Following the feature on the Progotronics XLI compilation, we are set to explore the creative journey and musical vision of Don Scherr, the talented vocalist and guitarist behind Amskray, an American progressive indie rock band from New Jersey. Formed in 2023, Amskray comprises Scherr on vocals and guitar, Jake Hughes on keyboards, Brendan Lee on bass, and Chase Schutter on drums. Their debut album, “Die Happy,” recently hit the shelves on April 5, 2024. Let’s explore the making of “Die Happy” and the intriguing world of Amskray with Don Scherr.
Amskray was formed in 2023, and the debut album “Die Happy” set for release on April 5, 2024. Can you share the story behind the band’s formation and how the members came together to create Amskray?
D: Jake, Brendan and I grew up in the same town. The 3 of us all became friends around 2002 at like 13/14 years old, started playing music and originally had another drummer. That version sort of dissipated early on and then around 2017, Jake and I started revisiting some of the material we had written and sharing new ideas. Then I met our drummer Chase, who heard the stuff we were working on and was like “we HAVE to make this record” so he became sort of the missing link and we were able to get Brendan back on bass and so we hit the ground back at zero last year when we put our first single out. So truthfully, the band has been around since like 2007.
What inspired the title, and how does it encapsulate the themes and emotions explored in the album?
D: The title came about in a conversation between Jake and I. Basically the idea was, if we can make this record, we can die happy. So that became the title. One of the core themes on the record is living life to its fullest. The title is about living and what you do with your time here. We’ve unfortunately lost a lot of friends to things like suicide and drug overdose and a big part of the message we’re trying to convey through the lyrics is that there is always something to live for.
The album features guest musicians, including Yuma Uesaka on saxophone, Joe Gullace on trumpet, Ben Karas on violin, Eric Law on cello, Yuka Tadano on upright bass, Pravin Thompson on guitar, and Chris Paprota on drums. How did these collaborations come about, and how did they contribute to the overall sound and vision of “Die Happy”?
D: It was always a vision of mine to have a record that features all our talented music friends. Somebody once told me that the most important thing is to “create music you want to listen to” and I love all kinds of music and instruments and we know a bunch of super talented people. The tracking all took place around 2020 during the pandemic too so a lot of those collabs were done at home. Having those real elements and performances on the record was very important to me and the end result is better than what I imagined.
With a diverse range of instruments and guest musicians, how do you navigate the creative process to ensure a cohesive and balanced sound for the album?
D: We worked on this record for almost 7 years. There was always a push to make things better. I owe a lot of credit to Jake, who came up with most of the arrangements for the extra instruments. I also think our band dynamic works really well towards a cohesive sound. Each one of us is really just big music and album geek and after we all put our own elements in we’re like, “what else could this use?”
Can you delve into the songwriting process for “Die Happy” and how the collaborative efforts of the band members played a role in shaping the musical landscape of the album?
D: A lot of it started with me writing stuff on the guitar. Jake and I would send MIDI demos back and forth for a number of years before the songs felt complete. We had a completed version of the record with MIDI drums that we almost released, but luckily Chase came in and completely leveled up everything we had in place. Everyone brings a very unique approach to their instrument and I think that’s what makes this group so special.
Being a band within the progressive/indie rock sphere, what elements or influences do you believe set Amskray apart from other bands in the genre, and how do you approach creating a unique sonic identity?
D: It’s funny because I think originally we had set out to sound just like The Mars Volta, but now I don’t think that would be possible for us. We have such a deep range of influences and artists we aspire to. I think a big part of our sound comes from not wanting to fit into a single box. Are we prog rock? Indie? I sure don’t know, but I love the music we make and can’t wait to continue pushing our own boundaries.
The release of “Die Happy” is a significant milestone for the band. How has the journey been leading up to this point, and what challenges or triumphs have you encountered along the way?
D: The journey has been tough. There have been a lot of ups and downs in our history as a group and on an individual level. I think the most significant thing though is after almost 15 years apart we managed to come back together as a group and put out a record. Every day is a triumph.
As a relatively new band, what aspirations and goals do you have for Amskray’s future, both in terms of musical exploration and your presence in the music industry?
D: One of our core goals is to always keep challenging ourselves to try new things, new sounds, explore different genres and just keep making music we enjoy. The idea of falling into a single genre terrifies me.
Right now we’re working on some new material and one tune is what I guess sounds like an electronic pop song, but it works and I think the 4 of us collectively have a drive to keep things interesting.
How does the New Jersey music scene influence Amskray’s sound and identity, and what role do you see the band playing in the local music community?
D: I think of NJ as a “rock” centric state – Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen… but to be honest, we never really identified with those artists or sounds. There is a local independent label (Choke Artist) that is doing a lot of great things for the scene however and that is very exciting to us. There are a ton of great bands in NJ right now. It’s hard to think of what our role in the local scene would be. I just want to get our music to anyone who likes it and play a ton of shows.
Can you highlight any specific tracks from “Die Happy” that hold special significance for the band or have unique stories behind their creation?
D: “Vice Versa” is a song I wrote back in our original lineup and it’s amazing to me how a song I wrote when I was so young still excites me and I want to play it. The title track “Die Happy” is also very important to me. My mom died when I was 13 and it’s always been a big subject for me and I originally wrote the lyrics with her in mind. Then as the album progressed and everything came together, the song just really sort of encapsulates the whole message of the record in just a few simple lyrics.
In terms of live performances, do you have plans for a tour or any upcoming shows to support the release of “Die Happy”? How does the band approach translating the complexity of the album into a live setting?
D: We are trying to link with other local bands and do a tour asap.
We are hosting an album release party April 7th in Brooklyn NY. It will actually be the first time we’ll be performing these songs with other instrumentalists, so we’ll have the horns and strings from the album. We’re also doing some surprise giveaways and other exciting things and will be joined by our good friends and artists RONI and Vethaken.
Check out “Die Happy” on Bandcamp here, and follow Amskray on Instagram.
