Unwritten Law is a modern rock band that formed in 1991, and will be performing in Denver tomorrow at the Summit Music Hall at 7 p.m.
The Clarion recently caught up with Scott Russo, a guitarist and vocalist for the band.
Why did you choose the name Swan for the record and have the last track called “Swan Song?” Are you guys planning on breaking up at some point in the near future?
Well, the gist of it is this record was going to be the last record because we had kind of taken a non-intentional hiatus, and I was producing and writing for other things. A bunch of the guys were having kids and getting married.
We didn’t have a label for the past couple of years, and we were all kind of moving in different directions. We didn’t have a home base to meet and about two years ago we all met and decided to put down one more record.
We were all going in different directions though, so we thought we’d title it “Swan Song,” and promote it as a last record. We went into the record with that mindset and music is our baby. And so we started writing songs for the record, and the first six songs weren’t very good. So, we dumped them, and sat down and basically said this is it. This is our business card.
We came to agreement that we should get rid of the six songs, but then we came back [to the studio] and went back into it with a fire under our asses. Over the next six months, we crafted the music, which is now Swan and about nine songs in the record company said they loved the record, and it’s a smash.
We were all firing together again and we all loved it, and knew what we had and were not having any negative shine on this record. I don’t want to end it. I think this is the best record we’ve put out so far and we’ve finally found out who we are and what we are. After 20 years, we finally have found our sound.
How do you think the new album Swan progresses your music?
I feel like for 20 years we all were a pretty highly intense band, especially live, and we got into fights with each other, and now we are all focused. I think Swan did that for us. Without this record, I think the ship would have sank for sure.
We’ve dealt with so much over the years; we’ve lost two band members, dealt with drug addictions, gone to jail. Without Swan there would be no Unwritten Law today. Musically, we were just very meticulous and scale back the production of the music and put the production in the vocals.
We wanted to make something that’s classic and classy, and not something for the trend that is right now. The record label was pissed, but we didn’t want to give them anything that wasn’t going to be heat.
How do you feel about today’s music scene?
I think there are different musical trends and genres, and once again, most of us being in our mid-30s, we have spent more than 25 years of loving music and having different musical influences so we can’t abide by trends at this point in our careers, especially with all our knowledge. And if your chasing trends by the time your s**t gets out, the trend is over and that’s physics, not my opinion.
We wanted to make something sexy and slutty, and I know we did it. But I think there are some bands out there putting out great music. I think the new Kanye record is a masterpiece, but I think that music has gotten very trendy, and it’s not about the music anymore; it’s more about the fashion. At some point, a new Nirvana is going to come in and wipe the slate clean, and make it about the music again. We’re just looking forward to touring and seeing the reaction to the new album.
How does your band write an album? Is it a collaborative effort?
Most of our records before were written by me. And I would say that Steve [Morris] and I had the most musical chops on this. But Dylan [Howard] added his own flavor. And I definitely think this was our most collaborative album.
Dylan also stepped up in the guitar range. He wrote the chorus for “Dark Days,” and he’s a very talented dude. This record was mostly written as a band – I think that’s why we all feel so attached to this album because it was such a collaborative effort, so we all feel invested in it.
What’s your favorite song on the new album and why?
That’s a hard question to answer. And I don’t want to sound like I’m just harping on this album, but all 11 tracks are solid. I think I love “Superbad” and “Love Love Love” like as my personal favorites, but every song is undeniable.
It’s just 11 great tracks and every track is packed with fire and surrounded by it. I think I’m proudest of performing “Love Love Love” though, because it’s just an awesome, pure love song.
