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VENTS: We’re very happy to be speaking today with acclaimed power-pop band Diamond States; greetings and salutations, gang! Before we meander down the proverbial Q&A musical pathway, could you each say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive readers?
BRYAN FRAZIER: I have been writing and recording songs for over 15 years and releasing them under multiple monikers. Diamond States is my newest and by far most favorite project yet. I sing and play guitar mostly, but also play bass and dabble in drums and keyboards.
BROOKS BROWNING: I’m a third generation “skin slapper”—that’s drums—and occasional backing vocalist for Diamond States. I’ve been drumming as long as I can remember, but the seminal moment for me was hearing Nirvana’s Nevermind and Dave Grohl for the first time. Obviously, it was a huge record, but it also came at the right time for me as a teenager in the early ’90s. It was different than anything I’d listened to up to that point—accessible and immediate. That was my musical fork in the road. But I love exploring so many styles of music. It’s a thread I’ve pulled endlessly throughout my life. At the heart of being a drummer is the need to play with others. No one really wants to hear some guy in the corner playing a drum solo for hours on end. The bond with other musicians and creating together is where the magic is for me. I also love my boys in blue: Manchester City Football Club, Champions of England and Europe! I can often be spotted rehearsing with Diamond States while watching footie.
ERIC MICHAEL MORRIS: Hello, Vents Magazine… I’m guitarist and assorted noise maker for Diamond States. By trade I help run a sake brewery and every chance I get I watch soccer and make music with my friends.
BRAD BYRD: I play a little bit of everything. I’m mostly the auxiliary member, primarily on keys, background vocals, and some guitar. I’m the newest and youngest member of the band, so I have a few nicknames, primarily “The Kid” or “RKID” for short.
DAVID STONE: I play bass. I have no details to speak of. I’m just doin’ the best I can.
VENTS: Major congratulations on your beautiful new single “While You Were Sleeping!” We know that this little gem of a ditty has a very personal and heartfelt meaning to you. Can you share with readers what inspired this lovely and haunting song?
BRYAN FRAZIER: Lyrically, the song is a tribute to my pal Rob Fisher. It’s a one way conversation wondering if he’s still out there and giving him some direction on getting back home. The song also talks about how he was too young to go and that tomorrow is waiting for me, because when we first lost him, it really tore me up and left a huge hole in my life. I had very mixed emotions about it—it took me a long time to move past where I was emotionally. It’s still hard today. But in the end I know he would want me to push ahead and keep going, so that’s what the last line “tomorrow is waiting for me” is about.
Rob and I met playing tennis in high school and ended up playing doubles together in college. After college, Rob went on to do some very impressive things in the environmental world. He was a river guide in Colorado, a professional kayaker, and an arborist with a master’s degree in forestry. He also worked in politics for the advocacy group American Rivers, and he wrote environmental policy for Arkansas state senators. Rob was probably the most giving person I ever met. He always gave his time and money and energy, he was always the glue every time we had meetings or friend hangs—he was the older brother type. And he was really key in helping start the campaign to free the West Memphis 3, which is something we both worked on. It’s the greatest example of him being a giver of his time.
Our involvement with the West Memphis started when Rob met Damien Echols’ wife Lorri Davis. Damien was one of the West Memphis 3. At the time, he was on death row for a murder he did not commit. I had a visual arts background, so Rob brought me in to help with the creative side of things. I was the photographer, I shot and edited a lot of film, I helped design logos and websites. In the beginning it was just me, Rob and Lorri—we’d get together and brainstorm and come up with plans, and we’d go out and gather evidence. Eddie Vedder was involved then too. Eddie was the only celebrity who was going to the prison and actually talking to Damien and trying to figure out how they could raise money. For a long time, Eddie financed the whole operation. Eventually, though, we started raising money and recruiting more people to help. The team grew from four to 20, we got more celebrities involved—Johnny Depp and Peter Jackson, Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks—and once we assembled this team, they raised millions of dollars, which went toward hiring Damien’s legal team. But Rob was the leader in the early days, and continued to be one of the strongest members—he knew the local politicians, he knew how to get people’s attention, and you could always count on him to be there. Like I said, Rob was always the glue. He played a huge part in helping free the West Memphis 3.
VENTS: “While You Were Sleeping” was mixed by legendary veteran L.A.-based engineer Brian Reeves. In your opinion, what does Brian bring to the Diamond States table that no one else can?
BROOKS BROWNING: Brian’s resume speaks for itself really, but it’s too long to even try and mention. He’s engineered for artists that all of us admire. He brings the “fairy dust” to these songs. I really think having an outside opinion—especially an experienced outside opinion—can improve a recording. Sometimes it’s a case of knowing what to add but also what to take away. To be as acclaimed as he is, his turnaround time on mixes has been shockingly fast and efficient. Lastly, he doesn’t have to work with us but he chooses to. That honestly means the most to us—that he takes care in our songcraft. Our songs mean a lot to us, and it’s important that an engineer like Brian feels the same as we do.
VENTS: How is “While You Were Sleeping” tonally similar to Diamond States’ debut EP Neon Animals? How is it different?
ERIC MICHAEL MORRIS: Great Question! Back when we were writing and recording Neon Animals, I was playing bass in the band and had not played guitar with anyone else in close to ten years. So when Bryan asked me if I’d like to move over to guitar I had to not only rebuild my collection of musical gear, I had to rebuild the way I approach writing and playing music. Tonally, the core is still there but David is a much more melodic bass player than I am which adds so much movement. Generally my guitar style is spacey and effects-laden, which broadens the sonic landscape.
