{"id":40172,"date":"2026-05-12T10:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/?p=40172"},"modified":"2026-05-12T10:45:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:45:00","slug":"greenberry-woods-radio-interview-james-lowe-on-kjag-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/greenberry-woods-radio-interview-james-lowe-on-kjag-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"Greenberry Woods radio interview, James Lowe on KJAG Radio"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"🎤\"\u00a0Interview Questions \u2013 The Greenberry Woods<\/p>\n

\"🎶\"\u00a0THE RETURN & NEW ALBUM<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s All Good, Sugar\u2026\u00a0marks your first new album in decades\u2014what sparked the decision to come back and make a full record now?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0There 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\u2026 we did.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How does this album reflect where you are today versus where you were during your earlier releases?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0The first album,\u00a0Rapple Dapple, was a fairly authentic version of what you\u2019d hear at a live GBW show with a bit of extra polishing. The second album,\u00a0Big Money Item\u2026 was not. I\u2019d say it\u2019s a return to the feel and sound of the first album, with the maturity of songwriting you\u2019d 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\u2019s representative of the physical band as it is now.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Did this project feel like picking up where you left off, or starting an entirely new chapter?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0A bit of both.<\/p>\n

Ira\u00a0– This is the record I\u2019ve wanted us to make all along, but we wouldn\u2019t have been able to until now.<\/p>\n

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\"🎸\"\u00a0SONGWRITING & SOUND<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Your songwriting has always been praised for its hooks and harmonies\u2014how did you approach crafting songs for this album?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0Again, I\u2019d like to say there was a grand design, but there was not. Some of the songs were \u2018leftovers\u2019 from the Big Money Item sessions and the others just passed the sniff test from the band.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Were there any guiding themes or emotions that shaped the direction of\u00a0It\u2019s All Good, Sugar\u2026?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0The theme of this album unlike, say, Splitsville\u2019s last release\u00a0Mobtown\u00a0is\u2026 no theme. Just twelve bangers.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How do you balance staying true to your classic sound while still evolving musically?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0I think that just happens naturally. We\u2019ve all evolved (hopefully grown) as musicians, and adding Joe and Paul to the mix helped us from falling into too familiar grooves.<\/p>\n

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\"🎧\"\u00a0KEY TRACKS<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhenever You Want Me Too\u201d feels instantly catchy\u2014what\u2019s the story behind that song?<\/p>\n

Ira\u00a0– There was no real story behind \u201cWhenever\u201d other than yet another attempt as a songwriter to try and write the \u201cperfect\u201d three-minute pop song.\u00a0 I think that every songwriter chases that their entire lives.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 I certainly wouldn\u2019t have thought of that 35 years ago.<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe One That Makes You Happy\u201d has a very uplifting tone\u2014what inspired it?<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– It\u2019s funny,I wrote the song so quickly that I kind of took it for granted. I knew it was catchy, so I wasn\u2019t\u00a0that\u00a0surprised 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\u2019t know if it had any inspiration other than the obvious Green Day meets shoegaze vibes.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSummer Song\u201d stands out as a focus track\u2014what makes that one special to you?<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– 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\u00a0Pet Soul\u00a0album. The working title was \u201cThe Greenberry Woods.\u201d So\u2026 it\u2019s definitely a bit of a catharsis to lead the album with it.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0\u00a0Is there a track on the album that surprised you the most once it was fully realized?<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– For me it\u2019s probably \u201cDecember Boy,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

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\"🕰️\"\u00a0LEGACY & REFLECTION<\/p>\n

11.\u00a0\u00a0Your mid-\u201990s releases built a strong cult following\u2014how do you view that era of your career now?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0It\u2019s fun to look back on but we were mostly oblivious to it as those were pre-social media days.<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– As if it happened to someone else.<\/p>\n

12.\u00a0\u00a0Looking back, what do you think made your earlier records resonate so strongly with fans?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0At 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.<\/p>\n

13.\u00a0\u00a0Did revisiting that legacy influence how you approached this new material?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0It probably did. In other words, we didn\u2019t decide to take the band in a brand new direction. On the other hand, these are the kind of songs we write \u2013 and we like \u2013 so we are still being true to ourselves, which I think comes across in the music.<\/p>\n

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\"🎤\"\u00a0CONNECTION TO FANS<\/p>\n

14.\u00a0\u00a0What has it meant to you to still have fans excited about new music after all this time?<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– It\u2019s honestly heartwarming when folks are excited to listen to our stuff. We don\u2019t take it for granted.<\/p>\n

15.\u00a0\u00a0Do you feel a different kind of responsibility\u2014or freedom\u2014creating music at this stage of your career?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0I suppose freedom. When you are a full time musician your back is up against the wall to have \u2018a hit\u2019. That pressure is off of us now.<\/p>\n

