By: Staff
A Case of Mistaken Identity has unleashed their electrifying new single, “Stuck,” from the forthcoming album, The Waterbed Factory. This track is a profound, hard-hitting statement about the future of humanity, packed with raw emotion and a powerful message that demands attention.
With its intense vocal delivery and high-paced guitars, the impact of “Stuck” left us eager to uncover the depth and creative drive behind it. We reached out to the artist for an exclusive interview, eager to explore the stories, inspirations, and experiences that shaped this incredible work.
Join us as we dive into the world of A Case of Mistaken Identity in this thrilling feature on The Cage Music Blog. We're excited to bring you behind the scenes of this compelling project
Here's how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello A Case of Mistaken Identity, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more excited to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Your name, “A Case of Mistaken Identity,” is intriguing. What’s the story behind choosing it, and how do you want the fans to feel about you as a result of it?
When I first started this project in 2019 I was hesitant I would be able to create a “full band” sound all on my own. The idea was that I would pretend the band had several different members, using different aliases, and so the band name was a sort of allusion to that gimmick, a wink and nod to those who might figure out this is all just a solo project.
Can you share the inspiration behind the upcoming lunar concept album “The Waterbed Factory” and how you envisioned its futuristic yet deeply human narrative?
Part of the initial inspiration came from listening to Canned Heat’s song “Poor Moon”, where the singer laments on how beautiful the moon is and that they hope it doesn't get destroyed by government intervention and nuclear warfare. I listened to that song a lot, on repeat. The other inspiration was that I have always joked that I would work on the first grocery store on the moon. That notion started to wiggle deeper into my psyche over time and I started to envision the premise of a garage rocker living on the moon in the future, adrift with many of the same sentiments I carry in the modern world but exacerbated by the conditions of lunar life.
We loved the quote, “ “Stuck" is the sample in the grocery store that makes you want to buy the product.” It resonated with us and framed the single as a gateway to the larger body of work it represents. How would you describe this single in relation to the entire album and the prelude it offers?
“Stuck” is the shortest song on the album but also has the most jagged and electric pacing. Sonically, I recorded the whole album across one single project on my computer so the tonality of every instrument is consistent all throughout. If anyone ends up gravitating towards the explosive traction of the guitars on “Stuck”, you're in for a treat with the rest of the album.
The idea of a protagonist like Jude Mason, navigating life on a lunar colony, is so specific and rich. How did his character come to life during your creative process and does it reflect on something that you experienced or anticipate the future will be like?
I've worked in grocery stores for over seven years now, and I've played in several bands over the last decade. There's definitely some Vonnegut inspiration accented through the album's story too. I've always adored space and for much of my life I thought that travelling to the planets and stars above was something I wanted. I look back now and realize that if we as a society achieve that at any point in the next hundred years, it's gonna be spearheaded by tech giants and governments and anyone else who has been more of a detractor than assistant in the progress of environmentalism and social equality. I'm not saying it's as bleak as can be, but perhaps it's a time to start focusing on what we need on Earth before we start bringing our mess somewhere else.
How did the concept of intertwining a short story with the album's narrative come about? Do you see the album and story as two sides of the same coin, or do they stand independently?
The album and story are very connected. In the middle of the short story the band actually writes and records the album in question, and I had fun piecing together their motivation for doing that. The story does get fairly “soft sci-fi” but that's the nature of what I'm interested in. I felt like the persona that a frontperson of a band presents themselves as is not always the totality of who they are, and I wanted to give the protagonist a bit more depth.
We noticed the mention that “Bass and rhythm guitar were tracked during the writing process.” Are these instruments your usual starting point or “go-to” tools when laying the foundation for a new project?
It often is. For a project like this I know that the guitars are going to be a driving force and I don't want them to be a second thought - if the song sounds good with just the skeleton riffs and structure then I know it'll hold up once everything else falls into place.
"Stuck" captures such a raw feeling of frustration and longing in under two minutes. With its high energy and intense vocals we immediately felt the anguish and emotion of this song. How do you feel after performing this song, whether in the studio or live, i.e. is it cathartic or draining and how do you prepare for this emotional result?
I actually recorded most of the album in my bedroom studio setup, which I'm eternally grateful for because it means I can sit and rest for however long I’d like after recording. I think I recorded all of the album vocals in one two-hour run. It was absolutely exhausting, between the emotive vocals and incendiary instrument performances, but ultimately I'd rest comfortably knowing I gave the performance the music deserves.
