Interview Questions – The Greenberry Woods
THE RETURN & NEW ALBUM
1. It’s All Good, Sugar… marks your first new album in decades—what sparked the decision to come back and make a full record now?
Brandt – There was no grand design. Ira asked Paul Krysiak (keys, guitars) and Joe Parsons (drums) to back him on a demo. They suggested we get involved and make it a Greenberry Woods album. The time was right so… we did.
2. How does this album reflect where you are today versus where you were during your earlier releases?
Brandt – The first album, Rapple Dapple, was a fairly authentic version of what you’d hear at a live GBW show with a bit of extra polishing. The second album, Big Money Item… was not. I’d say it’s a return to the feel and sound of the first album, with the maturity of songwriting you’d expect to hear from guys who have been at it for over 30 years. And we got to add two extra voices to the mix so it’s representative of the physical band as it is now.
3. Did this project feel like picking up where you left off, or starting an entirely new chapter?
Brandt – A bit of both.
Ira – This is the record I’ve wanted us to make all along, but we wouldn’t have been able to until now.
SONGWRITING & SOUND
4. Your songwriting has always been praised for its hooks and harmonies—how did you approach crafting songs for this album?
Brandt – Again, I’d like to say there was a grand design, but there was not. Some of the songs were ‘leftovers’ from the Big Money Item sessions and the others just passed the sniff test from the band.
5. Were there any guiding themes or emotions that shaped the direction of It’s All Good, Sugar…?
Brandt – The theme of this album unlike, say, Splitsville’s last release Mobtown is… no theme. Just twelve bangers.
6. How do you balance staying true to your classic sound while still evolving musically?
Brandt – I think that just happens naturally. We’ve all evolved (hopefully grown) as musicians, and adding Joe and Paul to the mix helped us from falling into too familiar grooves.
KEY TRACKS
7. “Whenever You Want Me Too” feels instantly catchy—what’s the story behind that song?
Ira – There was no real story behind “Whenever” other than yet another attempt as a songwriter to try and write the “perfect” three-minute pop song. I think that every songwriter chases that their entire lives. The difference that life experience definitely made in this case was adding one letter to a word in the key line, which changes the entire perspective and meaning of the song. I certainly wouldn’t have thought of that 35 years ago.
8. “The One That Makes You Happy” has a very uplifting tone—what inspired it?
Matt – It’s funny,I wrote the song so quickly that I kind of took it for granted. I knew it was catchy, so I wasn’t that surprised it was chosen as a single. And my interpretation of the lyrics are perhaps deeper than others might read into them. But it was a catchy song that came out fully formed, so I don’t know if it had any inspiration other than the obvious Green Day meets shoegaze vibes.
9. “Summer Song” stands out as a focus track—what makes that one special to you?
Matt – I had the chorus for a very long time, and my intention was for it to be a Splitsville song if we ever recorded a follow-up to our Pet Soul album. The working title was “The Greenberry Woods.” So… it’s definitely a bit of a catharsis to lead the album with it.
10. Is there a track on the album that surprised you the most once it was fully realized?
Matt – For me it’s probably “December Boy,” just because I listened to a demo of it many years ago, and where we landed with it is not where I thought it was going.
LEGACY & REFLECTION
11. Your mid-’90s releases built a strong cult following—how do you view that era of your career now?
Brandt – It’s fun to look back on but we were mostly oblivious to it as those were pre-social media days.
Matt – As if it happened to someone else.
12. Looking back, what do you think made your earlier records resonate so strongly with fans?
Brandt – At the time grunge was a big thing and our albums were decidedly not that. We gave fans of harmonies and catchy hooks what they wanted.
13. Did revisiting that legacy influence how you approached this new material?
Brandt – It probably did. In other words, we didn’t decide to take the band in a brand new direction. On the other hand, these are the kind of songs we write – and we like – so we are still being true to ourselves, which I think comes across in the music.
