It’s been nearly seven years since The Scissors released new music and today, we’re premiering the first single off their upcoming EP. The song is called “Jet Black” and the EP is titled Eulogize. We spoke with singer/guitarist Darren Vorel and talked about why he chose to revive the band and where the inspiration for this EP came from. He explained, “When we parted ways in 2012, I was definitely finished creating songs and performing as The Scissors. We spent so much time recrafting the sound and direction with another vocalist in the lead role. To go forward with another change like that would mean going backwards to me. I think we confused enough of our audience changing it up the first time, so it was better to leave it where we did.”
However, Vorel’s outlook shifted in early 2018 when his primary band, TLB, was on a break. For some time, he had wanted to make a record that explored grief and how people cope with the passing of a loved one. He said, “Having experienced this myself, I wanted to write a concept album around the stages of grief from the moment it happens to the moment of letting go. I thought hard about how to tell this story. It took about half the year to really flesh it out and tie the songs together as a complete thought.” Once he was finished, Vorel couldn’t help but recall his former band. He detailed his thought process and said, “When I got the first draft together, something said ‘Scissors’ to me. I didn’t want to tell this story in a direct matter. I wanted it to sound like it could be applied to anyone and I thought of all the old Scissors songs where I would create stories and characters from real experiences. My intention is to allow the audience the opportunity to sit back and digest the subject matter without having to tie it to a narrator.”
Vorel recorded the EP with longtime collaborator Matt Allison at Wonder Studios in Elmhurst, IL. They were able to finish the recording over several weekends in December of last year. When describing their time in the studio, Vorel said “I wanted to track every instrument (besides drums) myself this time. The studio was filled with everything I remembered about making those first records together. Most sessions it was just me and Matt for 12 or more hours and it felt like it always had. Working hard and breaking for some sort of ridiculously unhealthy meal. At the end of the day, we’d sit around for an hour or so and listen to music and talk about the Cubs. Every time we get together and do this, I’m grateful. Recording in a studio with an engineer you trust and connect with is truly one of life’s greatest gifts.”
In terms of “Jet Black,” Vorel indicated that this song falls at the lowest point of the overall story and deals with isolation and not being understood. He explained, “I wanted to have a song express the pain of what it feels like to be left behind and the anxiety and depression that comes with the territory. The push and pull of how to act, feel and move forward. I imagine that where you are in life will dictate how you heal. This experience first happened to me when I was 15, so the story is told from the perspective of a kid coming of age when the event occurs.”
For the release of the EP, several events are currently being planned. Initially, there will be a listening party, followed by a record release show once the vinyl is ready. When asked if this is the final release from The Scissors, Vorel said “I have to answer closer to the side of it being the last record for The Scissors. This EP is about letting go. Recognizing and working through a life experience that has been the cause of great pain, but has also been the catalyst for positive growth. I don’t think it’s right to bury these experiences inside, but I do feel there is a time to leave them in the past. When it’s all over, you can meet the next challenge with a greater awareness of who you are and what you’re capable of.” He continued, “That being said, I’m not one to say ‘never,’ so I suppose another record could happen in the future. I choose to believe that like the story in Eulogize, I can move forward positively and productively in both my art and personal life.”
The EP will be released on August 14th and can be pre-ordered here.
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