The lines on the screen move like heartbeats, jumping with every rise of emotion in sound and dipping with the absence of noise between drumbeats and guitar riffs. Different-colored rows move simultaneously, each with its own rhythm, measuring out melody in a readable pattern.
Senior IT major and music minor Grady Rogers watches the scrolling lines and halts their journey with a click of the mouse. “Do you want to try that again?” he calls into the microphone, talking to drummer and broadcast journalism junior Preston Hall, visible on the flat screen above. Former classic guitar major Christian Seweskey paces barefoot across the control room, while USC English alumnus Austin Lewis leans against the wall, concentrating with arms crossed. Hall nods from the adjacent studio, his headphones already moving in rhythm before his drumsticks join the beat. The snare kicks in, and the lines start across the screen again.
Corbett Alexander is a collaboration of metal slayers and Mayer crooners, but somehow the wide spectrum of music influences coalesces into a progressive rock band. The motley crew, including bassist and Clemson marketing student Micah Hall, connected on multiple levels—a music theory class here, an acoustic gig there—until the decision to form a five-piece was made. However, traversing genres was easier in theory than in reality. “We had to adapt from styles previously played,” guitarist Sewesky says. “It was a different sound that was a lot fuller—a melting pot.”
While Rogers’ heavy guitar influences come from post-metalcore Saosin and his earlier projects with Preston, Lewis prefers pop-rock Maroon 5, electronic Owl City and acoustic City and Colour. Sewesky serves as the link between an expanse of genres, and all members agree on the intricately woven sound of math-rock The Dear Hunter. Local Columbia influence takes the shape of progressive rock group Trees on Mars, which recorded Rogers in his first band back in eighth grade and inspired his personal music journey.
When it comes to its own sound, Corbett Alexander integrates two sets of melody-transcending guitar, dark echoey vocals, melancholic bass and determined drums, all drawn together with a highly emotional undercurrent. Lyricist and vocalist Lewis explains his inspiration behind the words. “I try to write about the emotions I’m feeling, and I base a lot of my lyrics off the already-written melodies,” he says. “One song, ‘Lay Down Your Weapons,’ is about peace, overcoming conflicts and resolving bad feelings. The music agrees with the feeling the lyrics describes.”
“Lay Down Your Weapons” is one of the pre-released tracks from the band’s new EP, “A New Dawn,” which is set to drop this month. The five-song production also includes originals “Appetite,” “Pieces,” “Andromeda” and “Stormy Weather.” “This is our first EP, so we’re still figuring out what Corbett Alexander sounds like,” Preston says. “Every song is similar, but there’s a diverse tone reaching out into different genres. Each song has its own character.”
The process of recording and producing all those songs isn’t short, either. Corbett Alexander started the journey at the beginning of the summer with home recordings, but has recently taken advantage of the USC School of Music studio. The group has since re-recorded a lot of its previous instrumentals, particularly the drums. The studio is a great resource for student bands and musicians, and it offers a top quality soundboard with ProTools software. To Corbett Alexander, the advantage of producing the EP independently means complete technical and artistic control.
“The process starts with songwriting and then discovering what sounds best for the first EP, the first milestone and real start of Corbett Alexander,” says Rogers. “From there, it’s time in the studio, producing and the post-production editing of mixing and re-mixing. After that, we’re taking it to our friend Kenny McWilliams of the Rejectioneers, who’s over at Archer Avenue Studios, and he’s doing the final mastering of all the tracks.”
Along with the original songs on the EP, Corbett Alexander has a few covers on their Facebook page and ReverbNation account, including “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” by Skrillex. Unlike most covers, which usually re-interpret just the sound, it also incorporates additional lyrics. “We don’t really like dubstep,” Rogers laughs. “We wanted to do something different.”
After the EP drops, Corbett Alexander hopes to book more shows in the Columbia area, as well as in other South Carolina hubs like Greenville and Charleston. The group has been gaining prominence in local media like the Free Times, SC Music Guide and Scene SC from playing at local spots like Conundrum Music Hall and New Brookland Tavern, along with a fall festival in Lexington. “It’s really great to see new faces out there, and it’s especially great to see those faces again,” Preston says.
The next step for Corbett Alexander is expanding recognition, particularly on campus. “We want people to know that not only are we interested in playing shows at venues, but we are also willing to play shows for school events and the student body in general,” Rogers says.
To get in touch with the members of Corbett Alexander and check out their music, follow their Facebook page www.facebook.com/corbettalexander or Twitter @corbettalxander.
