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THE PROCESS: Weapons of Mass
Percussion Newest CD Release Marks Continued Evolution from One of
Mid-Michigan's Most Prolific Bands
By Lauren Davis ![]() 'The Process: Gabe Gonzalez, Bill Heffelfinger, David Asher, Garrick Owen. Photo are by 'Gotts' If you asked founding member David Asher of "The Process" how he would sum up the last 15 years, he would likely tell you it's been a great ride. He would also immediately remind you that it's just getting started.
With a hard-hitting mix of rock, rhythm,
techno, and dubbing, the band is preparing to release its seventh
self-produced album to fans that have come to expect the unexpected.
There is an old saying that a person's
perception is often their reality. With "Weapons of Mass
Percussion",
The Process challenges the
perception. It's an eye-opening trip through the status quo that
draws attention to the way we view our society, our potential for
ignorance, and our subjective sense of bliss.
This is not a project bent on swaying
opinion. Rather, "Weapons of Mass Percussion" is a
testament to a musician's ability to call traditional thinking and norms
into question. In a politically correct world, The Process is not even
close to fitting inŠand they wouldn't have it any other way.
My first encounter with the new CD is the
title track; A dub mix of sound bytes from our favorite government
misfits. It's akin to a smack in the face with the blatantly obvious.
Both astute and amusing, the montage of political rhetoric falls right
into the adept hands of the musicians crafting the backbeat. Its
defining quality is not just its willingness to "go there", but to do so
with a wink and a nod at the ridiculousness that often befalls the
empowered.
If it seems to the average individual
that stringing together a bunch of soundbytes into a powerful musical
arrangement is taking some shortcuts, consider the thought behind it:
What you hear is an audio snapshot of all of the things we are either too overwhelmed to contemplate, or too disgusted with to challenge. "Weapons.." manages to make its point without driving it too far over the top. Because he considers it a far less "mainstream" piece of work, David Asher describes this album as a "departure" from traditional Process releases.
I call it an evolution.
In today's entertainment world, it's not
easy to be a do-it-yourselfer. But Asher describes the challenges of
being a self produced band in a corporate musical environment with some
degree of nonchalance. The Process has done it for fifteen years, and,
he says, it never gets easier. "It's like going to battle. We have to
push, and promote, and produce, and do all of those things that we did
when we first started out. We face a lot of challenges every time we put
something out there. But we believe in ourselves, and having friends and
fans (who) support and believe in us really helps".
As one would anticipate, the fan base has
changed over the years without the help of corporate entities, thank you
very much. When asked if outlets like
www.reviewthisradio.com,
and the underground music scene, in general, have helped to develop the
band, Asher answers before I finish the question.
"The fan base? It's broadening across
all demos. The explosion in the underground music scene,
especially on the Internet, has helped a lot. I mean, I'm
recording songs that have been around since the time of King David. I'm
really just a conduit for what's really out there. But I get letters and
e-mails from Japan, Europe, South AmericaŠall over the world. It's
amazing!"
Would a band like The Process
ever really acclimate to a corporate label? Asher doesn't think so.
"Corporate Support is great when corporate actually supports you. But
most of the time, what they do is support you for a time, and then hand
you a bill after it's all over (or when they determine you're done) for
'talent development'. We just want to keep creating."
Though The Process has the
support of talented studio producers like Gee Pierce, and some
quality promotional people with whom they work closely, the band still
maintains control over their product. They have also managed to keep
ownership of their library: Something even the most successful artists
have regretted signing away.
Retaining creative control has given
The Process a certain level of freedom to explore more drastic
changes in their musical approach. David Asher excitedly tells me about
how, four years ago, adding a new drummer with strong African influence
led them to explore other avenues.
He describes it as a major turning point.
Following their sixth release, "Blood & Bones", The
Process immediately began working on the new project. "We never
left the studio," he says. "We've done re-mixes on various tracks that
are so different they're essentially like new. Our new drummer
gives different techno vibes, rich rhythms, and a very real, new
feel to everything. It's a lot of fun!"
Though wildly popular overseas, dub music
is still taking root in the states. So how do you define it, exactly?
"It's the influence of turning music
around using what's out there in new technology. It got more creative by
taking western rock instruments to make African music." Though as the
genre expands, admits Asher, " It's become more bionic and
technological."
For that very reason, the techno approach
sometimes has more traditional musicians struggling with the age-old
battle of craftsmanship vs. technology. How does a band like The
Process answer critics who view a synthesized/dubbed product as,
while certainly creative, not necessarily musical in nature?
It's a tough question, but he takes it in
stride. "I would point out that my guitar player, for example, is a
highly skilled musician featured in many industry mags, and widely
viewed as one of the best. I have a drummer who can play circles around
any rhythm you throw at him. My whole bandŠThese are quality players.
And they find plenty of ways to express themselves in what we do".
But of the musical merit, itself? "I
understand the question" he says honestly, "But you have to embrace the
new technology, and move forward with it. It's part of the creative
process. For example, The Beatles heard a synth and
immediately put it to work for them." Taking the technology to new
heights, explains Asher, "Šis what makes music evolve."
Still, he seems to appreciate the value
of more traditional timbres. "We try to bring a warmth and an organic
feel to what is a fairly cold, technological arena. To juxtapose that is
a great challenge. You know, it's a tough balancing act being true to
yourself, and being something marketable. A good man once said 'By what
do you measure your success? Becoming a flash in the pan, hoping for
more? Or is it the ability to keep pushing and creating?' We're out
there pushing, for better or worse, and it's really what it's all about.
As long as we can keep doing it and be true to the effort, we're good
with that."
In the decade and a half it's been making
music, The Process has seen his share of challenges,
frustrations, and successes. I ask David, "If something were to happen
tomorrow, and "Weapons of Mass Percussion" were to be the
final word from the band, what would the overall message have been?"
"It's all peace." He says. "And it's okay
to be a warrior for peace." He brightens as he adds, "I see the future
though, and after seven albums, it's still forward to the best of our
abilities."
"Is there anything you would have done differently?" I ask.
The question seems to catch him
off-guard. After a long moment, he answers, and I can hear him smile
through the phone. The response is slow, and somewhat introspective.
"What would I do differently?" He muses.
"Nothin'. Not a thing. I'm
doing the same thing (taking the same approach) as I did back then. I've
just become a little better at it."
Another long pause and then:
"...Rastafari flows like a river. After
fifteen years? It's a soul refresher now."
The Process will be at Shooters headlining the annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash and releasing their new CD, Weapons of Mass Percussion on Saturday, February 25th, and is a featured artist on Review This Radio Dot Com. ![]() |
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