Crossed Keys Frontman Josh Alvarez Talks About New Single "Victim Complex," Upcoming Album, Philly's The Trocadero & Why Crossed Keys Believes In You (The Witzard Interview)
Just this past weekend, a buddy and I trekked into Philly from South Jersey for a... "Sunday Matinee" Punk/Hardcore show in a church basement! It was all organized by Joe "Hardcore" McKay and featured a stellar line-up of Gorilla Biscuits, KILL YOUR IDOLS, Raw Brigade, Combust, DEAD LAST, and HARD TURF all performing at the legendary First Unitarian Church. We were most excited to see DEAD LAST (Jon Gusman & Jon Scanlon's new band,) Philly's own HARD TURF, KILL YOUR IDOLS, and, of course, Gorilla Biscuits, but we thoroughly enjoyed the two middle bands, as well.
Now, mid-day openers HARD TURF is made up of Philly's finest, Joshua "Josh" Alvarez, Scott Emhoff, Jason "J." Shigeru Swisher, and ever-elusive members known only as "Wardog" & "P.M.S." Amongst them, HARD TURF's five members have collectively spent time playing with The Boils, Brother's Keeper, Crossed Keys, Halo of Snakes, Hey Angel, Only Glory, Right Start, Solarized, and Thunder & Glory. So, this is all a very long-winded, round-about way of introducing an interview with HARD TURF's own Joshua Alvarez's other band, Crossed Keys. Now, Crossed Keys is a bit more Melodic Punk/Rock-based when compared against the Hardcore stylings of HARD TURF.
Crossed Keys consists of Alvarez, Dave Adoff, Dr. Beau Brendley, Dave Wagenschutz, and Andrew Wellbrock. Amongst them, Crossed Keys' members have spent their years making music with The Curse, Good Riddance, Ink & Dagger, Kill The Man Who Questions, Lifetime, Paint It Black, R.A.M.B.O., Step Ahead, and Zolof The Rock & Roll Destroyer. Crossed Keys formed around 2016, has since released two sets of demos and two proper EP's, and played shows across The Northeast with the likes of BE WELL, Dave Hause & The Mermaid, H2O, Good Riddance, The Lillingtons, Shades Apart, and Strike Anywhere. Crossed Keys is currently gearing up to soon release their hotly-anticipated full-length debut, Believes In You, on Dead Satellite Records, Sell The Heart Records, and Creep Records.
We recently spoke with Josh Alvarez (whom we met in-person on Sunday, too!) via email, about Crossed Keys' Believes In You, their latest single, "Victim Complex," the now-defunct Trocadero Theatre, and what's to come next for (t)his band. Alvarez alone has, at one point or another, made, released, or played music with (in addition to Crossed Keys & HARD TURF) Aspect Ratio, Belegost, Great Hero, Halo of Snakes, Hey Angel, Kochiyama, Only Glory, and Solarized. He also co-hosts a weekly film, art, and culture podcast with Liam O'Donnell called CINEPUNX. The interview below has been lightly edited for general clarity. Crossed Keys' Believes In You is now available for pre-order from either Creep Records, Dead Satellite Records, and/or Sell The Heart Records and will become available to the masses on May 5, 2023.
I. Who are the members of Crossed Keys and where might have listeners heard each previously?
Josh Alvarez: For starters, I'm Josh and I sing. I was in some bands, most of which sound nothing like Crossed Keys. Dave Adoff plays one guitar. He was in a Philly Hardcore band called Step Ahead. He, also, plays in a band called Jackie Thousand. Dr. Beau Brendly plays another guitar. People would know him from bands like Kill The Man Who Questions & The Curse. Andrew Wellbrock plays bass and is our band "wrangler," in -house manager, and spiritual leader. He was in Zolof The Rock & Roll Destroyer. David Wagenschutz plays drums. He was in all of your favorite bands from Lifetime to Good Riddance.
II. When, where, and how was Crossed Keys' new album, Believed In You, recorded?
Alvarez: We tracked all of the instruments at Retro City Studios with Andy Tyler Clarke & Dave Klyman. We tracked all of the vocals with Brian McTernan at Salad Days Studios. The record was, then, mixed by Steve Evetts and mastered by Andy [Tyler Clarke]. All of this happened in late 2022.
