Ceremony – Ross Farrar
Posted on December 12, 2008 at 11:19 am by Luke
“Still Nothing Moves You” is the most recent album from hardcore act Ceremony and it’s an album played at top speed like there’s nothing to loose, with a vocal sneer and some raw emotion, and this is what vocalist Ross Farrar had to say via email one fine day.
WayTooLoud!: What influenced you into the music scene?
Ross Farrar: Nothing influenced me into it really. My parents were hippies and my brother and sister were always into some genre of music my whole life, so I guess just being surrounded by it was a kind of assimilation. I just love music and always have.
And by the way… I’m in an office in Austria drinking a bottle of Chateau Fleur Grandchamps – Bodeaux Sauvingnon 2006 – pretty good!
WTL!: Who writes most of the songs, how does the writing process for Ceremony work?
Ross: Anthony [Anzaldo - guitar] and JD [Justin Davis - bass] write most of the music; we do collectively write the music, most of us add our input and find little things here and there that we can use artistically, but for the most part it’s Anthony and JD.
WTL!: The lyrics in “In Facile” stood out to me, I was just wondering how that song came together?
Ross: I wrote a lot of that song in Mexico when I was there for a short five-day vacation. I flew down there alone to use my brothers time-share and I was going through some problems with women, so I decided to write about them, all of them, kind of in a self deprecating way.
WTL!: How did you manage to get Cody Sullivan, Dan Anderson and George Hirsch for guest vocals on “Still Nothing Moves You”?
Ross: George was playing a show that night in Berkley at Gilman St. The studio was only ten minutes away from Gilman, that worked easily. Dan is our roadie, and Cody is always around because he’s a Northbay stragler. Cody doesn’t have a cell phone so he’s actually hard to get a hold of at sometimes, he’s an elusive man\singer!
WTL!: How come you guys choose to do the art direction and design yourselves and why did you choose Adam Rossiter for the layout?
Ross: Adam lays out everything usually because he works part time for Toast [Ryan Mattos - guitar] and he rules at it. The artwork is definitely distinct!
WTL!: How did it all come together?
Ross: I love photography so I picked a photo from my collection. Also, I don’t know how to use a computer so everything is DIY, analog, whatever. The cover is a picture of a wall my father painted in San Francisco. The wall was originally a brick wall that had been painted white many years ago. My dad was hired to paint the entire outside structure black, but decided to leave one of the bricks white as a kind of signature. He’s a house painter and an artist, I love him!
WTL!: How did you guys get hooked up with Bridge Nine Records?
Ross: They contacted us and said they were interested in putting out our records while we were on Malfunction. We thought B9 would be a better vessel for what we wanted to do.
WTL!: Do you or anyone else have any other projects currently on the go like jobs or other bands?
Ross: Me and Anthony are doing a project called Catholics, which is ambient instrumental stuff with literature. Jake might be starting something but he’s not sure on it yet. Anthony works at a Boys and Girls club, Toast does screen printing, Jake [Cazarotti - drums] chills with JD, and I work at a dark room.
WTL!: What have you been listening to lately?
Ross: Deerhunter, Delta 5, The Cramps, Eddy Current and The Supression Ring, Urinals, The Beets, Department of Eagles, Beat Happening and Sabertooth Zombie!
WTL!: How do you keep yourselves entertained on the road?
Ross: I read a ton and eat Taco Bell constantly! Take pictures. Try to write and collect stuff. I’m trying to start a beer coozy collection!
WTL!: Who would you like to tour with who’s feasible but not obvious?
Ross: Dillinger Escape Plan!
WTL!: Is there anywhere in the world you’d like to tour?
Ross: Brazil, Argentina, China, Egypt, India, Africa, Russia, Japan, New Zealand! I’m a travel nerd!
WTL!: Thanks for doing this interview!
Ross: Thanks!
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