At the end of June, American alternative rock band The Exies marked their return with a brand new EP, Closure, their first released collection of music since May 2007. The Exies' much-anticipated EP, Closure, marked the return of a band that left an indelible mark on the alt-rock scene in the late 1990s and the early 2000s. Now, the band's frontman Scott Stevens talks about the album with me in much more detail.
Hello, how are you doing today, Scott?
Scott: I'm good! What was the decision to get the band back together last year after approximately thirteen years?
Scott: It wasn't spontaneous. It happened very slowly. So the only decision that was reached was to get in a room together and play some of the songs, how would they feel, and would we even like playing again. We did. What was the creative process like behind the Closure EP?
Scott: It was a slow grind. Letting songs sit after their inception. There was no rush, no deadline. It was all about finding out what I wanted it to say and until that happened, I wouldn’t move forward. When the narrative took shape, another step started, the recording process.
How did you come up with the title of the new EP?
Scott: I had lots of titles and this one I came up with two years ago was one that seemed to sum up what the whole thing was about. It was about moving on.
How did you decide on the cover art and what does it represent?
Scott: The art, like the songs, happened over time. The first image was taken by my wife. Then, it was manipulated by Steve Perriera. He’s a brilliant artist. He and I collaborated on the four main images till we felt like it spoke. Again, none of this was planned, it all happened through instinct and patience.
What was the songwriting process like for the EP?
Scott: Actually, very hard once something took root. I can’t remember a harder Exies record than this to get right. I quit on every song at least four times. It drove me crazy, but like all things, it shaped itself over time.
What do you hope listeners can take away from Closure?
Scott: Maybe that this was a pure and truthful document of being locked up from the pandemic and what that was like for me. It caused great reflection and so as a result songs like "For What It's Worth" and "Closure" were love letters to The Exies and that time. But we all must move on and it's painful sometimes to let go of the things you love the most in order to do that.
Did you face any challenges while creating Closure?
Scott: Yes. Everything was harder when I decided to do it for real. Life was harder, sleep was harder, and thought was harder. I hadn't done anything for myself in sixteen years, so it wasn't second nature anymore.
What was your favourite moment while making the EP?
Scott: Finishing spirits high. When that was done, I knew we had something. Something real and honest.
Are you planning on doing any live shows this year?
Scott: You never know... Before you go, Scott, do you have anything else you may want to add?
Scott: Thanks for anyone reading this, and for taking time out of your life to listen to the journey that was Closure. I hope you find yourself in it somewhere.
Read our review of The Exie's new EP, Closure, here.