We first introduced you to Austin-based band Frogmouth with the release of their album Identity Thief & now with a new single dropping today, we thought it would be a great time to check-in and see what the guys have been up to since its release.
Listen to Clockmaker and read on for our interview below.
CF: First and foremost, I’m glad we’ve been able to connect again! How have you been since the release of Identity Thief and can you give us a brief update on what you’ve been up to since then?
ANGUS: We have been keeping busy, intentionally pushing forward with writing, performing and recording. I feel like we have all been doing this long enough to really appreciate the exceptional chemistry and positivity that has fallen into place here. We have been working on new ideas all through the time we were finishing Identity Thief and getting it out there. Now we have more new stuff, and putting out new singles is a way to share our momentum and excitement with what we are doing as we work toward the next album. I think we all agree that this is such a good creative thing that we all want to keep this moving. Lots of ideas flying around and any one any time can end up being grabbed by everyone and fleshed out into a song together. We all throw in, we are all open to each other’s ideas and suggestions. And then I think we let the song be what it wants to be and just doing our best for that. What comes out the other side is always a surprise. So yeah, we just want to keep doing more of this.
CF: Of course we want to talk about the track itself, but I really love the comic-inspired artwork for Clockmaker. What made you choose this direction?
JESSE: I asked my kid who is a very talented artist (https://www.instagram.com/_worm_art_) to come up with something. I had a feeling that their art style would fit the vibe of the song well, and yeah, we all love what they did with it. It’s similar to how we write songs, everyone puts their creative spin on it, and what comes out may not be what you originally envisioned, but it usually turns out way cooler than you ever could have imagined.
CF: While we’re talking about comics, which ones does the band read or enjoy the most?
JORDAN: I used to collect every Wednesday for years (all of the Marvel & DC staples and events), and eventually couldn’t keep up. Nowadays, I find myself geared more toward standalone TPB’s and One Shots, primarily horror stuff out of Marvel, like Werewolf by Night. Some of my favorite series that I frequently go back to are Preacher, American Vampire, Walking Dead & Invincible.
CF: Favourite comic-to-movie adaptation? Least favourite?
JORDAN: Favorite adaptation to film would be Batman Begins. I still think that movie even tops TDK for me. Also loved 300, Sin City, 30 Days of Night and pretty much all of James Gunn’s adaptations. Worst Adaptation? Honestly, Preacher. I wish they stuck to the source material and didn’t bastardize the one shot at bringing that to the screen. I’ll watch Howard the Duck or any of the notoriously panned films over the years rather than set eyes on that entirely disappointing tripe again.
CF: Let’s chat about the track. Lyrically, the musician in me feels like you pulled Clockmaker right from my own head. Can you give us some more insight into what inspired these words for you?
JESSE: The main idea is something I’ve tried to write about a few times before. Growing up, I played a lot of sports, but for some reason I never really tried to do anything that might put glory on myself or be in any way selfish. I think that I was afraid of the spotlight, or just thought it was more important to, say, get walked than get a hit. I kinda wish one of my coaches had taken me aside at some point and said “just swing at the ball” or “just take the shot”. Part of something I still struggle with is to just go for the thing I want, even if it’s uncertain.
“Instead of playing other people’s songs to nobody, I could at least be playing my own songs to nobody.” – Jesse Hodges, Frogmouth.
CF: I find it tough, personally, when I find myself being the person you describe in Clockmaker; forcing myself to be a little smaller, waiting for a more collaborative effort instead of just doing the damn thing myself. For me I think it’s in part a desire to be part of something instead of the thing something is as well as an internal fight with the part of me that seems to want me to feel like I couldn’t possibly be good enough on my own. It’s an almost impossible feeling to completely stifle away as I imagine you can relate on some level. How do you deal with this type of internal struggle? What do you say or do to push it aside and carry forward?
JESSE: I totally understand. Something I realized a few years ago was that, for the most part, people don’t care that much about what you’re doing. After playing supporting roles in various bands I realized that instead of playing other people’s songs to nobody, I could at least be playing my own songs to nobody. Why not, right? This really freed me up to be able to start putting more art out into the world. Surprisingly to me, it sometimes resonates with people so that’s very gratifying.
CF: If you knew someone else was going through this, what would you say to them? Is it different from what you say to yourself?
JESSE: Mainly, believe in yourself. You’re probably better than you think you are. This is not always what I tell myself when I’m feeling down, but it is what I actively try to remind myself of.
CF: I dig the easy-flow of the track. It’s full of cool little guitar riffs and fun bass lines that pop in. It seems to sit in an earlier time, sort of glam arena-rock that I bet translates well to your live performances. What bands would you say you listen to most heavily influence this type of sound for you?
JAY: That’s pretty awesome you picked up on the different sounds. When this song started, Jesse wrote the original song structure as his attempt to write a song in the style and vein of the band Cake whom he’s a big fan of. Kind of a dry and sly, straightforward mid 90’s alt rock song. When the rest of us got a hold of it, we were able to add various elements to it to enhance it. I added some post-punk clean guitar similar to Siouxsie & The Banshees to the verses to resemble a pendulum type swinging motif. I really love Keith Richards’ guitar swagger, so the chorus has a very Rolling Stones’ feel that he’s always had. So good. The second half of the song had us channel both some early Smashing Pumpkins Gish-era guitar clashing with a dash of some vocal stuff ala The Mars Volta. This song took on a life of its own with so many different influences. It’s pretty great to see it come together in real time.
