Photo by Matthew Dwyer
Life is good for Papadosio. The North Carolina experimental rock band recently released their fourth studio album Extras in a Movie, and according to keyboardist Sam Brouse the band is gelling better than ever. We caught up with Sam at Suwannee Hulaween in Live Oak Florida and got the low down on the new album, his new role in the band, and we discovered some spooky facts about the musician as well. Enjoy!
Raffaela: The new album, I love it. It’s awesome.
Sam: Thank you.
Raffaela: Jake [the band’s tour manager] was telling me that you kind of stepped up, you had a bigger role in crafting this album.
Sam: Yeah, they let some more of my ideas kind of flow, which is cool. I had a lot of content saved specifically to put on Papadosio new album so I was lucky enough to have everyone agree to have it on there.
Raffaela: Obviously it sounds like you’re proud of [the new album].
Sam: Yeah, yeah I am. It was a patience game. Some of the stuff that I had written personally, I wrote in like, 2013. And I’ve just been sitting on it, you know. Just the fact that we all kind of came together and got it down in a timely fashion was remarkable.
Raffaela: Very cool. How much of the stuff from the new album are you incorporating in the live show?
Sam: Everything except for one track.
Raffaela: Except for one?
Sam: Yeah. So far. The first track. Which is like a five part harmony acapella track, which we haven’t quite…
Raffaela: Quite nailed live?
Sam: Yeah, it’s really hard. I mean, it was hard enough to do in the studio. We haven’t even tried to do it yet, together live. It’s just there’s so much more other stuff that we haven’t gotten around to it. Yet.
Raffaela: Do you feel like it’s kind of helped you grow as a musician to have that platform that the band let you step up?
Sam: Yeah, personally, it definitely has. I don’t know, it takes a certain amount of confidence to do that. And then also, a certain amount of support from the rest of band. It’s pretty awesome. Me and Anthony have a pretty awesome songwriting relationship now. I think we are all getting along better than we ever have.
Raffaela: A healthy band is a happy band.
Sam: It’s all bueno.
Raffaela: I want to take a little bit about that actual cover of the album, the art. Cause it kind of seems like one of those images that you can stare at, and you have to kind of figure it out. There’s a guy kind of camping and there’s these weird figures and stuff. So, explain to me a little bit about that choice and also, was it intentional to make it something you could study?
Sam: Originally, I had the idea to base it off of, we work with our friend Thomas, and so like.. we were kind of bouncing ideas around, and one of my favorite albums is Genesis – Trick of the Tale. Which is pretty fantastical. Pretty fantasy album. On the cover of that album, there is a bunch of characters, from every one of the songs. Each song is a character. So I liked that idea. I gave that to Thomas and he kind of created a character for each song. And he sent some stuff back. Anthony and the rest of the guys chipped in with the psychedelic film burns on the front and stuff like that. I don’t know. Thomas just really nailed it, like exactly what we were all thinking.
Raffaela: That’s incredibly cool each character is a song. I wouldn’t have thought that. Thats awesome.
Raffaela: So you guys tour all the time. I was looking at your dates coming up, and you guys are just touring like mad men – for the next month or two. So, was writing and recording this album something you guys did on the road or did you take some time and put all your focus on this album?
Sam: Yeah we took some time. We took January and February off, and did it all.
Raffaela: How did that feel getting off the road for a little bit?
Sam: It was great. We were dying to get into the studio. You know, for the past, it’s been like 3 years since the album before Extras in a Movie, and we were just literally dying to get in the studio. It felt really good. And I think that’s the way we are gonna have to do it from now on. We just work so well that way. We can put all of our focus into one thing. And not have to work about, where we’re gonna be, if we have to leave in like, 3 days. It’s just too much.
Raffaela: So you guys are a band that is characterized as having a niche audience, but that audience is incredibly passionate. So what do you think it is about Papadosio that has kids coming back, 10 times, 20 times? I’ve met kids who’ve seen 30-40 Papadosio shows. What do you think it is that keeps them coming back for more?
Sam: I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I mean, I was a huge fan of the band before I was in the band. I can’t really explain why. I mean, besides that it was my older brothers band. But I still thought, that they were like, the best band ever. Before I even joined them. It’s hard to say. I really don’t know why. I think we are doing something right.
Raffaela: Totally!
Sam: I’m super appreciative. Grateful for our fan base. Just gonna keep trying to make good music that they like.
Raffaela: I’d like to transition to Halloween questions, which are fun. Are you guys gonna be hanging around the festival tomorrow?
Sam: No, we have to go to Asheville to do a show tomorrow.
Raffaela: Oh cool, so you’re doing a Halloween show. Are you guys pumped for that? Are you gonna do a costume set?
Sam: Yeah.
Raffaela: Any hints on what it might be?
Sam: I think we are actually gonna wear the costumes tonight. We are gonna be the Muppets.
Raffaela: The Muppets? Which one are you?
Sam: I’m Kermit.
Raffaela: That’s a lot of responsibility. He’s the leader.
Sam: It would make more sense it Anthony was Kermit, because he’s the frontman, but I wanna sing Rainbow Connection more than anything.
Raffaela: Awesome! I’m going to look forward to that.
Sam: It’s like one of my favorite songs, ever.
Raffaela: It’s a tearjerker.
Sam: Yeah, but it’s the most incredible song. Ever.
Raffaela: It is. It totally is. So are you a fan of Halloween? I know some guys hate it. Like my friends, they hate it for some reason.
