Photo by Jason Squires
I can be metal, but not too screamy. I can be pop, but not without meaning. I can be rap, but I’m not slanting. It’s the way that you hear me, the way that you hear me.
Photo by Jason Squires Trevor McNevan is a nice guy, and not just because he’s Canadian. As I settled down with Thousand Foot Krutch’s lead singer in the media tent before his show, he shared with me the perks and pitfalls of being a DIY band, his faith, and a miraculous thing called “poutine.”
But before we start, I’ll clear up some confusion over the above lines in italics. It’ll all make sense when you check out the music video for “Running With Giants,” a single off TFK’s album Oxygen: Exhale, scheduled for release on June 17th, and available for pre-order with some awesome kickbacks. Exhale is the sister album to 2014’s release Oxygen: Inhale, which McNevan said focused on TFK’s lighter side. On the other hand, according to McNevan, Exhale “is more of a ‘drop the gloves,’ just full-blown, aggressive [album].” Click here to read TeenView Music’s preview of Exhale.
But before we start, I’ll clear up some confusion over the above lines in italics. It’ll all make sense when you check out the music video for “Running With Giants,” a single off TFK’s album Oxygen: Exhale, scheduled for release on June 17th, and available for pre-order with some awesome kickbacks. Exhale is the sister album to 2014’s release Oxygen: Inhale, which McNevan said focused on TFK’s lighter side. On the other hand, according to McNevan, Exhale “is more of a ‘drop the gloves,’ just full-blown, aggressive [album].” Click here to read TeenView Music’s preview of Exhale.
Photo by Jason Squires Thousand Foot Krutch is a DIY, or Do It Yourself band, meaning that instead of relying on a record label to determine when, where, and how to do everything, the band makes and manages those decisions. McNevan pointed out that preordering albums online has no real advantage, which is why TFK’s preorder option is $7.99. And not only is it two bucks cheaper, you receive five songs instantly when you preorder Oxygen: Exhale, something a record label would not allow.
“[It] builds momentum,” explained McNevan. So although TFK is not anti-label at all, “It’s been fun to be able to get creative and not have so much red tape.”
And thanks to those benefits, Exhale has been selling a bunch of preorders.
On the other hand, there is a disadvantage to the DIY route: “There’s a ton of risk, man,” said McNevan. “It’s sometimes terrifying, to be totally honest.”
But in spite of that, explained McNevan, “It’s beautiful, and we love it, and it’s so much fun to do. We feel so blessed to do what we love and get to do it in a way where we can stay creative.”
At this point, I asked McNevan to pinpoint the biggest risk TFK had ever taken, which proved difficult because every decision comes with a risk.
We often come to a point, explained McNevan, “where we come to a crossroads… Where we feel we’re supposed to go that way, but there’s just no road there--it’s desert. We feel that most of our careers have been this bushwhacking or off-road vehicle situation.”
Here McNevan cited his Christian faith as a Krutch he and his band mates depend on. “We work hard, we do the possible, and we trust Him to be impossible… It’s been a great journey and we’re just getting started, man.”
“[It] builds momentum,” explained McNevan. So although TFK is not anti-label at all, “It’s been fun to be able to get creative and not have so much red tape.”
And thanks to those benefits, Exhale has been selling a bunch of preorders.
On the other hand, there is a disadvantage to the DIY route: “There’s a ton of risk, man,” said McNevan. “It’s sometimes terrifying, to be totally honest.”
But in spite of that, explained McNevan, “It’s beautiful, and we love it, and it’s so much fun to do. We feel so blessed to do what we love and get to do it in a way where we can stay creative.”
At this point, I asked McNevan to pinpoint the biggest risk TFK had ever taken, which proved difficult because every decision comes with a risk.
We often come to a point, explained McNevan, “where we come to a crossroads… Where we feel we’re supposed to go that way, but there’s just no road there--it’s desert. We feel that most of our careers have been this bushwhacking or off-road vehicle situation.”
Here McNevan cited his Christian faith as a Krutch he and his band mates depend on. “We work hard, we do the possible, and we trust Him to be impossible… It’s been a great journey and we’re just getting started, man.”
Photo by Jason Squires The members of TFK are Christian, but do not call themselves a Christian rock band, because, as McNevan explained, “It isn’t our genre of music, it’s not our name tag. It’s who we are.” He continued, saying, “We are always going to be honest about who we are. We’ve always made music for everyone. That’s never separated us. We love each and every one of these bands…and for the most part, it’s always been that way. We love and support each other. We’re a rock family. That’s who we are, that’s who you are.”
And when I heard McNevan speak about his faith, it struck me as something beautiful and simple. Something that should not separate TFK from other bands, but bring them together.
I was curious about how his faith might help him deal with the day-to-day bullshit as well as the emotional strain being in a band comes with.
“It’s easier in my life--I can’t speak for anyone else--to look past things,” McNevan explained, “[but] we go through the same struggles, the same pains [as] everybody does, regardless of faith. What you choose to do with that, how you respond to those things, are a big part of who we all are.”
And when I heard McNevan speak about his faith, it struck me as something beautiful and simple. Something that should not separate TFK from other bands, but bring them together.
I was curious about how his faith might help him deal with the day-to-day bullshit as well as the emotional strain being in a band comes with.
“It’s easier in my life--I can’t speak for anyone else--to look past things,” McNevan explained, “[but] we go through the same struggles, the same pains [as] everybody does, regardless of faith. What you choose to do with that, how you respond to those things, are a big part of who we all are.”
 Photo by Jason Squires | A main theme in my Rocklahoma interviews this year was food, and since I am visiting Canada this summer, I had to ask McNevan what I should eat. “The most stereotypical classic dish is not healthy at all,” he warned. “It is called ‘Poutine.’ It’s French fries with real mozzarella curds…[and] gravy. Those three things together [are] unbelievable. It’s a Canadian love.” To me, that doesn’t just sound unbelievable; it sounds like a glorious cardiac arrest in a bowl. Apparently, Canada is rife with “Poutineries,” restaurants dedicated to serving an incomprehensible variety of poutines. For first timers, McNevan recommends starting with the “original poutine” before going for any of the fancy-sounding versions. |
In that gravy-filled vein, I leave you hungry for poutine and pop-metal, and advise you pounce on that awesome pre-order deal before Oxygen: Exhale drops this Friday. While you’re here, enjoy two other singles already released:
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 | Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. She is the editor and founder of TeenView Music and editor-in-chief of her school’s newspaper, as well as a dedicated musician. As principal flutist of her school’s orchestra and band as well as a bass trombonist in jazz, she believes that she would not have a life if it weren’t for music. |
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