Melt On the Making Of ‘Replica of Man’
How does 'Replica of Man' reflect your musical journey and growth as a band?
Joey: The new album expands upon and simultaneously refines everything that we established on the first album. We indulge in our heaviest and most epic inclinations while also sculpting songs with more craftsmanship than we ever have before. We are very proud to have expanded the Melt universe while remaining entirely within it.
James: The first album was pretty cut and dry, In and out. When we play those songs now I’m like, “It’s over?!” ROM as a whole has more of a soundscape nature. It waxes and wanes. There is definitely more of a dynamic on the second album.
J.J.: Considering it's my first album with the band, I think it serves as a way to see me adapting to my surroundings. We didn't waste any time getting down to it and writing tunes. I spent like a month getting speed on the old tunes, then it was head first into writing, which made me feel like an important piece right away, not just a hired gun. And those feelings only expanded as the writing/recording/release process continued.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for 'Replica of Man?'
Joey: The songs came quickly and heavily once JJ joined the band. There was no trial period or adjustment time needed; it was an explosion. Some songs were chiseled out over weeks or months, others came in days or even hours. Nothing was forced; it was volcanic. The breakthrough was realizing that this is the band Melt was meant to be.
James: To Joey’s point, Sight to See was literally written in one practice. My lyrics were very fluid and random until about 15 minutes before recording them at PK.
J.J.: Like I said above, I think the breakthrough is how quickly we learned that we can write and play together with complete ease. For a lot of bands, chemistry takes a long time, but for whatever reason, for us and I joined only back in May of 2022, it's like we've been playing together for years.
What has been one of your favorite memories along the path to making 'Replica of Man?'
Joey: Countless times during writing and rehearsal when we realized, "damn... this is working." Sight to See came together in hours and those few hours were so fun... I actually lost my balance and fell over while playing guitar because I was so focused and consumed by the writing process. Connecting all of the dots on Hive Mind was legendary. The entire recording experience at PK Camp was memorable and enjoyable.
James: Recording was a super fun weekend. The release show was epic and super rewarding.
J.J.: Discovering Hive Mind's truest potential up at the PK camp is really really special. That was the song I believed the least in. It's concept when we were writing the instrumental was drastically different than what it ended up as. We took Sight to See and Hive Mind up to camp to record without song titles or lyrics, and they were able to blossom in that cold wintery isolation.
Are there any specific themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
Joey: We want people to feel the weight of the collapse of civilization when they hear our music while also being empowered to endure and accept our collective reality.
James: Death Destruction Drugs
J.J.: lol wow -- uhhh, I just want people to feel how intense shit can be, and experience all these visceral feelings with us, because Melt music is about the release at the end of the day anyways, right? The band has themes of death, destruction etc, but with ROM I think that is continued into the digital age, being weary and hesitant about what's to come, and acknowledging our inevitable decimation.
Are there any specific venues or festivals that you dream of performing at?
Joey: All of them. Any outdoor summer festival, historic theaters, international venues or stages, the moon.
James: Any and all.
J.J.: Agreed there, one I have my eye on is Levitation in Austin. It's a fest I've wanted to attend a lot as a patron, but their curated lineup is amazing, and their marketing and aesthetic rocks so hard. Also Desert Daze.
