Review Fix Exclusive: Lotus Crush Frontman Terry McDermott Talks ‘Rabbit Hole’

Review Fix chats with Lotus Crush frontman Terry McDermott, who discusses the band’s new album, “Rabbit Hole,” as well as their new single, “Hearts and Minds.” A former contestant on the voice, McDermott is now stranger to the music industry, McDermott discusses his future with the band as well as their collective creative process.

Review Fix: How did it feel to have Yahoo debut “Hearts and Minds”?

Terry McDermott: Myself and writing partner were walking through the doors of Yahoo Music’s offices when my solo single Pictures went to number 1 on the iTunes Rock Chart last year. We then played an acoustic show for them and went for a celebratory pint. Lindsey Parker and the Yahoo team have been nothing but supportive since and it’s an honour to have them debut this new chapter for Lotus Crush. They debuted my “HI Steppin” video for Terry McDermott And The Bonfires too, so they’ve got nothing but love and appreciation from me.

Review Fix: You guys have a very supportive fan base. How did they play a part in the creation of this album?

McDermott: My fan base has been almost militant since I walked off The Voice stage for the first time. They’ve stuck with me. They’ve shown belief in what I’m doing and I wholeheartedly believe that their passion has made me feel even stronger about making this record. Sometimes you feel like you’re writing in a vacuum but knowing they’re waiting for what myself, Peter Klett and Todd Burman have written spurs us on.

Review Fix: How do you believe your time on The Voice has helped you develop your sound?

McDermott: I was in bands, touring the world and on major labels long before The Voice, so I think I was already pretty confident about who I am musically and artistically. I think what the show did, was perform some CPR on my heart and mind (pun intended) and give me back my passion and clarity for the profession I love so much. For that I will be forever be grateful.

Review Fix: How was “Hearts and Minds” written?

McDermott: Hearts And Minds was written like most of this album. In a whirlwind. We had demoed tracks for a 2nd Lotus Crush record 3 years ago and when Todd Burman came in as producer he pretty much said “this isn’t good enough, you can do better” and we wrote and created at a break-neck speed. I was antsy and very hungry to write a full record for the first time in a long time. I’d focused on singles and an EP solo and with Terry McDermott And The Bonfires and I knew intimately the demands of a full record in both time and emotion from making Driveblind’s album over 2 years in ‘04 to’ 06 so I was ready to take a deep breath and really open my head. Hearts And Minds has all the angst and vitriol of beginning that. It hisses as much as it screams.

Review Fix: What other songs have interesting stories behind them?

McDermott: “All The Same” is shaping up to be special and its very honest and close to me. I was watching someone I love, someone that had been my rock in difficult times, slide into their own despair and it hurt deeply. I was looking at people differently. Seeing people on a plane or walking past me and imagining how vast their life, their pain and joy must be. We’re all in it together in that respect and it made me want to write about it. “Heavens Hell” touches on a vein that runs through the record; the mess we have let our world get in to. That we’re on our own in trying to fix it. It’s the uncomfortable truth about what the human race is becoming. It feels like we edge towards the dystopian future that I heard in Pink Floyd songs or in the words of Aldus Huxley or Ray Bradbury. I feel somewhere between pissed off and terrified and I think it people will enjoy the universe we’re putting on this record.

Review Fix: What  makes this album special?

McDermott: What makes this record special is bottled lighting. I use that expression to describe the difference between hearing something come off the sound desk that is really good, and something that feels like a moment captured, something special. I think I’m hearing bottled lightning in these tracks.

Review Fix: How is the band different?

McDermott: When Lotus Crush formed in 2009 it was really just Pete and myself taking fledgling steps writing together. The partnership bore fruit quickly and we developed our first record Half Light Morning, but I think we were still working out who we were as a band. I think now, with Todd Burman who I’ve had such a strong partnership working with on my solo stuff, added to the writing/production team, I think we’re a stronger, deeper band. I feel like we’re at the height of our powers at the moment and that the we’re ready to go craft our live show. Its an exciting time for us and I know now from experience to savor this time. We’re hungry and we’re armed to the teeth.

Review Fix: What do you think you guys have to do to achieve the success you feel you deserve?

McDermott: Aside from the somewhat essential requirement of being good at writing and performing, there is absolutely no substitute for the hard work that is required to really make a band tick and find some success. Whether on the road with 3 hours sleep or in a rehearsal room 10 hours a day. It’s the best job in the world. I never like calling it a job because I don’t know where I begin and my music ends but there’s an inherent lack of security in doing this for a living so you have to be able to roll with the punches and keep your head up if you want to get anywhere. It’s not always easy to say the least. All the guys in Lotus Crush know how hard you have to work.

Review Fix: What’s the band’s creative process like?

McDermott: Myself and Pete wrote the whole first record, but we’re a little unique in that Todd is our silent member now. I love writing with Pete and Todd but there’s a lot of work going on individually when we’re not in a room together putting our ideas on the table. Its frustrating to be around me sometimes I’m sure cause people think I drift off while they’re talking to me but I’m writing in my head. I never stop writing melodies and lyrics and I know Pete and Todd are the same with the music which I love. Then Scott Mercado lays some magic on the drums and we’ve got a song going. We all have great respect for what we’re each bringing to the party and there’s an honesty (sometimes brutal) which keeps us on the right track and keeps our quality control high. On this record we’ve got some other people chipping in with performances which really put the icing on the cake. It’s such a rewarding experience to be part of this team.

Review Fix: How do you want this album to be remembered?

McDermott: I want this album to be remembered as fantastic! Ha! When you set out to make a record I believe you should start with the idea that you’re going to try and make something incredible. I think if you put your blood sweat and tears in to a record for months on end you want it to be appreciated and think that’s natural. I’m already beyond excited about this record and I think we all want people to hear what we hear. To feel a little of what we’re feeling.