[Exclusive Interview] Thrice’s Teppei Talks New Album & Single, Living Next To Bean

Thrice

Thrice takes plenty of chances. It’s what makes the Orange County four-piece one of the lasting staples of the early 2000′s “post-hardcore” movement that saw bands such as Rise Against, The Used and Thursday come to prominence

But in 2005, Thrice starting experimenting with their sound — drastically. The experimental (and in my opinion, their best) Vheissu came before the expansive, sprawling Alchemy Index – which covered hardcore, electronic, acoustic/folk and air-y rock on four different discs. In the process, they have been adorned with critical acclaim, with 2009′s Beggars being their best reviewed album yet.

Thrice are back with Major/Minor, the band’s 8th release and 4th on Vagrant Records. KROQ asked guitarist Teppei Teranishi a few questions about the new album, the recording process, and living on the same island as Bean.

Thrice plays a sold out show August 13 at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana.  You can win tickets this Sunday night by listening to KROQ’s Locals Only!

What has gone on in your band life since the release of your last album, Beggars?

TT: A whole lot. Way too much in a short amount of time. For me personally, it was the loss of my mom. It was a gnarly time. I had my mom living with us in our tiny house with my wife, my (then) 2 year old son, and our newborn son. My mom had hit a point in her battle with cancer where we brought her in our home and we were taking care of her along with Hospice. . It was a two bedroom, so all four of us squeezed into our bedroom and my mom took the kids’ room. Taking care of my dying mother while at the same time, trying to raise a newborn and toddler…It was by far the hardest time I’ve ever been through.

Oh, and then I moved to Washington. So yeah, just in my camp, lots. Not to mention the other guys’ personal struggles.

You recently uprooted to Washington? First of all, are you neighbors with Bean and all his farm animals? Serious note, was it/is it difficult to go back-and-forth between Thrice’s HQ in Orange County and the recording studio these past few months?

Actually, yes I am! I live on the same island as him, which is right across the Puget Sound from Seattle. I had no clue that he lived here until someone told me. Haven’t seen him around yet, though I’m sure I will — it’s a very small town.

The only difficult part was when we were writing. I moved right smack in the middle of writing and so I was flying back and forth every week — a week in [Washington], a week in Orange County. Other than that, it’s been fairly mellow. I just have to fly out a few days before a tour to rehearse and for random one-offs here and there. It’s not that big a deal.

Where Vhessiu and the Alchemy Index albums were certainly adventurous and ambitious from a band standpoint, Beggars felt like a natural transition and maturation of all those sounds combined for a very tonally polished music experience. What can we expect from Major/Minor?

I’d say it’s a logical step from Beggars. It has a similar raw energy but the overall vibe of the record is a little different.

What was the decision behind recording at Red Bull Studios for Major/Minor as opposed to recording at your home studio?

We did the self-produced thing for a couple records (three if you count The Alchemy Index as two) and so we thought it was time to switch it up. Having another person step into the process does a lot to the dynamic of stuff. It was a great decision.

Finally, what is in the cards for Thrice? The album Sept. 20, then the tour starts Sept. 30, then…

Rocking and rolling.