You describe the music video for “Stuck” as visually compelling, with desert landscapes and mysterious imagery. How did you and Gwendolyn Moser develop the video's concept, and how does it connect to the song’s themes?
I knew I wanted to go to the desert. It's one of my favorite places and it's the closest to the moon you can really get. I had this idea of the video’s protagonist being isolated and entrenched in idealizations of mysticism and lore surrounding their world, trying to find answers that would help them feel less “stuck”. With the cinematography, Gwen said that she wanted to “create an atmosphere that was beautiful but disorienting” which matched the song and story perfectly.
The lyric “all my credits after tax / sent me in the aftermath / gonna wait two weeks / get paid again” feels scarily relatable and now sets the tone for this being the future for humans. What are you trying to have the listeners extract from this message?
The future isn't always a cure. Wages go up but so do prices, and it probably won't be any different if you're living on the moon in fifty years. It's almost a call to action to ensure that we figure out the discrepancies of our current societal issues before trying to establish new worlds. For some small percentage of the world the future will always be rich and bright for them, but history repeats itself. That's not a group that's representative of what it's like to be human, to live a life on this world. The people living paycheck to paycheck are the ones confronting reality and human emotions far more often than those who don't need to check their bank accounts ever.
What challenges did you face while balancing the creation of "The Waterbed Factory" with your other projects, like Franciscan Honey and Cruise Torts?
With “The Waterbed Factory” I really nurtured the creation process. I would put it on the back burner every now and then to create and release another project’s album and then return to it with fresh eyes. Sometimes I’d forget where I was at in terms of sonic identity, like how distorted each guitar should be or where the bass would stand in the mix. I originally had a really clean sounding version of the album but it didn't resonate with the overall concept. I ended up using reference mixes of some basement shows I had recorded years ago to give the album it's big “live” sound.
How did your move from Boston to Laguna Beach influence the sound and feel of this album? Did the change in environment and Joshua Tree play into the themes of isolation and yearning present in the story?
I drove out to the desert very soon after coming back to California and the isolation of the environment did shape a lot of my future-thought. When I was working on the album in Boston, it was more of a general punk record with not much direction. Now with the clearer skies and lack of light pollution I've found that staring at the moon at night feels just a bit more special to me. I'm certain that influenced my direction over time.
You collaborated with Gwendolyn Moser for the music video. What was it like working together, and how did the visions of both of you blend and become one?
We had a couple days out in Joshua Tree and spent some time rifling through the random props we had brought out with us. I trust her vision and she trusted mine, and we have a shared interest in what the desert can provide. There was a lot of walking around going “what if we filmed this?” She has this camcorder from 2009 that we used and I think that really helped capture the ambience of the song and story.
The lunar colony setting in “The Waterbed Factory” feels like a launchpad for more stories. The depth and truth of the message is so powerful. Do you see yourself expanding this universe in future projects?
When I finished writing the story I did have an inclination to continue the train of thought. Who are the corporations that set up this colony? What is the role of government in this world? I'd probably either take it back to modern day or several hundred years in the future if I touched back on the themes, but tangentially there's definitely more to be expanded on.
If you had one takeaway or feeling that you hope listeners get from “Stuck” and the album as a whole, what would it be?
If you're struggling in any way, you're not alone. I know it's like, a common message, but sometimes it helps to hear. Thrash around for the time being. Feel valid in your concerns and scream while driving with your music at full blast. The future is always now and it might suck but there's beauty all around.
So, what’s next? Can you share the full details on your future projects and what fans should be excited about? We’re hearing about more releases, and we’d love to be the first to announce it!
The album “The Waterbed Factory” comes out February 7th. I'll have some cool merch on the band's Bandcamp page. I've got a couple projects brewing - for this band, an EP hopefully later this year, and some stuff for my other projects is always in the works (Franciscan Honey and javahead so far). I have a single out under a new band name, “bone.computer”, and I'll be coming back to that project from time to time as well.
A Case of Mistaken Identity, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
In a show of support to the victims of the LA Fires A Case of Mistaken Identity says:
“I will be donating 100% of sales of the single on Bandcamp to the Pasadena Humane Society to treat and shelter animals affected by the fire”
link here (acmi.bandcamp.co...tuck)
We’re happy to have shared A Case of Mistaken Identity’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more on Spotify & YouTube
Comments