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ACIDIC Talks About Music

Their name sprang from a bored band member reading the ingredients on a Coke can – and they haven’t stopped creating art from the ordinary since. Band members, Ted Dubrawski, Mike Thompson, Matt Whitaker and Michael Gossard sat down with WT to share some insights about their music making.

By Amy Sommer  |  December 03, 2009


Mike, Ted, Matt and Mike of ACIDIC
Mike, Ted, Matt and Mike of ACIDIC
Acidic has several local dates lined up –- see their site, www.AcidicBand.com or WT’s Calendar section for details – and is self producing their work at the moment... but will likely secure a label deal in 2010.

TED DUBRAWSKI
WT: When did you know that music was your passion?
Ted: I can't even remember, music has always been in my life. I have always loved just being able to sit in a room and listen to a record start to end. Playing music became a passion of mine when I started working with bands at age 14. Records are great but no album I've ever heard has reached the level of emotion that live shows carry.

WT: What causes the most musical disagreements between the three of you?
Ted: Song rights, by far having to figure out percentage wise who get what.

WT: Do your parents get al
3/4 of ACIDIC
3/4 of ACIDIC
ong with each other? If so, is this a good thing or a bad thing? If not, is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Ted: I'd rather not answer that one.

WT: Who writes most of the lyrics? Music? Do you do so collaboratively?
Ted: Mike does most of the writing, with a few exceptions. Initially Mike would bring in a song, then Matt and I would write the bass and drum parts. So we all put something into each song. Some more than others. "Strata Red" was the first song that I had a large part in writing. Mike had this rolling bass line that you hear in the verses and I had a a surf-inspired progression that became the chorus.


WT:What do you plan to major in at The Music Institute?
I'm going to be certified as a luthier, or guitar craftsman.


MIKE THOMPSON Q&A
WT: When did you know that music wa
ACIDIC with their Mascot, Goldie
ACIDIC with their Mascot, Goldie
s your passion?

When I was leaving my first concert, having my mind blown for the first time.

WT: What causes the most musical disagreements between the four of you?

The most arguments usually come from music arrangements.

WT: Do your parents get along with each other? If so, is this a good thing or a bad thing? If not, is this a good thing or a bad thing?

No. It doesn't really affect me.

WT: Who writes most of the lyrics? Music? Do you do so collaboratively?

Mike will usually bring a song with arrangement in mind, and we'll just play along and till it feels right, then sit down and fine tweak some stuff.


MATT WHITAKER
WT: What do you plan to major in at LMU?
Matt: Right now I am undecided. I started off as a Biology Major but quickly realized that Science and all that stuff was not my forte, music was. So I'm hoping to start the Music Major Here Soon.

WT: How is your health?
Matt: My health is good. I have been done with treatment for cancer for 12 years now and I am in better health. Once every year I get blood drawn to make sure I don't have any traces of cancer and so far it's been all clear.

WT: What advice do you have for other cancer patients?
Matt: Honestly my advice is to never stop trying. I personally don't remember a lot of it because I was so little but what I do remember I know now that I would have wanted to give up because it hurt so much. So all I can say is there is a better life awaiting when you get through all the b-s.

WT: When did you know that music was your passion?
Matt: I have always been the friend in my group of friends who loves music the most. I always showed them new music and I would play piano for fun. But my first passion is drums now. I had a kit when I was little and played it often but then I stopped for a bit and started doing sports. But then randomly one day I started drumming again and since then I have not taken one look back.

WT: What causes the most musical disagreements between the four of you?
Matt: I would have to say style/arrangement. All of us come from different musical backgrounds so we all have certain styles or nuances that we really want to hear and that can sometimes cause a strife in the creative process.

WT: Do your parents get along with each other? If so, is this a good thing or a bad thing? If not, is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Matt: My parents do get along but I think that this is a pretty personal question so all I'm going to say is yes.
WT: Who writes most of the lyrics? Music? Do you do so collaboratively?

Matt: Mike writes most of the songs and lyrics but we are usually always able to add in our two cents about what we feel for the song. It starts off solo but ends up being collective.

MICHAEL GOSSARD
WT: When did you know that music was your passion?
I've been aware that music was something I was passionate about since I've been aware at all. It has been an all-inclusive part of my life and has been the object of my dedication and affection since before I can remember. I picked up a guitar at age three and have never so much as glanced backwards.

WT: What causes the most musical disagreements between the four of you?
Song percentages can cause some personal strife between us, simply because we're close in a familial manner and our comfort level with each other can lead to confrontation.

WT: Do your parents get along with each other? If so, is this a good thing or a bad thing? If not, is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Everything's cool, but I agree with Ted and Matt. I'd rather not discuss it.

WT: Who writes most of the lyrics? Music? Do you do so collaboratively?
So far, I have been responsible for a good majority of all the original material. Not to say that the others don't have input, it's just worked out that way.

WT: What is the best part of being the lead singer? The worst?
The best part of being the lead singer of a band like ACIDIC is obtaining the coalescent feeling of leading both the crowd and the band simultaneously on stage, it is an unparalleled sensation. The worst part? There is no worst part.

WT: Do you plan to go to college?
As of this moment, my plans for college include applying to LMU and Musicians Institute, I intend to earn some sort of degree involving either business and administration or music business, but for now I'm just working hard to maintain my eligibility.

Comments to date: 1. Page 1 of 1. Average Rating:

sandy   santa monica

11:07pm on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 

These guys have great music, my only question is what is the relevance of the question about their parents, kind of out of place in my mind.

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