Hot Knife talks upcoming record, inspirations, anxiety, and more– exclusive interview

Hot Knife is a punk band from Brooklyn, NY. The band dropping their upcoming EP Dread on 4/20 (for obvious reasons). Dread creates a classic punk feel while talking about the reality of adulthood. The record is described by the band as a “pop-punk album by adults, for adults.” In the midst of the pandemic, Dread will lift the spirits of rock fans everywhere.

All Punked Up recently had the chance to chat with Hot Knife about the EP as well as how they are coping in the current situation. Check out the interview below!

Be sure to follow Hot Knife on Instagram and Spotify!

Take us on the EP writing and producing journey. How long did it take to write and produce these songs? Who worked with you in the studio? What were some of your struggles and surprises when writing/recording this EP?

Luke: We wrote the EP in fits and starts. We take our time with writing and revisit songs over & over until we’re happy. They were pretty much all written in smelly rehearsal spaces in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Ryan: We are all busy guys and living in NYC alone makes life a little crazy. So, getting the four of our schedules to line up is a task in itself so writing songs takes us a little longer than other bands but we really hammer them until we get something we are proud of.

Luke: We demo’d and then recorded them at Found Soundation studios in Fort Greene, Brooklyn over a few very hot weekends in July. It was our second time working with Jesse Cannon and our first time working with Brian DiMeglio (Engineer) and we had a great time, despite the faulty A/C.

Ryan: I’m pretty sure I wore my hot pink swim shorts one day it was so hot down there! For the record, that A/C was fixed right after we were done recording.

Luke: Good banter, good takeout, lots and lots of beer and, in Vic’s case, fireball. I think I learned to relax and enjoy the process of recording a lot more than I had in the past.

Which song speaks most to you lyrically and why?

Luke: I’m proud of all the lyrics on this record. People might think we named it Dread because of what’s going on now with COVID19, but the truth is that we had that name picked last year because most of the songs are about anxieties of one kind or another. If I had to choose one it would be ‘Top 10 Habits of Highly Successful People.’ It’s a pissy song with sarcastic lyrics and I had fun writing them. And it feels more relevant to me now, in this new era of ‘essential and non-essential workers’ and corporate stimulus.

Ryan: It is pretty wild how the lyrics are becoming more and more real as 2020 progresses even though all of the songs were written in 2019. Not that we were in a much better state then but “Rippin Buds, Rippin Buds” is even more relevant now than it was last year.  Unless we come together and oust this orange clown, the next stop will most definitely be rock bottom.

If you had to pick one word or phrase to capture the theme and vibe of this album, what would it be and why?

Luke: It’s a blast of anxiety and frustration packaged in 5 catchy, high-energy songs.

Ryan: “Weed” The original working title for the album, haha!

What do you hope fans get out of this album? Which song do you hope sticks out to fans as relevant and/or relatable?

Luke: As with any creative output, we hope that people connect with it and enjoy it at any level. I hope it feels like honest expression. People seem to initially respond to ‘Top 10 Habits of Highly Successful People’ the most. I also hope ‘First Street’ sticks out because I think we pushed ourselves to make something really pretty, and it’s the last track.

What artists do you look up to for inspiration?

Luke: We all take inspiration from different sources. I always return to the songwriters that made an impression on me at a young age – Elvis Costello, Billie Joe Armstrong, Noel Gallagher, Billy Bragg. And then garage rock bands from the 60s & 70s like the Stooges, the Sonics.

What artists or songs do you have on repeat right now?

Luke: Hot Snakes, Sleaford Mods, PUP, Parquet Courts, Beabadobee, Chastity Belt

Ryan: Radioactivity, Wyldlife, Bronx, Red City Radio, Sunshine State, Vacation, and AC/DC…always.

What motivates you?

Luke: I’m motivated by a desire to improve our songwriting and reach more people. Those are the two aspects of releasing music that I take the most from. The process of writing a song is one of the most personally rewarding things I have found in my life. And then using that creation to get a response from other people. This is all cliche I guess, but it’s true.

Ryan: Being part of something that makes someone feel inspired to make their own art or motivated to go out and do something that matters to them is a feeling that’s pretty amazing. I want our music to reach and inspire as many people as we can and being able to travel and play that music to people is icing on the cake.

How have you been since COVID-19? Have you taken precautions? What are you doing to keep occupied?

Luke: I’m working remotely from home and focusing on my family. I have a 3-year-old who needs a lot of occupying, so that keeps us busy. Vic and Ryan are out in New Mexico having a blast in isolation. Matt is working hard running a coffee business in Brooklyn.

Ryan: Yeah, Vic and I escaped NYC and are holed up in Taos NM about an hour from where I grew up.  Very fortunate to be able to come back here and stay safe during this. There aren’t very many cases here and people aren’t fucking around here. Everyone is taking the social distancing seriously here which is great because this is NO JOKE.  Luckily, there’s a lot of space here so we have been outside a lot enjoying the fresh air. We got a raft the other day and floated down the Rio Grande, that’s probably the highlight so far.  Matt’s back home working but I know he’s getting some ride time in on his Harley, that guy rides more than anybody I know.

Some artists feel like it is either really fitting or really inappropriate to drop music during this time. Why did you decide to keep your release date of 4/20?

Luke: This is the first I’m hearing about it being inappropriate. I don’t really get that. Everyone in my life is consuming more music, film, and writing right now – I think we all need it. It’s not necessarily wise to release music right now given we can’t play shows to promote it. But hey, we’ve waited long enough to get this thing out, and you only get one chance a year to drop a record on 4/20, and one chance in a century for it to be 4/20 all month long…

Ryan:  ? Luke just blew my mind with that last part.  I agree with Luke, though, people need it more than ever.  People need money more than ever, too, with the economy in a free fall and a lot of our friends out of work. That being said if you can’t afford to pick up the record, find it on streaming services, torrent it, steal it, whatever you need to do to hear it we support it. Just come see us play when all this is over or under control and have a beer with us.

Is there anything else you want to say to your fans and All Punked Up readers?

Luke: Please listen to Dread and share it with others if you like it. Please come out and see us when we are allowed to play shows again. Please be good to each other.

Ryan: Listen loud, stay safe, and keep your head up.