As Hell or Highwater (formally known as The Black Cloud Collective) makes their debut on the Rockstar Uproar Music Festival, promoting their new band, Brandon Saller (drummer-vocals from Atreyu) sat down to give us an insight on what to expect from this upcoming band.
Elicia Nichols, PopWreckoning: Why did the band choose to change the name from The Black Cloud Collective to Hell or Highwater?
Brandon, Hell or Highwater: We wanted something that was kind of a statement name. I think that all of us being around other bands have done this before. The touring, the success, the struggle and we have had all the things that a new band has never experienced. For us this is about the band of our lifetime and the music of our lifetime. This to us is the shiny moment of our careers, thus far, we wanted it to work. The saying is an expression of determination and we wanted to show our determination.
PW: What other bands had you been working with?
Brandon: I had played with a band called Atreyu, and then a couple of the guys our drummer and bass player were in a band called Thieves and Liars, our guitar player was from a band called the Confessions, so we all kind of came from different bands.
PW: What direction did you take your music with the new album Begin Again?
Brandon: It is a lot more rock and roll based, it’s a complete one eighty from Atreyu. I don’t want to be considered a one trick pony, and I don’t think any of the guys would be considered one. This style of music came naturally to us. We are an open minded band and in my head we were excited about gaining new fans that had never heard our name before. I think the fans of Atreyu would be into it as well especially those who enjoyed the last three Atreyu albums. I think this music stands out on its own, without recognition of our past work.
PW: How long did it take to write the album Begin Again?
Brandon: I wrote most of the songs in six months in between tours, and then we all got together and wrote the final three songs.
PW: When did you release Begin Again?
Brandon: The album was released on August 9th.
PW: With the Uproar Festival being your first tour as Hell or Highwater, I take it the band formed pretty recently?
Brandon: Yeah, we have only been and known each other for about a year.
PW: So do you feel you know each other pretty well?
Brandon: Yeah, it is a strange connection we all have its like we feel we have known each other for a while. It’s important to have a connection and a similar goal.
PW: I understand Hell or Highwater is featured on the Muppets movie soundtrack which is set to release in November. What was it like being a part of the soundtrack?
Brandon: I did the song with a friend of mine Billy Martin who plays in Good Charlotte. I had the opportunity over a year ago to do the song. I love expanding in any way possible and doing new things , so this was really fun to me. I have always been a huge fan of Billy and we have been friends for a while.
PW: So did you write the song for the movie or did you submit a previously recorded track?
Brandon: The whole record for the Muppets movie is a second hype tool for the movie. So we were covering Muppets songs. We had the song called “Nightlife”, it was different because we listened to the song and did not know how to or how we could turn this into a rock song, like we had written it ourselves.
PW: If you were to fight any historical figure who and where would it be?
Brandon: Ha-ha, Fuck, I’m not that pissed at any body. Um, I’ll go for like a George Washington and he can pick the place.
Interview and photography by Elicia Nichols
