Interview: Mike Collins of Rooftop Screamers Discusses His Single/Video "Dead In The Water"
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“ I do have a core group of musicians I like to work with that I know will always bring something fresh and exciting to the music. But I also like to branch out from that circle and reach out to musicians who’s work I admire.”
What is the origin of the Rooftop Screamers music project, and what does the name represent to you?
Rooftop Screamers is an outlet to write and record my own original music. I play in a few bands in the Portland (Oregon) area and do a fair amount of session/studio work as well. That keeps me pretty busy. But as a songwriter, I need a vehicle to express myself and Rooftop Screamers is that vehicle. Prior to Rooftop Screamers I was the drummer and predominant songwriter in the Power Pop band Throwback Suburbia. Once we disbanded in 2013, I had about a dozen or more songs I had written and instead of trying to form a new band to record and perform those songs, I decided instead to invite some of my favorite local musicians and singers to make guest appearances on the songs. I also tested my luck and reached out to some of my musical heroes and as luck would have it, I got positive feedback and several of them expressed interest in working together.
I've had the honor to work with some heroes, including: Cy Curnin (The Fixx), Tim Smith (Sheryl Crow, Noel Gallagher, Jellyfish), Earl Slick (John Lennon, David Bowie), David Paton (Pilot, Alan Parsons, Elton John), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, R.E.M.), Mark Plati (Prince, David Bowie, The Cure), Dan Reed (as mentioned before) and local producers like Rob Daiker, Kevin Hahn and Gregg Williams, to name a few.
As far as the name goes, I think it conjurs up an image of getting something off your chest and that pretty much describes the therapeutic value of songwriting for me.
How do you go about deciding which artists and musicians you will work with creatively?
That's a good question. I do have a core group of musicians I like to work with that I know will always bring something fresh and exciting to the music. But I also like to branch out from that circle and reach out to musicians who's work I admire. Especially in the vocal department. I guess once the song is written and demoed (before taking it into a nice studio), I try to hear in my head what kind of voice would be the right fit.
Whether it's a man or woman, a clean voice or a more gravelly voice. It's like casting someone for a role. So far I've been very happy with each musician and singer that has leant their talents to this project.
How would you say that your surroundings in Portland impact and/or influence the music that you write and record?
Well, it rains here a lot and can get pretty dreary in the Fall/Winter seasons. So that lends itself to more inside activities and maybe a little bit of self reflection. I tend to be most productive during those seasons and write a lot more than say the Spring/Summer months. It's fun to tinker in the studio and be creative when you don't feel like you're missing out on much. And when the Spring/Summer rolls around, then you have material to take into the studio and start the process of releasing new music. It works for me!
Congratulations on the release of your new single "Dead In The Water"; tell us about your creative process for the song itself, and how you connected with featured artist Rob Daiker.
“Dead In The Water” was one of those songs that came fairly quick, and those are usually the best ones. When the song practically writes itself and all the components such as the chord structure, melody and lyrics are aligned.
This song is a bit more in the modern rock genre and less like the power pop stuff I typically write. Although there are certainly pop sensibilities in the song. I think I was listening to a fair amount of Porcupine Tree and Muse when I started working on the song and those influences crept in. Knowing that this particular song was a little bit darker than some others I have written, it made sense to me to reach out to my friend Rob Daiker. Rob's productions for other artists (Dan Reed Network, Royal Bliss, Loyal Order, etc.) as well as his own material have a bit more modern and darker pop/rock vibe to them. I knew “Dead In The Water” could benefit from his touch.
This is actually the third Rooftop Screamers song Rob has produced as well as sang and played the bulk of the instruments on. We have also played in Dan Reed's solo band together and I have played drums in Rob's band in the past. So, working together is comfortable and familiar. His work on “Dead In The Water” is no exception to his amazing artistry.
The "Dead In The Water" animated music video is incredible. How did you and the director devise the visual treatment and how long did it take for it to be completed?
The video was done by Daphne Ang at TCOMAS Studio. This is the second video she has done for me. The first being for the previous single: “Another Life”. I discovered her work last year and was blown away! Her videos are visually stunning and her vision was perfect for “Dead In The Water”.
I had some basic ideas of how the video should look, but she definitely ran with it and brought the song to life with her multimedia approach, using animation, stock footage and her imagination. The video ended up looking like a mini disaster movie with some dystopian undertones that serviced the song well.
With the "Dead In The Water" song and visuals now unveiled, what is next for you and Rooftop Screamers musically?
Next is getting back in the studio and recording new songs. I have about a dozen or so, but have narrowed it down to 4-5 that I want to record first. I'm really excited about the direction of a few of the songs. They represent a little bit of a departure from the previous, more pop based stuff. There's some Pink Floyd and more progressive rock vibes that I'm playing with.
In the meantime, I'll be releasing a five song EP that includes “Dead In The Water” alongside four previously released singles. Stay tuned!
Stream and Share “Dead In The Water”: Spotify | Bandcamp
Connect with Rooftop Screamers: Facebook