CONNECTION TO FANS
14. What has it meant to you to still have fans excited about new music after all this time?
Matt – It’s honestly heartwarming when folks are excited to listen to our stuff. We don’t take it for granted.
15. Do you feel a different kind of responsibility—or freedom—creating music at this stage of your career?
Brandt – I suppose freedom. When you are a full time musician your back is up against the wall to have ‘a hit’. That pressure is off of us now.
16. What do you hope longtime fans hear in this album?
Brandt – I hope they hear something new and familiar at the same time. While I wouldn’t say the album is fan service, I think fans of the band will be very pleased with what they hear.
THE BIG STIR RECORDS COLLABORATION
17. How did your partnership with Big Stir Records come together?
Brandt – As many things these days… the Internet. We had most of the Splitsville album tracked, and all of the songs written for the GBW album, when we reached out to them. They were quick to respond, and it was a no-brainer to work with them.
18. What has it been like working with a label that clearly celebrates power pop and songwriting craft?
Brandt – Even if Big Stir was a label that catered to Death Metal we’d be delighted to work with them. Rex and Christina are gems and it’s been a complete pleasure having them being part of the team(s).
SPLITSVILLE CONNECTION & CREATIVE FAMILY
19. There’s a connection to Splitsville through Mobtown—how do those projects inform each other creatively?
Brandt – Creatively, I’d say not much because as a songwriter you write what you write. While I’d guess that each of the songwriters loosely categorized the songs that ended up on Sugar… as GBW songs in our minds, I’d say what makes a GBW song is Ira, Matt, and Brandt working on it.
20. Does working across different bands give you a fresh perspective when you return to The Greenberry Woods?
Brandt – Absolutely. When the Greenberry Woods started the only experience we had playing live music with other people was with each other. Now we’re able to play to each other’s strengths.
PROCESS & RECORDING
21. What was the recording process like for this album compared to your earlier work in the ’90s?
22. Did modern technology change how you approached production, or did you aim to keep things classic?
Brandt – To answer both questions… technology has changed the recording process so much. This album was recorded in both Ira’s and Paul’s basements. We got to make decisions on our own time, without a clock ticking.
23. Were there any moments in the studio that felt particularly special or full-circle?
Brandt – I particularly enjoyed working with Ira on the lead vocals for Leave the Lights On. His basement had flooded so we moved the recording gear to his walk-in closet (apologies to his wife Dawn!) and it was a really great recording session. He gave me great notes, and what we came up with was really special.
BIGGER PICTURE
24. The album title It’s All Good, Sugar… feels optimistic—what does that phrase mean to you?
Brandt – The title was suggested by Ira’s brother-in-law. To me it means just relax and enjoy…
25. How would you describe the emotional tone of this record in one sentence?
Matt – To me, it feels like looking back with clear eyes; equal parts gratitude, nostalgia, and reflection. .
26. What does success look like for this album at this point in your career?
Matt – I think the five of us already consider this album a success because we like it. Any accolades are just gravy. Of course, selling a million copies of the album would also represent a success.
WHAT’S NEXT
27. Are there plans to take these songs on the road and reconnect with audiences live?
Matt – We’re playing our record release party on June 5 at the Recher in Baltimore (Towson, really.) After that, we will gauge both people’s interest in seeing us live and our interest in playing out.
28. Do you see this as a one-off return, or the beginning of more new music from the band?
Matt – I suspect this is our swan song, but you never know.
29. What excites you most about this current chapter of The Greenberry Woods?
Ira – I view it more as an “epilogue”. And that’s not meant to be anticlimactic, although it could sound that way. The album title says it all. The excitement was about our relationships, working closely together again, and seeing if the chemistry was still there. Check, check, check! Anything more would require an incredible and equal amount of drive from everyone involved.
QUICK HITS (GREAT FOR FEATURES)
30. One lyric on the album that best represents this moment for the band?
Ira – “Let’s rewind, can we go back in time?” You can, but you can’t stay there…
31. A song from your past catalog that pairs perfectly with this new record?
Matt – “Parachute” from Big Money Item