Sam: I don’t hate Halloween by any means. I like spooky stuff. I like Halloween.
Raffaela: What is your favorite candy?
Sam: Favorite candy? To be honest with you, 10/10 I’d rather eat cheese.
Raffaela: Really? String cheese?
Sam: Haha no, sharp cheddar. Any kind of cheese. I like a nice cheese.
Raffaela: You don’t have a sweet tooth.
Sam: Not really, but if I had to pick one, it would probably be, 100 Grand. I always like 100 Grand when I got them Trick-or-Treating.
Raffaela: What were you afraid of as a kid?
Sam: My older cousin made me watch The Exorcist when I was like, 7. So I always thought I was gonna get possessed by the devil. And I always thought my bed was shaking. I couldn’t sleep for years. Like, legit. Years.
Raffaela: (Laughs)
Sam: I didn’t know what I was getting into. I was like, ‘Yeah lets watch this movie’ and then the next thing, not sleeping for years and years and years.
Raffaela: I still haven’t gotten all the way through it.
Sam: So horrifying.
Raffaela: What are you afraid of now?
Sam: Uh. Voodoo.
Raffaela: Voodoo is spooky.
Sam: Voodoo is pretty spooky.
Raffaela: What’s your favorite scary movie?
Sam: Probably The Exorcist.
(Both Laugh)
Sam: It’s one of those things like Stockholm Syndrome, where it’s like, it super scared me when I was a kid, and I just love it. I like scary movies a lot. When I’m in the van traveling long distances, I watch a lot of Netflix. I watch every single one of the Hellraiser movies. I like watching hilarious scary movies in the van, and then also super scary movies.
Raffaela: Have you seen The Babadook?
Sam: I love The Babadook.
Raffaela: The Babadook scared the shit out of me.
Sam: I love that movie. I think it’s brilliant.
Raffaela: It’s crazy because it’s an allegory for grief.
Sam: Yeah yeah, Totally.
Raffaela: It blew my mind.
Sam: 100%. I was not expecting that. I knew it was gonna be good because I had read reviews about it, months leading up to it, so I was super stoked to see it. It did not disappoint. There is this other movie, that’s called House of the Devil. It’s super super good too. It’s made as if it was made in the late 70s, early 80s, but it’s new. And the soundtrack is all like, old synthesizers. You know like, John Carpenter soundtrack stuff. Like Halloween and stuff like that. But it’s mega scary. Anything that has to do with the devil, I’m pretty into.
Raffaela: If you were cast in a scary movie, would you wanna be a killer or a victim?
Sam: Uh. I’d want to be the guys that’s in the convenience story that goes ‘Don’t go down there!’
(Both laugh)
Sam: The Harbinger. That’s who I would be.
Raffaela: (wise man voice) ‘Don’t go down to that Indian Burial Ground.’
Sam: (wise man voice) ‘Oh that Indian Burial Ground. You don’t want to go down there.’
Raffaela: Like that Mainer voice.
(Both laugh)
Raffaela: Who would you want to play you in a scary movie?
Sam: Oh damn. Uh? I mean, if I was playing that character, Nick Cage.
Sam: I think he’s underrated. I think everyone rags on him but I think he’s great at what he does.
Raffaela: He’s done some great movies.
Sam: It’s hilarious. And he knows it. And it’s brilliant.
Raffaela: He plays along. Do you read any scary books at all? Like Stephen King? What’s your favorite scary book if you’ve read one at all?
Sam: I actually haven’t. Um I haven’t read a lot. In the past couple years. I did read Song of Ice & Fire which is the Game of Thrones stuff. I like fantasy. I would like to read a scary book. I just haven’t found one yet. I guess anything Stephen King you can’t go wrong.
Raffaela: I recommend Pet Semetery.
Sam: Pet Semetery?
Raffaela: Yeah it’s pretty dope. It’s scary
Sam: Alright. Tight. Yeah maybe I should read something scary. That sounds fun.
Raffaela: It has that slow tension that is in a scary movie, but it’s over a thousand pages, so it’s like that slow build.
Raffaela: What is the weirdest thing about you?
Sam: About me?
Raffaela: Yeah, that you can say on the record.
Sam: That is an interesting question.
(Long pause)
Raffaela: That you like cheese more than candy?
(Both Laugh)
Sam: Probably! I don’t like candy very much. It’s pretty weird but it’s not the weirdest thing about me. You really caught me with one foot off the merry-go-round with that one.
Raffaela: It’s an interesting question?
Sam: It’s a great question!
Raffaela: You can pass. What was your favorite Halloween costume you’ve ever worn?
Sam: That I’ve ever worn? I was a wolf and my girlfriend was Princess Mononoke. That was pretty sick.
Raffaela: Well that’s all the questions I have to ask you. Anything last things you want to say?
Sam: No, well. You asked if I’m proud of it. And I am super proud of it. It was a collaborative effort and I feel like we are all better for it.
Raffaela: It seems like you guys are really hitting your stride.
Sam: I think we are all just so excited about it. To play it. And when we are on stages it’s like a whole new energy that we can all tap into. You know, a lot of people are pretty confused by the content of it. And I think that kind of like feeds into our excitement to play it. I like, I don’t really care what you think, cause this is gonna happen, and you are probably gonna be blown away. At least by the show of it. When we are on stage. We have something to prove on stage now, which is fun.
Article by Raffaela Kenny-Cincotta. Follow her online @raffaelakc.