Photo by Erik Lee Snyder
The problem with describing Club Intl‘s debut single “Crush” is that John Eatherly, who founded this brand new music project, already did it better than anyone else could. “A crush hits you like an avalanche. An electric storm throwing you towards a new destiny. The waters are deep & your feet can’t touch the ground. This song encapsulates that excitement of being forced out of your routine. The wind blows sand in your eyes…but you can’t look away from the sun. Waiting for a signal from the UV rays, unable to ignore your fate. Embrace the unknown.” To try to one up that description would be entirely pointless and so I won’t even try. The poetic, passionate description also perfectly summarizes the obvious love Eatherly has for this new project, which seems to be the realization of Eatherly’s many years of work in the music industry, following the breakup of Eatherly’s Public Access TV. Eatherly is someone who doesn’t struggle for inspiration. The fact that “Crush” was partially inspired by the intrusion of a dance club above Eatherly’s own basement studio is just more proof of this. The way Eatherly describes his ideal clubhouse sounds, calm and idyllic, but I don’t doubt for a second that he would be just as happy and at home dancing the night away among the revelers above.
What was the driving force behind Club Intl? This isn’t the first band you’ve been a founding member of, what keeps driving you to start these new music projects?
Team work is the driving force of Club Intl. Each person that I work with plays a vital roll in the overall entity. Ben Goldstein, who I plot everything with… Max Kamins, who I record everything with… Those who will come on board for [the] live show… I want this to be a collective more than a solo project or a band. I felt like PATV was my whole identity for years. After the break up I just wanted to get completely lost in trying new ideas with my solo music. Everything has been leading me to Club Intl. A new home that’s growing and more collaborative. It feels very exciting and I feel more confident than ever before.
How does Club Intl differ from the musical work you’ve done before?
It’s a combination of worlds I’ve stepped into before, but this time with more patience and suspense. I’ve never stopped writing and recording so everything I do is an evolution. The way that I work… is collecting ideas and melodies and building a bigger and bigger pool to pick from. If something sticks with me for a long time I know it’s important. The process is not always the same. I don’t like getting glued to one way of doing things. I want Club Intl to hit you hard but also be able to get lost in the emotion. Focusing more on the expression and the feeling and leaving more up to the imagination. Blasting drum machine with guitars sounding like droning chainsaws tearing through a crying siren. That sort of vibe.
I love that having this dance club sort of intrude on your club house became a source of inspiration instead of frustration. Was that more of a choice for you, or are you just sort of fueled by this energy? What kind of scenes are you usually drawn to (IE nightclubs, libraries, graveyards etc)
I love working all day in the studio and then all of the sudden you can hear the thumping bass and stomping feet from upstairs. I definitely feel fueled by that sort of energy. I would love it if our live show starts off in that sort of setting. Where everybody is lost dancing in the flashing light and smoke rather than all looking at the stage. That sounds like much more fun. Could play for hours like that. I’m drawn to scenes and places that welcome everybody with no judgement. Graveyards are cool too.
How did Johnny Jewel become a part of this? Did you already know him? Were you already familiar with his work?
I’m a huge fan of his many great projects. I was aware of Italians Do it Better, but had never met him before. Ben, my manager (who I plot everything with), sent some songs over and one thing led to another. I couldn’t be happier about working with them.
What was it like to collaborate with him? He is such a legendary creator!
Such an honor. It’s the first time I’ve ever made something and then got to hear it with an entirely new perspective. The first time I heard the song after he got his hands on it, It reminded me more so of the initial spark that created the idea for the song. Not only did it sound more sonically realized, lush, wide and 3D, but he had tapped into something that I never could have put into words. That’s a real skill. Accentuating a feeling.
The way you describe your single “Crush” is so poetic, can you talk about the process of writing this single? What about the inspiration behind the video?
Initially it came from blasting this old shitty drum machine and improvising a song with a guitar plugged into a rat pedal. What came out was this really aggressive almost metal sounding verse that accidentally went into this tragic B section. I loved the rawness to it and the fact that it was this therapeutic release of aggression. So I sat on this idea/demo for awhile. Then eventually paired it with something that had almost the opposite, but not so far away feeling, that I had written a little earlier. The contrast of feeling crushed and helpless, paired with this crush of the heart and this kind of turmoil and fear associated with facing reality. The video represents that with isolation, being in a reclusive daze, mixed with this battle of the elements, the struggle in the cosmos, the racing away from decision. the chaos of walls closing in, forcing an outcome.
What is it like to be introducing a brand new project like this during this bizarre time where so many people are dealing with this virus and an ongoing quarantine? How do you keep yourself inspired?
I feel very fortunate and lucky to have my health and be able to make music right now. I have waves of lazy days, waking up and looking at my phone for way too long, feeling unproductive. Then days I get the satisfaction of working and feeling productive, sometimes almost feeling guilty for feeling okay. I do very well in isolation, though. I’m very content being alone for long periods of time and very much addicted to work to the point of getting depressed if I don’t get the high of finishing something or creating a new idea. I think it’s important to not be hard on yourself for feeling or being any sort of way, but at the same time I don’t wanna preach what’s important to anybody other than myself. Zero pressure. Help your community and neighbors if you can. That’s it. Watching a lot of movies, smoking weed, and playing guitar in bed is what I’m doing.
What should we be expecting next from Club Intl?
More one off singles leading to a full length album.
Describe your ideal clubhouse?
Fold out table, PA speakers, Recording set up. Couch for chilling. Carpet for crawling. Sound proof. Drum kit. Lots of snacks. No cell reception.
You can keep up with John Eatherly and Club Intl on Instagram