Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A Pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
Massachusetts’ power-emo newcomers Cape Crush are preparing for the release of their debut EP, San Souci, due 14 April (pre-order). Before the new record hits your stereos, the quartet spoke to TGEFM about the band, who they are listening to and what’s next for the band.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview and congrats on the upcoming release of San Souci. What can you tell me about Cape Crush and the EP itself?
Ali Lipman (Guitar & Vocals): Thank you! San Souci is a collection of songs about change, grief, and homesickness. The EP is named for the neighborhood I lived in South Carolina for a time, and is French for, “Without Care,” which I love because I was very much full of care when I lived there. Arranging these songs with the rest of the band was a therapeutic process for me – full of forgiveness and musical exploration. The band began with James and I working on some of my older songs together. He would take what I thought was a folk song, and make it energetic and fizzy. As we went, I started writing new songs in response to the older ones that would address the same themes or events from a new angle. It’s like when you watch a movie that you loved as a kid as an adult and your perspective on what’s unfolding has changed. Working with all of them – James, Cody, and Jake – is like a dream come true. We share a historical thread of friendship and participation in the DIY scene that spans over a decade, so we’re in lockstep when it comes to the vision of the band. More than that, we all love hanging out with each other and clowning around. I think that comes through in the music.
What album or band or significant singles made you go “Yeah, this is what I want to do” Not just an influence but who or what was the catalyst?
Ali: I always wanted to be around alternative music, but it took me almost a decade to put together a full band. I think of significance to me deciding that I was going to do the thing was artists like Laura Stevenson or John K Samson (of The Weakerthans) whose music really highlighted the song itself. I did a lot of classical singing and choir in high school and college, and I wanted to bring that experience to the arrangements themselves. I also need to include James in this, because he saw the vision I had and really brought it to life. I don’t think there is Cape Crush without him.
One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should?
Ali: Your readers should listen to Fauna – the new 3-way split by Gollylagging, Going222Jail, Dino Gala. Other bands that I’m really excited about that might not be on their radars are Magazine Beach, Latchkey Kids, Kitner, and Kind Being.
Jake Letizia (Bass): We are all perpetually blessed to have a bunch of talented buds, it rules! I’m really excited about the new tracks that hey i’m outside and Slim Volume just dropped. Also, definitely eager to see what local buds Hell Beach and Big Brute have been cooking up, so keep an eye out for that. On the heavier side, I’m really excited to catch Vientre at a couple fests one of my other projects is playing later this year!
Cody Rico (Drums): I’m lucky enough to book a lot of shows in Boston to see bands make the transition from the basement to the venues. Some of my favorites playing around right now are Ezra Cohen & the Big City Band, Blame It On Whitman, Square Loop, Grub Lord, I Wish I Could Skateboard and so many more.
James Christopher (Guitar): We have had the pleasure of playing with some great bands that are all doing very different but very interesting things. Your readers should check out bands like Me In Capris, Tiny the Bear, New Forms, and Massa Nera.
Now that we’ve got San Souci on its way, what’s next for Cape Crush?
Ali: We’ve got a run of shows this Spring and Summer to support the release of San Souci and then we’re back in the studio to record LP1!
Was there anything I missed that you’d like to share or dive deeper into with our readers?
Ali: We’re really excited to be working with Ancient Injury Records on the physical EP release and want to shout out Zach Weeks at God City Studios and Magnus Lindberg for making this EP sound as good as it felt to write. I also want to shout out my kids Phin and Auden who have heard these songs thousands of times and are still supportive and sing along.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