CF: You worked with Jason Richard on this one at, funnily enough, Clockright Studio. Do Frogmouth work out all the nuts and bolts of the track at the jam space, or do productions like this one come together in the studio?
JAY: For the most part, the four of us will have the basic structure of a song completed in our own rehearsal space. Then we’ll bring it to Jason to get his take on it. He’s very involved in the creative process, almost like a fifth member of the band. He’s given and suggested so many great ideas since we’ve worked with him thus far. Some of the ideas on Clockmaker are based on suggestions he’s brought up, especially on some of the guitar parts and specific tones for said parts. He’s great at what he does.
CF: Is there another album on the way and will new Frogmouth tracks follow this direction?
JAY: We are currently writing a new album, yes. We had finished our first album (Identity Thief) and as a bonus at our release show, debuted a new song called “Delivery” that will be on our next album. It shows that even with a full album done, we never stop writing. We decided to release “Clockmaker” as a stop gap for us to continue working on the new songs, as well as give everyone a taste of what’s to come. Some of the songs will definitely follow in this direction. The songwriting is much stronger and confident this time around. I think people are really going to enjoy them.
CF: Now knowing you onsider Jason a fifth member, I’m sure there are lots of things you could say here, but what’s one thing you really enjoyed about working with them on Clockmaker?
JAY: Jason really knows how to tap into a band’s energy and vision. We sent the initial demo to him and he enjoyed it. When it came time to record it, he suggested a slew of different sounds, tones, vocal effects and techniques, as well as encouraging us to play our best. All while keeping a very enthusiastic demeanor (and plenty of pots of black coffee, too.) It’s always very fun working with him. A total consummate professional. Time goes by so quickly because it’s really fun to record in his studio, and he legitimately cares about who he works with. The music speaks for itself, and it’s always quality.
CF: I want to touch at least briefly on the line, “We’ll binge watch while the empire falls, Calculate the space and time to knock down these walls.” Given the current political atmosphere in the world but particularly your own United States where we’ve been seeing huge turnouts for events like the recent No Kings protest rallies, we’re wondering if this part of the track was in any way inspired by these types of events or where Frogmouth stands on these types of issues?
JORDAN: I’ll let Jesse delve into his take, but I can say from my own personal standpoint that I oppose fascism, oligarchy and unfettered greed and power in our country, and world at large. I wouldn’t play in a band with people that stood for those things either. As one of my favorite artists (Rob Sheridan) has championed since his work with NIN during the Year Zero phase, “Art is Resistance, Joy is Defiance”. Making the music we love and bringing ourselves and (hopefully) others joy in the process is important when facing a machine intended to crush our spirits. I personally engage in activism for what I believe in, and I encourage others to use their voices similarly.
JESSE: Our songs generally don’t get too political; Art for me is sometimes more about setting aside fears and worries and enjoying the moment. But lyrics are typically some representation of our inner life as well. Being an American right now is quite exhausting and being a Texan even more so. Day to day, I feel like I have to deliberately focus on the small things I can control, or the worries and anxieties about gestures vaguely “all this” will overwhelm me. Hence, “Binge watch as the empire falls”. I guess we are all coping differently, I’m grateful that we have a creative outlet and are still able to do this.
CF: I know you guys are influenced pretty well by Superchunk who just put out a new record a little bit ago that I’ve been playing incessantly over here the last couple weeks. Favourite track on the new record?
JESSE: I’ve been digging it as well. My favorite track on the new record is “No Hope”.
CF: Who else are you guys listening to these days? Are you constantly on the hunt for new artists or do you fall back to old favourites?
JESSE: I tend to cycle back and forth between listening to new stuff, old stuff, or sometimes audiobooks. Drug Church, PUP, and Jeff Rosenstock are some that I’ve been digging lately.
JAY: I’ve been on a huge KISS kick lately (RIP Ace Frehley) as well as The Clash and one of my all-time favorite bands from England, The Screaming Blue Messiahs. Love those loud guitar riffs and real intricacies in the music. Never gets old.
CF: Outside of the music, what does a typical Frogmouth day look like for you guys? What are we all getting up to before inspiration hits?
ANGUS: My life is the usual, family, day job, bills and responsibilities. That is why I am so grateful for the good luck to work with people who have so much creativity and are so open minded and positive. We get stuff done fast because we don’t fight over it. There’s this underlying understanding we all want the best and we have all had excellent results from the back and forth, so sure let’s try your idea on my song and vice versa. Even some “let’s sleep on it and see” and what do you know wow. So, whatever else in life may be challenging, being easily creative together and hearing back results we all love feels really gratifying.
CF: Is there anything else coming up you want us to let fans know about?
JAY: We’ve got a slew of shows coming up to finish out 2025 and then a few surprises we’re discussing for January and beyond. For the most part, we’ll be resuming recording and writing of our upcoming second album which we’re really stoked to finish and release. Never stop writing.
Thanks Frogmouth for taking the time to chat with us!
For those of you in the Austin, TX area, the band will be performing at the Anderson Mill Pub tomorrow night, Saturday November 1st. It’s free admission and 21+.
Crooked Forest 