After three years in the making, Detroit anthemic rockers Crashing Cairo are back with their new ‘At Speeds That Destroy’ EP featuring tracks produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Tim Palmer (David Bowie, U2) and Peter Katis (Interpol, The National). The EP is available through iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, CD Baby and Spotify.
The band originally began production on the EP with Peter Katis who finished producing the first track, ‘It’s Not Like Life#, before he had to bow out of the project to work with The National on their next album that would go on to win a GRAMMY for Best Alternative Album. Crashing Cairo tapped Tim Palmer to pick up the reigns and helm the rest of the project.
At Speeds That Destroy’ is an anthemic-rock album with themes that focus around paralyzing loneliness sprinkled with hope.
More than 100 FM radio stations have been playing the tracks throughout the USA and Canada and the band is following up with live dates throughout the Midwest. They previously opened for Eddie Money at a sold-out, 15,000-person amphitheater as well as The Verve Pipe, Brian Vander Ark (solo), Marcy Playground, The Why Store, Ryan Star, Thriving Ivory, Hunny, James Durbin and a special show at the 2018 Detroit Grand Prix.
The band lost their original keyboardist in 2008, due to an enlarged heart, leaving behind his wife and two children including a 4-week-old baby. Three years ago, Crashing Cairo’s, drummer who did the original tracking on ‘It’s Not Like Life’, from the new EP, committed suicide, leaving behind three small children.
Crashing Cairo are Wax (Vocals, keyboards), Joel Cooper (Guitars), Chris Rosin (Bass) and David West (Drums, electronics). Guy Shankland recently reviewed ‘At Speeds That Destroy’ which you can read below!
Check out the EP below!
We managed to catch up with the band as they talked about the EP and more!
So how has the initial release of “At Speeds That Destroy” gone down so far?
Joel: So far it’s getting good airplay and people genuinely like the quality of the music. I think we had a great launch with the music video on top of the album.
David: The album’s been REALLY well-received so far. The band put their heart and soul into these songs, but working with top industry producers like Peter Katis and Tim Palmer (guys who KNOW about making hits) has really helped magnetize listeners. We’re excited.
Wax: Better than we could hope. We’re thrilled to have our album played in most of the major markets in the USA, as well as stations in Europe and Canada.
Chris: The initial release has been fun. We got a really cool opportunity to showcase our new record on the rooftop of a popular venue in downtown Detroit. It was an intimate setting and we had a great reception to our songs and concept of the new release.
What is your favourite single of the album?
Joel: “It’s Not Like Life”. The mix is great and the words really speak to me. I think it resonates well with people.
David: “Satellite”. There are some spectacular computer parts I composed that are subtle on the album, but will bring the tuned-in listener to another place.
Wax: Choosing a favorite song is like choosing a favorite kid. Each is special in its own way.
Chris: Definitely “Satellite”. It’s a lot of fun to play live and it’s a song that really has a global feel to it. People are busy, but there’s always a “Satellite” there.
How was it working with Tim Palmer and Peter Katis?
Joel: Tim Palmer was great to work with, as well as Peter Katis. You can tell that Tim knows every second of the song by how he responds to your feedback. He was very positive about “Satellite” and the number of quality tracks we sent him.
David: One word – surreal. These guys are Legends with a capital ‘L’. Imagine working with Bruce Lee. Okay, now imagine Chuck Norris walking in … and no, they don’t want to battle each other, they’re on YOUR side.
Tim and Peter are both uniquely different, each with their own special sauce, but both absolute geniuses who command respect. But what blew our minds was the respect that THEY had for our core product. They didn’t twist or morph our songs into something completely different. They took our noodles, ladled-on their own special sauces and make uniquely tasty dishes.
Chris: Working with Tim Palmer was awesome because he’s a genius. We would have an idea and he would materialize it within moments. Tim is really easy to get along with, very charming and puts the artist first which is very important. He’s also a big soccer fan, so I could relate to him very well. I actually didn’t get to work with Peter Katis, but my favorite band is The National and he has produced some of my favorite records by them.
Wax: I value and respect what Tim Palmer and Peter Katis have done, more than you can imagine. It has been a fantastic learning experience and I hope we work with them again soon.
What impact have the death of your drummer and keyboardist over the years?
Wax: The loss would be equal to losing a family member. Losing two is tragic and challenging to say the least. We will forever value and honor their roles in this brotherhood called a band. The impact of these losses are incalculable.
Joel: Mostly sad to lose such good friends and musicians
Will you working on new music this year at all?
Joel: We already have a number of new songs that we are starting to record. They’re fantastic and have received good responses in the live setting.
David: We have several songs in the queue that we’re excited about and we’ll actually begin recording some of them next month. What better time than the cold winter months to spend in a warm, cozy studio?
Chris: Yes, we’ve been developing an evolution of our sound and have a lot exciting things to look forward to in 2019.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be?
Joel: Queen or Led Zeppelin. I’d like to understand how they break molds and write music that will last forever.
David: I want to pick two. Coldplay and Radiohead. Coldplay for their anthemic ingenuity and Radiohead for their creative modal departures. There’s more to music than sound. As we know, sound can be pleasant or unpleasant. It can bother your ears, make you wince or literally cause a shiver from the tickling of your inner ear. But more than sound, music has the ability to kick its way through the front door of our souls. Those two bands just have some HEAVY-ASS boots. And I wanna know where they shoe-shop.
Chris: I would love to work with Bon Iver or Jimmy Eat World. They’ve been some of my favorite song writers for years.
Will you be touring at all this year?
Chris: We have some exciting plans and dates that we are in the process of finalizing, and linking up with some serious talent.
What do you get up to in your spare time when not working on music?
David: My top three priorities are my three “adults-in-training” as I call them – my world pretty much revolves around them :). But after that, I’m a vagabond in philosophical realms and long to understand the cosmos, all of its wonders and how it all ties together.
Joel: Working out and keeping in good shape, programming, and playing D&D.
Chris: I spend far too much time at record stores. I’m always picking up new vinyl, CDs, and anything music related. I also play a ton of soccer. This is probably my favorite activity if I’m not playing guitar or bass. Also, my girlfriend lives in Chicago so we do a lot of commuting between cities when Crashing Cairo isn’t booked which is becoming more and more. This is crazy, but she is really supportive as we keep booking a lot of venues that I grew up going to see all of my favorite bands at.
Wax: Spending time with my family, growing food and raising chickens.