Had a little chat with Bobby Mansfield from the aspiring band, The Drip.
Red Light Grind:
Hey Bobby how are you today, if I'm not mistaken you play guitar right?
Bobby Mansfield:
Yes sir, Main guitarist of The Drip
RLG:
How did The Drip get it's start?
Bobby:
It was mid 07' and there was lots of bands doing: tech death, hardcore, ,metalcore, we felt lack of grind around our scene was no longer tolerable, so we gathered members from other locals MORTAL REMAINS, and started writing tunes, many years and lineup changes later , with more refined sound, we are still keeping up the fight for grind!!!
RLG:
Unlike many of the bands I interview The Drip has more than 1 or 2 people. How's it like working with a full line up? Do you guys get a long pretty well?
Bobby:
Yeah, we're just dudes writing music for the joy of writing music, no bullshit involved we do this for ourselves, We're all good friends, who get along pretty well, there is ups and downs but that comes with any situation being around someone for long periods of time.
RLG:
You guys have a demo/ep out i'm not sure what to call it, but it's pretty sick! It has good production and well of course music. How was it writing and recording this demo ?
Bobby:
Yes, our self titled EP, released in March of 2010, all of those songs were written after a lineup change, it's kinda the prelude to our current sound, Our friend Matt Speck of Speck Studio(Boise, ID) recorded it, we tracked everything live except for the vocals. He's the man when it comes to metal.
RLG:
What exactly is a "yuppie" , from your track "Fuck Yuppie Scum"?
Bobby:
Rich people haha.
RLG:
I try to stay away from the "influence" question cause of course everyone is influenced by another form of music. But does The Drip have any main influence or anything that actually affects your writing process?
Bobby:
We are influenced by tons of bands, if you were to pinpoint, NASUM, ROTTTEN SOUND, NAPALM DEATH, and INSECT WARFARE, have a tremendous affect on our writing, they play the grind we love, and helps us by proving that there is still room to grow in grindcore. We're constantly pushing our songwriting forward, trying new things, and working out the kinks, it doesnt matter as long as its fast and loud.
RLG:
You play live, from what it looks like quite a bit. How are your live shows? Do you put on an adrenaline pumped show? Do you pull in a lot of people?
Bobby:
Live is the best, we write our songs with the intention of playing live, thats where grindcore shines, not through a ipod, buy played at high decibels loud and in front of you. We like to put on a entertaining show, no one likes watching a band that just stands there sterile, and boring.
RLG:
You're currently writing a full length, could you shed some light on that?
Bobby:
YES, we are in preproduction right now finishing up the last songs for the record, everything is coming together nicely, our new material picks up where the EP left off, but in a darker, more aggresive direction. Its been 3 years and we have alot of new stuff we are ready to lay down. once again handling engineering, and production will be our friend Matt Speck. look for a March release on Scrotum Jus Records!!!
RLG:
Are you currently signed to Scrotum Jus Records or will they just be releasing this?
Bobby:
Technically they are just releasing the album, but we will see how things work out.
RLG:
You released the demo through Torn Flesh Records, which is where I found it like many other awesome albums. Was this the only way you released the demo? How has the response been from the release, it has been a year.
Bobby:
We just recently let them put our album up for D/L we self released it in 2010, physical copies are also available, the response has been awesome, the EP was a step ahead for us in terms of music, we stepped up our game and was our first "professionally" recorded release.
RLG:
What type of guitar gear do you use and prefer?
Bobby:
Right now I run a Peavey 6505+ fullstack w/ 2 Marshall 1960 cabinets. I choose to not use any processors or noise gates. Just Recently I added a Boss HM-2 pedal I scored off Ebay, really changed our sound for the better, and helps set us aside from the sea of bands using my exact setup.
RLG:
The Drip is rising fast and has an immaculate sound which accounts for the factor. Where do you see The Drip in 5 years, or where would you like to see it in 5?
Bobby:
Keeping up the fight for grindcore, touring and continuing what we do best
RLG:
What does Bobby like to do after a hard days work for The Drip?
Bobby:
Living in Wasteland(Richland) WA, theres not much to do other than drink beer and jam, I like outdoor activities, as long as they involve booze haha.
RLG:
Any good bands you've been into recently?
Bobby:
OH YEAH!, theres Afgrund, Entrails, Black Breath, EYEHATEGOD, RED FANG, of course NASUM, ROTTEN SOUND. and many others.
RLG:
Would you guys like to tour anywhere? Or play any specific fests?
Bobby:
We are planning touring throughout the year, and a few fests we are not at liberty to say we are part of yet. But the US will be grinded this summer.
RLG:
Well I'm stumped on questions so without further to do, do you have any last words Bobby?
Bobby:
Play Fast, Play Loud, Stay Grind!!!
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Interview has not been changed except for a few grammatical corrections.
Pictures are used for promotional purposes only, I do not own the rights to any of them.