VENTS: “While You Were Sleeping” is released via Thick Syrup Records. What makes Thick Syrup the perfect homebase for Diamond States’ music?
BRYAN FRAZIER: Thick Syrup is run by my old friend Travis McElroy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Travis has been elemental to my music career since he added me to a compilation in 2006. Travis has worked with some big names in the indie and punk realm, like members of Sonic Youth, Half Japanese, The Posies, Gossip, Ben Lee and most recently Nathan Hammil. Travis introduced me to Ken Stringfellow from The Posies. Ken also played with late-period lineups of R.E.M. and Big Star. In 2011, Travis, Ken and I made a record called The Alpha Ray that he mixed and performed on. We are grateful to have Travis and Thick Syrup Records working with us.
VENTS: In your humble opinion what differentiates “While You Were Sleeping” from the distinguished competition on the 2023 music scene?
BRAD BYRD: I’ve had the privilege to play with a few artists over the years, including my own personal projects, and I can say that Diamond States is an absolute blast to work with. We all have a mutual love of music—heavy on the brit pop—and we just have fun. A wise person once told me that “success” in the music industry is founded on the simple basis of, “Are you making music you like with your friends?” That’s at the root of what we’re doing. We’re making music we all love together because we enjoy each other. Not to mention, getting to be a part of a group of such stellar musicians is a thrill for me. I think the songs stand out because they’re authentic. We’re not trying to follow trends or “go viral.” We’re just making the music that we want to and hoping others love it as much as we do.
VENTS: In the wake of the release of “While You Were Sleeping,” can fans look forward to an EP or LP release from Diamond States in 2024?
BRYAN FRAZIER: We are already planning another single release for the end of November 2023 called “Bird On A Falling Wire.” This one is also personal because it’s about my divorce last year. In 2024 we plan to release several more singles and for the holiday next year, we plan to put out an LP of all the singles plus some extras. In the meantime, I want to do some very limited CD releases that will include original art and other surprises.
VENTS: Who inspires you musically?
BRYAN FRAZIER: I once heard Paul McCartney explain his writing style as if he’s a vessel through which songs and melodies are channeled from some far off place. I often write in the same way, and I wonder sometimes where it all comes from. When I do sit down and write, melody and chords come first always and I later fill in the lyrics. I am also a working visual artist, so I always keep a sketchbook full of my drawings and song lyrics. So when I have a structure and melody I like, I’ll refer back to my lyrical treasure trove and try to assemble something that makes sense. Currently, I’m most inspired by Britpop, ’90s rock like Oasis, Radiohead, PJ Harvey and Nirvana, as well as The War On Drugs, The National and Tame Impala. I will say that Richard Ashcroft has a special place of inspiration for me. His lyrics are often poignant and abstract, which is where I come from. His delivery has a fatherly feel to it.
BROOKS BROWNING: That’s a big question! This might sound obligatory, but Ringo Starr still inspires me. He always looks like he’s having fun, he’s clearly a great collaborator, and well into his 80s he’s still creating new music and touring behind it. More generally, not a week goes by that I don’t get inspired by either new music, or music that’s old but new to me. For example, I’d been down the Leo Sayer rabbit hole recently, followed by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. My inspiration comes from all corners of the musical landscape.
DAVID STONE: I came up listening to a lot of music of all styles from the ’70’s and early ’80s. That said, I find I am mostly inspired by the people I play with—by their influences pushing against my own. That makes creation and chemistry more of a mystery.
BRAD BYRD: I’m a strange mix. I love American artists like Jeff Buckley, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and Bob Dylan. I’m also absolutely obsessed with music from across the pond—U2, Coldplay, Keane, Travis, Oasis, The Smiths, The Verve and Inhaler to name a few. At the end of the day, a good song is a good song. I’m one of those weirdos that reads lyrics, so I can get behind anybody who is a genuinely good writer.
ERIC MICHAEL MORRIS: Slowdive, The Cure and Mogwai are big influences, but Rhys Chatham, Brian Eno, The Buzzcocks, DJ Shadow, Massive Attack and Philip Glass are all bouncing around up there as well.
VENTS: With the recent release of the new single, what does the touring/performing dance card for Diamond States look like in the coming weeks and months?
BROOKS BROWNING: No member of Diamond States will be applying for AARP anytime soon, but we’ve all been around the music scene for quite a long time. Personally, I’m always looking for unique opportunities to get our music in front of as many people as we can. We’re looking into opening for some nationally touring acts coming through Arkansas, several headlining club dates through the year, and the odd festival opportunity where those present themselves. We try to strike a healthy balance between creating new music and presenting that music to a live audience as much as we can.
VENTS: There’s a real special story behind the special 7-inch vinyl picture disc of the “While You Were Sleeping” single. Can you share with readers where the artwork for the disc comes from?
BRYAN FRAZIER: Rob’s sister Kelly created the cover art for “While You Were Sleeping.” Kelly lives in New York and has always been a talented artist. She made the collage from Rob’s photography in Cuba and a trout drawing that her son painted. You can also include that the picture disc is extremely limited and can be purchased while they last at our Bandcamp page along with other merch.
VENTS: Are there any final words you would like to share regarding “While You Were Sleeping?”
BRYAN FRAZIER: I feel like we’re offering something different to the music world that still feels familiar. Something that hopefully feels handmade and personal.
