Review Fix Exclusive: Quor Talks ‘Human Paradigm’

Review Fix chats with Brian Corn, Doug Smith, John Michael Cordes of “Quor,” who discuss their new LP, “Human Paradigm,” as well their goals for the future, as well as the inspiration behind their sound.

Review Fix: How did the band get together?

Brian Corn: Doug and I had been sitting at a large arena concert together after a co-project had ended. We took a moment away from the show to high five and cheers to the fact that we would play music together as long the universe would allow. That fateful understanding and respect created the most productive project I have had the honor of being a part of.

Review Fix: What acts inspire you guys?

Corn: Everything from Michael Jackson to outlaw country to extreme metal to Bob Marley reggae.

Doug Smith: Killswitch Engage’s live show is one of the most fun metal and rock shows I’ve ever seen. Those dudes did not come to make friends… They came to party. Nothing More and Lamb of God are both epic live shows as well.

Review Fix: Are there any songs you love, but are ashamed to admit?

Smith: It’s hard to be ashamed of something that is so subjective. Also, I lost most of dignity while serving in the US Navy for 10 years so it’s hard to be ashamed of anything really….. this is a tough one. I would want everyone in the world to know that my first CD I ever bought when I was 8 or so was Mariah Carey’s Music Box. I’m not really ashamed though. Have you heard that chick’s voice? not to mention she’s pretty fly. -Smitty

Review Fix: What do you think makes you special?

Corn: There has always been competition in creating art, or better stated, there has always been a challenge to bring your art out of the noise and sheer magnitude of works created and being created in the world. Music and art is in all of us. I think what makes us different is an understanding that it’s unnatural to assume people only like one style or only have one “favorite band”. This idea is ludicrous and invites bitterness and unnecessary competition between artists. We don’t set out to write QUOR songs to sound like any given style or artist. It has given our music a distinctive flavor for sure. The songs are created without regard for trends and industry. Plus we are kind of weird in general and that always plays a role standing out from a crowd.

Smith: If someone in the music world thinks of other bands and artists as competition, they are severely mis-influenced, mis-educated, and clearly are doing it for the wrong reasons. There is no competition in art. We don’t compete with our brothers and sisters that are in the trenches alongside us. We are all in the same fight together. Delivering art through music and media to the masses. QUOR thinks differently. We go against the grain. When the other fish are being lured downstream in a school to the edge of the waterfall, the sacred QUOR fish is swimming upstream unifying it’s brother and sister fish to swim together to the nice, warm, and calm tide pool.

John Michael Cordes: ”The lack of accepting mediocrity and or the status quo.”

Review Fix: What song is the standout on this album, how was it written?

Corn: Shit. That’s something we have been discussing and we have not found a conclusive standout at the moment.

Review Fix: What song do you think people may skip on originally, before it grows on them, why?

Corn: I think Silence and the Spark might fit that bill for some. It’s the heaviest song on the record and has some odd time signature relationships. There are some sections in that song that simultaneously blend time signatures. The simple vs. complex nature to that song does actually encourage the melody to stick in your head.

Review Fix: How do you want this album to affect people?

Corn: I hope it breaks up the polarizing nature of genre identification.

Smith: I want Human Paradigm to change the way people think and feel about heavy music. I want to convert as many non rock n rollers to rock n roll as possible. I want people to feel what we felt when we wrote these songs and feel when we play them. Lastly, and most importantly, I want our listeners to do good onto others when they check back into reality after listening to our record.

Review Fix: Bottom line, why should someone pick up this record?

Corn: Bottom line is, it’s a great compilation of tracks. We wanted a record that made it difficult to pick a favorite song and in my bias and humble opinion we accomplished this.

Smith: If you sit and really listen to it, stop, put your headphones on while sitting in an easy chair, park your car, or turn up that home sound system when you have 35 minutes to burn and listen to it. I may just change your life. It has changed my life and a few people that surround me.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Corn: We’ll be on tour in the States and Europe throughout next year. And, hell, we’re already writing for the next record.