INTERVIEW: Window Dogs

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Window Dogs are back with their new album “Nexus,” a record that beautifully blends the Folk with the Rock in such a Britpop way reminiscent of the likes High Flying Birds. We get to sit with the band to talk about their new record and more!

Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

Hello! We are awesome, thank you for taking the time to chat with us.

Can you talk to us more about your latest album “Nexus”?

Yes, we released NEXUS on October 18, 2019 at a release show here in our hometown, Cleveland, Ohio. It is a 10-song album that is our first full-length effort and brings together our varied sound and really showcases the style and identity we’ve been developing over these first 3 years as a band.

Did any event in particular inspire you to write this album?

The album itself was not created as a conceptual album, so I wouldn’t say something inspired the album as a whole. But we’ve been writing over the course of these last couple years, and refining staples in our live set, many of which come from similar places in relation to major life events that have taken place during our time in this band.

Nexus is defined as the central and most important point, or a connection or a series of connections linking 2 or more things. It was the name handpicked by my late stepfather Ken for our first family dog, which we brought into our home as he and my mother got married when I was three (3). In the years that it took creating this album, we [as a band] all went through a lot of changes in life. We all lost important pieces of our family, we endured heartbreak, and we all grew as humans and artists. Some songs were written and recorded in one weekend, some were recorded multiple times in different places over the course of years. This album is exactly that: N E X U S; a connection that links all these years and all these experiences – it is all we’ve been through and all we aspire to continue to do.

Any plans to release a video for one of the tracks?

Yes, we are in the process of preparing to shoot a music video for “2x4s” in the spring of 2020.

Why name the record after the first song (“Nexus Hole in My Hope”) in particular?

See my above thoughts on Nexus. The song was written and named prior to our decision to also call the album NEXUS; however, we ultimately decided it was fitting given the way the album came together, the songs we included on it, and the state of the band leading up to and at the time of its release.

How was the recording and writing process?

Our recording and writing process was a bit longer than we wanted, but we didn’t want to rush it. We’ve all had life get in the way in one way or another, so we just rolled with the punches and kept grinding until we had a collection of songs that we were proud to release. The recording process kept us here in town for a lot of it – working with locals Defunk Studios, Jim Stewart Recording and Summit Music Studios – then we also went out to Blockhouse Studios in Bloomington, Indiana to work with Andy Beargie, a close friend who has extensive experience both with us and recording/producing quality indie rock records.

Our songwriting process takes a couple different forms, but our preferred approach is to really for [Sean] to bring a story to the table and/or a vocal melody and general structure, off of which we can build. But that isn’t always how we do it – some of the tracks were the outgrowth of music that one of us brought to the table and then we all built the song together and [Sean] generated vocals within the structure of a composition that was tweaked as was necessary.

What role does Cleveland play in your music?

Cleveland plays a big role in our music – in the sense that a band’s hometown shapes their approach and the experiences that are projected in their music. But I’d say the thing that stands out here in Cleveland is our growing music scene and the way we’ve been able to support each other. A lot of artists in this town are out at each other’s shows making connections and linking up non-musicians with quality local music that they’ll enjoy. It’s a mission we’ve taken on, and we know we have so many friends doing the same thing. It’s awesome to see people finding bands they love, and often times, they’ll have mutual friends and get to know them on a personal level and feel truly invested in their growth and success.

How has Highly Suspect and DINOSAUR PILE-UP influenced your writing?

Supporting these 2 bands were milestone moments in our short history as a band. Both these acts are heavy-hitting grunge bands that are willing to take risks – but I think the strongest influence they have on us is with regard to aesthetic and approach. These are 2 bands that we found to be incredibly authentic – that authenticity resonates with their respective fan bases and is undoubtedly a source of their success. So while we’re not necessarily looking to write songs like these 2 bands, we feel lucky to have met them and certainly want to emulate some of their approach to a tricky, volatile music industry. Our biggest takeaway from these guys is just to stay true to yourself.

Where did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?

My inspiration for the songs and lyrics are from my life. Whether that is a break-up (“Go Outside”), losing a loved one (“Stage 4”) or in many cases, discussing other complicated relationships and experiences, I try to dig deep and engage with listeners in a real way – providing a window into my life and a creative outlet that can be really rewarding once the finished product effectively communicates my feelings or a particular story that has impacted me.

Any plans to hit the road?

Our plans to hit the road are modest at the moment, but 2020 will definitely see us expanding our reach throughout the Midwest. We plan to return to nearby cities like Akron, Columbus, Bloomington, Bowling Green, and ideally hitting 5-6 other new cities. We are certainly open to hitting the road for regional touring, but we want to continue making in roads nearby with weekenders so we know that we are touring efficiently and reaching our listeners.

What else is happening next in Window Dogs’ world?

As 2020 comes to a close, we are hosting a holiday party at the Grog Shop here in Cleveland, which will be our final show of the year. Otherwise, we are rounding out our early 2019 calendar and writing new music. Our hope is to continue pushing NEXUS out to new listeners and ideally move some of the tracks into radio and licensing opportunities. In the meantime, we will continue honing our craft and working to branch out for some quality gigs in new locales next year.

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