An Interview With Breaking The Undertow
Breaking the Undertow is back in action with a new single that takes on the form of an alternative rock track which delves into an honest and relatable topic where the artist wears a lot on his sleeves and lets out what is needed in order to create something impactful and probably get things off of his chest.
"Stone" is packed with vocal harmonies and melodies that feel vast and large along with really well-built rises to a climax that brings things to choruses and hooks that hit with a passionate delivery and just the right character and presents needed to leave a mark.
Throughout this banger you get elements of hardcore and metal along with a sort of smoothness that lasts through the choruses but it's really amazing to have these genres and subgenres combining together and making something that gives you tastes of different styles like this.
What's most impressive is the way it all comes together because there's a lot going on in this track especially towards the middle and the end so it feels like the type of song that is hard to mix but this is done with everything in the right place.
The dynamic and balance between the instruments and the vocals especially, speak volumes for the time and energy put into polishing the song down so that it all makes perfect sense.
This project always has such a great cinematic backbone to it that has a unique way of coming across to the point where sometimes you don't even realize that until the song is over.
You can also tell that just like other songs from this project, this single came to fruition because of something real and that's part of what makes these songs so absolutely impactful and memorable.
They are genuine and you can definitely relate to the topic most of the time.
Lyrically, very straightforward with hints of metaphor but completely understandable and this is a part of why the connection is so strong with the song itself.
What's cool about this is that you can bang your head to it but you also can hear all of those intricacies and all of those tracks coming together in such a great form.
I love that you listen to a song like this and it feels like something that you have heard on the radio and it also somehow gives you the strange sense of nostalgia which probably comes from that passion and energy.
Either way, we wanted to have another talk with Trevor Heaslip, the man behind Breaking the Undertow so that we can find out where this song came from and touch down on what else is happening.
Here's what happened.
TSWS: "Stone" has a unique feel but still holds true to some of the stape sounds of Breaking The Undertow! What is the song about to you?
“Stone” is perhaps the most personal and vulnerable song I’ve written for Breaking The Undertow. This song is two years of pain and sadness poured into words and music. From extreme isolation to ruined relationships, “Stone” is a devastatingly deep dive into the cold, North Atlantic Ocean. Numbness eventually sets in, but by then it’s too late. I’ve channelled all the energy I can muster to spit out the tale of an emotionally depleted individual looking for a way out of sickness and exhaustion, hoping with all of his might to find healing on the other side.
TSWS: It feels like every single you release is another step in a slightly new direction for you. Being an artist, what do you think makes this happen?
I frankly don’t see the point in releasing the same song over and over. I agree that Breaking The Undertow has an essential essence, a DNA makeup if you will, but each release requires a new spin to keep me interested as an artist. In the past, I’ve begun recording songs and realized “whoops! I’ve been down this road before” and I shelve it until I’m able to revive it in a new and interesting way, or I leave it alone altogether. I also just have eclectic interests and musical tastes, so I find it rewarding to explore different styles, different instruments, and different writing methods. A lot of my songs are bits and pieces I’ve written over the years. In fact, the intro keyboard in “Stone” was a little thing I wrote playing my mom’s piano as a kid, and I’m finally using it in a song some two decades later.
TSWS: Have you recruited members for live shows?
I have not recruited members for live shows. I’m in the process of moving back to Ontario from Nova Scotia. I have some musical friends there, so perhaps I might be open to recruiting some folks to play these songs live.
TSWS: You do everything on these recordings and it's crazy to think one person can create songs like this! What is your process for recording a song?
I don’t think there would be any point to Breaking The Undertow if I didn’t do everything myself. It’s all the things I love doing; recording, editing, performing, writing. The only thing I don’t do is mix and master, which is always handled by my incredible brother Taabu. Typically a song is made up of bits and pieces I’ve written on guitar, keyboard, or vocals; often they’re little ideas that pop into my head while I’m doing other things and i hum or sing them into the voice memo app on my phone to go over later. Once I’ve fleshed out the structure of a song by piecing these little tidbits together, I write/program drum parts with Getgooddrums. The rest of the instruments are done in pieces, swapping out guitars for keyboards and midi instruments. It’s quite an enjoyable and fulfilling process. Guitars are all in the box with software amps; I prefer THU currently by Overloud. Then I find a space to record vocals, whether it be my car, closet, friend’s studio, or rehearsal space. Vocals are gruelling. It’s an extremely physical process for me. I typically have to get an entire song done in about 3 hours, which includes melodies, harmonies, and screaming parts, and I’m engineering the whole session myself. Gotta suffer a little for your art, am I right?
TSWS: Would you say you are a guitar player first and foremost?
I think I’m a singer first and foremost to be honest. I’ve always enjoyed singing. As much as I love guitar, I think I’m more versatile and competent as a vocalist. Believe it or not, I write a ton of stuff with my voice, even if that part ends up being played by another instrument. I find I get bored with the stuff I write on the guitar, but my voice feels full of endless possibilities to create. I guess that’s why I identify with it so much.
TSWS: Do you collaborate with other artists on songs?
A couple years ago I did a cover of Phantogram’s “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” which was a duet with my wife Laura. That’s actually one of my most listened to songs. I have a ton of talented friends who I’d love to collaborate with, but it’s not something I’ve explored much yet. I think I’m getting to the point where it might be necessary to collaborate. As much as I love creating solo, I think collaboration might be able to inject some new life into this project of mine.
TSWS: Are we going to get a full length album release this year?
If I were to do albums in the traditional sense, you’d probably be waiting 3 years between albums. I don’t do music full time, it’s not my main source of income, so I can only do it when I have the time. I get between 2-4 songs done a year, so I prefer the immediacy of single releases so you can hear something from me every few months. What I have started doing is releasing collections of my singles. When I’ve accumulated enough single releases, definitely expect another collection with new artwork. In the meantime, “Flotsam and Jetsam: Singles Volume 1” is out on streaming platforms and contains 10 of my early singles.
TSWS: What would you say is the overall vision for this project?
The overall vision for this project is really two things; to express myself and to have fun. I have a lot to say, and writing songs is definitely my preferred method of communication. I can share things in these songs that might get me shunned from polite society if I were to say them at the dinner table. I’m an emotional person, and I’ve got a lot to express. This helps. Also, making music is just my passion. First and foremost it’s fun to do. I hope that listeners will connect with my songs as well, and that my listenership will grow, but I’ll still continue making music whether people listen or not.
TSWS: Is writing and recording songs cathartic for you?
Writing and recording is very cathartic for me, especially with this new song “Stone”. There was a lot I felt like I needed to work through and confront in my life, and creating this song helped me do that. It was, and can often be, a painful process. In the end though, I’m left with a song I’m proud of when I started with a situation that sucks. That transference of negative energy to positive is definitely healing in and of itself.
TSWS: What would you like to express to your fans?
I’m grateful for anyone and everyone who’s ever listened to Breaking The Undertow. It means the world to be able to share my music with others and I’m happy any time my songs get listened to. If you listen to my music, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Breaking The Undertow Bandcamp