Longtime Readers of this blog will know that I’ve been a fan of Bottlecap Mountain for quite a while. They’re one of a handful of bands like Voodoo Planet and Matt Derda & The High Watts that I consider the pantheon of “classic #Tweetcore,” so I was very excited to learn that they have a new album coming out later this year!

Last time we talked, Electric Love Spree was just coming out. That one had a strong summertime vibe. Your latest single, “Everest,” is out on September 9. Does it have more of an autumnal feel?

I think this one DOES have an autumnal feel to it but there are still some summer-time jams knocking about. More like “final summer” jams maybe but still a bit summertime. 

There’s a definitely some tension in this one. I’m hearing some edgy chords, and lyrically there’s an undercurrent of adversity—with the potential, of course, for overcoming it. What’s behind this one?

I think you nailed it! 

Really tried to use chords and dynamics to fit the lyrics but honestly the song was sparked from hearing this old Scottish woman tell this kid to “save your breath for cooling your porridge” which just means to stop talking uselessly, or a futile, wasted effort. I kinda mean it as: think before you act or stop being so rash. Jane Austen also uses it in Pride & Prejudice. Ultimately the song means exactly what it sounds like, “we all have an Everest, our mountain we climb” we all have obstacles & adversity to overcome. 

You’re also doing some cool stuff with echo and reverb at the end of the track. What was behind that decision?

Thats to build the tension but also it takes the Everest metaphor and flips it to the literal, you climbed the mountain, you’re at the summit, your last tank of oxygen is almost out & you’re suffering from altitude sickness, are you gonna make it? 

Does the rest of the album follow in kind—a bit edgy, a bit trippy? 

“A bit edgy, a bit trippy” is a pretty good description! There’s a lot of strangeness in this, both in terms of the music and the production choices, but also in terms of the stories being told. That said, the record as a whole tempers the edginess and trippiness with some more comfortable stuff. 

You guys have been around for a while now. Going on ten years? How do you keep your music feeling new and interesting?

Ten plus years! The magic has long since fizzled out but we’re gonna try and stay together for the kids. You know, even though that’s obviously just a dumb joke there’s something there – relationships are maintained by people showing up for each other and making it work, and that’s what we do. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health. BCM is a loving, passionate marriage! But mostly I think we all have a curiosity to follow the “muse” so to speak, to see where the music takes us. As long as that wheel keeps spinning I think we’re in it! 

You also put out a collection of singles last year. Did listening back to the old songs trigger any memories?

Yeah, why weren’t most of these big hits?! 

Fair question! It also includes the song “Fire in the Hole.” Did you record that one for the collection, or was it already in the vault? 

That one was written by me and a good friend of the band, a local filmmaker named Todd Clark. It was recorded during the Electric Love Spree sessions, on the same day as I’ve Got Loving For You actually. It turned out really good but I felt like it didn’t fit the feel of the rest of the album. When we were putting the collection together I wanted to include some unreleased stuff so that was a no brainer to include. 

I was just looking at your website, and I see that Chris has grown a mustache. How’s it working out for him? 

Chris needed a hobby and a mustache seemed like about as much as he could handle. It keeps him out of trouble.

Classic Chris! If you had it all to do over again, would you do anything differently?

Yeah, probably. 

What’s on the horizon? 

So the full album is also called Everest and it comes out on Oct 10 which I’m super proud of! Otherwise playing some shows, making some videos. Maybe a short tour next year. Then back to the studio, see where that ever elusive beast takes us.