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We’re very happy to have some time today with Erik Kjelland of the acclaimed rock band THE MASCOT THEORY to our ever-humble pages; greetings and salutations, gang! Before we meander down the proverbial Q&A musical pathway, could you introduce yourself to our ever-inquisitive readers?
Absolutely! My name is Erik Kjelland (pronounced chel-land), and I am the lead singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist for The Mascot Theory, based out of Madison, Wisconsin. We’ve been kicking around the midwest for over 12 years now.
Erik, at the tip-top we described The Mascot Theory as a “rock” band extraordinaire, yet we also hear the sweet refrains of folk music in your unique stylings, too! For a new fan just now coming across your music, how would you opt to describe it?
When the band first formed back in 2011, we definitely took influence from folk rock/Americana bands like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers, as well as bands like Gaslight Anthem and Dawes. But over the past decade, and especially with this new album, we have started expanding our sound to be a bit more rock & roll inspired, with classic rock influences like Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, Beatles, and ZZ Top.
Major congratulations on your freshly-minted new LP Every Sign of Life which is set to premiere this April 26! Can you talk about what inspired one of the very best albums of 2024?
Like pretty much all musicians, we found ourselves completely shut down from playing live shows during the pandemic. There was a lot of uncertainty, but also a lot of time for reflection, so I just started writing songs. I found myself digging back into my favorite rock albums from bands like Pink Floyd and Tom Petty, and I felt the urge to raise the energy level a bit with these newer songs. At the same time, I decided to switch from acoustic guitar to electric guitar to try something new with this band. The following year when we were ready to start playing live again we brought in our longtime friend Cory Swadley on electric guitar, one of the best guitar players in the state, in my opinion. He has a natural flare for blues and rock & roll, and he was a perfect fit for this new collection of songs.
We’re absolutely floored by the brilliant song “Fast Car Getaway” which is a highlight among highlights on the new release! What’s the story behind this gem of a ditty?
Thanks so much for the kind words! That is a really fun song for us to play live. When I first brought that song to the band it felt a bit more rocking than our catalog of songs, and once Cory put his mark on it we knew we had something special. Lyrically, it deals with the uncertainty of life, how you never know when a path is going to divert or come to a complete end. My father passed away during the pandemic and it felt very abrupt and unceremonious, which got me thinking about legacy and what/who we leave behind.
The rightly lauded Terry Manning did the producing and recording honors on Every Sign of Life! What was it like for the group to collaborate with Terry on the new album?
It was a dream come true working with Terry on this album at the amazing Sonic Ranch Studios near El Paso, TX. His body of work is jaw-dropping; ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz, Big Star, and a solid roster of Stax Records artists. And he was a perfect match with this batch of rock-inspired songs. We weren’t really sure what it would be like working with a big-time producer like Terry. We were a bit nervous, but we knew we were well-prepared and up for the challenge. It turned out to be a very comfortable and extremely productive session. We had planned to record 6 songs, but ended up recording 15 songs!
Who inspires you musically?
Some of my favorite artists tend to change up their sound from album to album, bands like The Beatles and Wilco. And of course, songwriters like Tom Petty certainly have seeped into my DNA when it comes to writing seemingly “simple” songs that are memorable with catchy hooks.
With the April 26 release of Every Sign of Life nigh upon us, can fans of The Mascot Theory look forward to catching you all on the touring/performing circuit in the coming weeks and months?
Yes absolutely. We have a pretty full show schedule this year, most of which is around Wisconsin and northern Illinois, and we are extremely excited to share this new album with the crowds.
Did the band have as much fun making the music video for Stone Cold as we did in watching it? How involved was the group in the behind-the-scenes production of this companion music video?
Oh yes, that was a blast! Over the years I have tried to get my kids involved in our music videos. For me, it’s a fun way to watch them grow over time, like a time capsule. So with a bit of convincing and a little bribery, I was able to talk all three of my kids into being in this fun video. I love finding ways to creatively expand on recorded audio, and music videos are such a great way to do this, so I came up with the treatment, and produced, directed, and edited the video. We shot the video in my hometown of Mineral Point, WI in an old gym where I used to play basketball as a middle school kid.
When The Mascot Theory comes together to work on new material, what does the creative process generally tend to look like? Does everyone sort of contribute equally?
As the songwriter for the band, I typically whip up demos for the songs in my home studio and then bring them to the band at rehearsal. Sometimes I give them a warning, sometimes I just lay it on them and see what we come up with! This actually happens in the studio as well! While at the Sonic Ranch sessions, we soon realized we were ahead of schedule with extra time, so I brought in two songs that the band hadn’t played before, “Stone Cold” and “Andromeda”. It’s a fun way to get a bit creative on the spot, a nice contrast to all the preparation we had done for the other songs on the album.
What differentiates Every Sign of Life from other releases on the 2024 music scene?
Hmm, that’s a good question, but a hard one to answer! I don’t really like to compare our musical output to anyone else. The advent of home recording studios and improvements in tech with laptops or apps on iPhones have made it easier and cheaper to record. But for us, being able to go to a destination like Sonic Ranch Studios with Terry really helped us stay focused and inspired to record this new album without any of the distractions of everyday life. And I think Terry was able to capture this magical moment of time for us in the music.
Erik, any final thoughts you might like to share with readers about the upcoming April 26 release of Every Sign of Life from The Mascot Theory?
Thanks so much for helping us spread the word about the new “Every Sign Of Life” album! We can’t wait for everyone to hear it and dig in!
