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.
LA math-rock duo Standards are preparing for the release of Fruit Galaxy on 22 March by releasing the new video “Big Bad.” As part of the pairing of releases, the duo have also joined TGEFM for a Roll Of The Dice interview.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview and congrats on the upcoming release of Fruit Galaxy. What can you tell me about Standards, the new LP and what you want to represent to your listeners?
Marcos here. I am very excited about this new album because I really feel that it’s our best work yet. I put a lot of time into the guitar parts and recording process, going to every drum session with Moises (drummer) to make sure we got everything right. It was very exhausting but I’m very happy about the end result, so I hope people listen all of the way through.
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?
I love Jimi Hendrix. I think he’s the first guitarist that really sounded “different” to me. As in, he’s really unique even for now. The way he played and presented himself on recording and in person. I think that’s the essence of an artist.
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?
Cloutchaser. Amazing two piece math rock from North Carolina. I think a lot of things they do go unnoticed because they’re better known for making silly videos online and naming their songs after Metallica songs but their musicianship is incredible. It’s really hard to write hard music and it’s even harder to play it flawlessly and they do both. Luckily I’ve seen them gain more and more traction over the years so that’s great.
What’s next for the members of Standards?
Our next tour is with Elephant Gym who we’re huge fans of. After that we’ll be heading to Europe and then hopefully more tours where we can play for our fans and make new ones.
Was there anything I missed that you’d like to share or dive deeper into with our readers?
The band’s entire imagery is based around fruit, so I have to mention to not forget to eat fruit. It’s really good for you. Also veggies. I make kale chips at home and they’re solid. Get a good amount of Kale from the store, pre-cut. Add olive oil, little salt, little pepper. I really mean a little bit on the salt, you can overdo it quickly. You can also add Zaa’tar blend but that’s a bit pricier, however Zaa’tar blend has seeds and stuff which is tasty. With your hands, mix the olive oil and other salt/spices together. My additional recommendation is nutritional yeast. Add that in, like a lot of it. Air fry it at 370 degrees for about 12 minutes. You’ll never eat potato chips again It’s vegan too so you can make it for any friend that comes over regardless of their diet. Eating healthy together is the best.
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/