16.\u00a0\u00a0What do you hope longtime fans hear in this album?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0I hope they hear something new and familiar at the same time. While I wouldn\u2019t say the album is fan service, I think fans of the band will be very pleased with what they hear.<\/p>\n

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\"🎵\"\u00a0THE BIG STIR RECORDS COLLABORATION<\/p>\n

17.\u00a0\u00a0How did your partnership with\u00a0Big Stir Records\u00a0come together?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0As many things these days\u2026 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.<\/p>\n

18.\u00a0\u00a0What has it been like working with a label that clearly celebrates power pop and songwriting craft?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0Even if Big Stir was a label that catered to Death Metal we\u2019d be delighted to work with them. Rex and Christina are gems and it\u2019s been a complete pleasure having them being part of the team(s).<\/p>\n

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\"🔄\"\u00a0SPLITSVILLE CONNECTION & CREATIVE FAMILY<\/p>\n

19.\u00a0\u00a0There\u2019s a connection to\u00a0Splitsville\u00a0through\u00a0Mobtown\u2014how do those projects inform each other creatively?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0Creatively, I\u2019d say not much because as a songwriter you write what you write. While I\u2019d guess that each of the songwriters loosely categorized the songs that ended up on\u00a0Sugar\u2026\u00a0as GBW songs in our minds, I\u2019d say what makes a GBW song is Ira, Matt, and Brandt working on it.<\/p>\n

20.\u00a0\u00a0Does working across different bands give you a fresh perspective when you return to The Greenberry Woods?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0Absolutely. When the Greenberry Woods started the only experience we had playing live music with other people was with each other. Now we\u2019re able to play to each other\u2019s strengths.<\/p>\n

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\"🎙️\"\u00a0PROCESS & RECORDING<\/p>\n

21.\u00a0\u00a0What was the recording process like for this album compared to your earlier work in the \u201990s?<\/p>\n

22.\u00a0\u00a0Did modern technology change how you approached production, or did you aim to keep things classic?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0To answer both questions\u2026 technology has changed the recording process so much. This album was recorded in both Ira\u2019s and Paul\u2019s basements. We got to make decisions on our own time, without a clock ticking.<\/p>\n

23.\u00a0\u00a0Were there any moments in the studio that felt particularly special or full-circle?<\/p>\n

Brandt –\u00a0I 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.<\/p>\n

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\"🌟\"\u00a0BIGGER PICTURE<\/p>\n

24.\u00a0\u00a0The album title\u00a0It\u2019s All Good, Sugar\u2026\u00a0feels optimistic\u2014what does that phrase mean to you?<\/p>\n

Brandt\u00a0– The title was suggested by Ira\u2019s brother-in-law. To me it means just relax and enjoy\u2026<\/p>\n

25.\u00a0\u00a0How would you describe the emotional tone of this record in one sentence?<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– To me, it feels like looking back with clear eyes; equal parts gratitude, nostalgia, and reflection. .<\/p>\n

26.\u00a0\u00a0What does success look like for this album at this point in your career?<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– I think the five of us already consider this album a success because\u00a0we\u00a0like it. Any accolades are just gravy. Of course, selling a million copies of the album would also represent a success.<\/p>\n

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\"🚀\"\u00a0WHAT\u2019S NEXT<\/p>\n

27.\u00a0\u00a0Are there plans to take these songs on the road and reconnect with audiences live?<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– We\u2019re playing our record release party on June 5 at the Recher in Baltimore (Towson, really.) After that, we will gauge both people\u2019s interest in seeing us live and our interest in playing out.<\/p>\n

28.\u00a0\u00a0Do you see this as a one-off return, or the beginning of more new music from the band?<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– I suspect this is our swan song, but you never know.<\/p>\n

29.\u00a0\u00a0What excites you most about this current chapter of The Greenberry Woods?<\/p>\n

Ira\u00a0– I view it more as an \u201cepilogue\u201d.\u00a0 And that\u2019s not meant to be anticlimactic, although it could sound that way.\u00a0 The album title says it all.\u00a0 The excitement was about our relationships, working closely together again, and seeing if the chemistry was still there.\u00a0 Check, check, check! \u00a0 Anything more would require an incredible and equal amount of drive from everyone involved.<\/p>\n

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\"⚡\"\u00a0QUICK HITS (GREAT FOR FEATURES)<\/p>\n

30.\u00a0\u00a0One lyric on the album that best represents this moment for the band?<\/p>\n

Ira\u00a0– \u201cLet\u2019s rewind, can we go back in time?\u201d\u00a0 You can, but you can\u2019t stay there\u2026<\/p>\n

31.\u00a0\u00a0A song from your past catalog that pairs perfectly with this new record?<\/p>\n

Matt\u00a0– \u201cParachute\u201d from\u00a0Big Money Item<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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