are so lucky to have shared the stage with her this year.

The Incorporated Clothing, and Baesicks, for making waves, for making awesome clothing and being awesome people.

Oh also Versing, and Great Grandpa, of course.

Holiday / NYE plans?

Play with new pedals and amps, begin tracking the album, Skyler’s birthday

2017 wishlist & forecast?

As badly as we want to play Bumbershoot again, we really hope this next year sees more love and support for the many marginalized groups of our society. Wishing only goes so far, so for now, it’s time to work as hard as humanly fucking possible to make sure we protect those around us who deserve absolute equal rights, in whatever form that is. Peace.

Hopping on that holiday road with Snuff Redux; press photo courtesy of the band.

Hopping on that holiday road with Snuff Redux; press photo courtesy of the band.

Next big moves for Snuff Redux?

Our album is called Denim American, and we are going to record it very soon.

Get Snuff Redux’s new single “No Reasons Good” now via Bandcamp.