III. Also, would you mind briefly explaining a bit about the writing, recording, production, creative, etc. processes behind Believes In You?
Alvarez: This is our third release and we've touched upon a pretty good process when writing, so we stick with that blueprint. The songs come about organically enough at practices and get refined down as we chug along. Sometimes, they come fully-formed from the bundle in the stork's mouth, right out of the sky. Other times, we have [to] add stuff to them; a bit of drama, a touch of melancholy, a handful of confetti, and a friend or two.
IV. What is the significant or meaning behind the album title Believes In You ("Crossed Keys Believes In You" reads great!) and how do these themes run through the album?
Alvarez: Lyrically, this record comes from one of the darkest points in my life. Adrift in a fog of loss and uncertainty, the only thing that I had at my creative disposal was the hope that, if others were struggling with these same feelings, that, maybe, I could help them feel less alone. When people hit a certain age, it feels like we're supposed to have "figured" something out, but what if you still haven't? I don't think there's any shame in continuing the quest as we age and with this record, I wanted to encourage people to stay the course and to let them know that we believe in them.
V. Aside from or in addition to yourself and your fellow members of Crossed Keys, who else was instrumental in the creative processes behind bringing Believes In You to life?
Alvarez: There were a lot of hands in making this record. In addition to all of the engineers I listed, whose talents documented our efforts, this record would not exist, if not for the heroic efforts and steadfast tenacity of Dave Adoff & Andrew Wellbrock. Dave started a record label, Dead Satellite Records, to release the record on our own terms, in collaboration with [Sell] The Heart Records in California and Creep Records right here in Philadelphia. Andrew is affectionately known as "Band Dad" and is a very impressive human; likely the only person capable of wrangling all of us together and getting us to focus up, so that we could get this whole record off of the ground and finished. Both Dave & Andrew are the reason why Crossed Keys hasn't gone down in spectacular flames, despite all of the knocks that came with putting this record out and I admire them both very much.
VI. Why did you choose to release "Victim Complex" (recently premiered at NO ECHO) as the album's first single and what is tyw significance behind its lyrical content?
Alvarez: We feel that all of the songs on Believes In You are solid enough to be singles in their own right individually, but "Victim Complex" is the first song on the record and I wanted to say, "THIS IS THE FIRST SONG OFF OF OUR NEW ALBUM!" when we play out, but have that song, also, be the first single. It's a song about accountability in an age when people who hurt other people can control the narrative in their favor.
VII. Can you, please, tell us a little bit about the story behind the Believes In You album cover? Is that the now-defunct and, hopefully, soon to be revitalized Trocadero Theatre (often, affectionately known as "The Troc") pictured from right in Philly?!!!??!
Alvarez: Yeah, the art and layout was done by my long-time friend and collaborator, Justin Gray (@burn.to.build.) The Trocadero played an instrumental part in all of our collective lives. From going to shows there during our formative years to some of us working there over the years. It's in the DNA of who we are as people and Philadelphians.
VIII. Now that pre-orders are live, when can eager fans go to purchase Believes In You online and what are the various formats/packages in which it's currently available?
Alvarez: Pre-orders can be purchased at Dead Satellite Records, Creep Records, and Sell The Heart Records.
IX. Who or what would you readily cite as some of your greatest sources of personal inspiration and influence while making Believes In You?
Alvarez: My pal, Nick, once told me that he "wants to be the worst person in the room at all times" because that means that he has something to learn from everyone. I think about that a lot.
X. How would you personally say Crossed Keys' overall sound, musical approach, style, etc. has changed, progressed, and evolved since your 2019 debut EP, SAVIORS, on HellMinded Records?
Alvarez: Well, it's definitely a progression since SAVIORS; we've been through the looking glass of [The] Pandemic and all of the ennui and struggle of that time is in every word of this record. It's a document of resilience from an unprecedented time in the world and we couldn't have written it before now.
XI. What's planned next for Crossed Keys?
Alvarez: Play as many shows as we can and, hopefully, sell some records.
XII. In addition to or aside from Crossed Keys' recent activity, is there anything else you would like to mention or announce within this space regarding any of your other non-Crossed Keys bands and/or projects?
Alvarez: No, I just want you to know that, truly, we believe in you.