DED infuses modern day metalcore, punk, hardcore, and rock music to create the unique style they now call home. After which they went on to write and record for their debut full-length album "Mis-An-thrope", where they have already released a number of singles to get noticed as it were. Frontman vocalist Joe Cotela discusses the album, it's singles, touring activity and further plans.
1.What role do you play in the band?
Joe: I'm Joe Cotela, the singer.
2. Why go with a name like Ded? Does it have a special meaning to it?
Joe: It was a name we liked early on and was a working title for a while. It has adopted its own meanings over the years. It's an abbreviation for Dedicated, it's a play on the world Dead, it's just cool.
3. What has influenced your sound and style?
Joe: Everything we've ever heard in our lives. More directly, we researched and studied Early Slipknot, Pantera, Korn, White Zombie, etc. We fused those vibes with modern metalcore, punk, hardcore and rock.
4. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Joe: Generally the themes tend towards about how I hate how shitty humans can be, as well as the things I hate about myself. It’s about understanding how the world is, and then doing something about it to make a positive change.
5. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail, please.)
Joe: David (Ludlow) usually goes into his studio, lays down some riffs and crazy noises, I run checks and balances on it, add my 2 cents on structure and throw my vocals in. I write all of the lyrics and vocals. Usually writing driving around with the music blasting. Then once we met John Feldmann and started working with him in LA, he started contributing riffs, melodies, structure ideas and lyrics with us to help us grow and develop are sound.
6. How do you describe your music to people?
Joe: I usually say "you should listen to it", but it's heavy. We want fans to develop their own ideas on what our music is.
7. You have releases 3 singles off your debut album "Mis-An-thrope": “FMFY”, “Anti-Everything”; and “Dead To Me”. Why were these picked out to be the singles of choice from the album so far?
Joe: We wanted to put out "FMFY" first to let everyone know that our core sound is very heavy. “Anti-Everything” second because it's an obvious single but still one of the heaviest songs on radio right now, then “Dead To Me” because it's so eclectic and weird.
8. Will we be seeing anymore songs be turned or made into singles and or videos off this album?
Joe: I think we would like to release everything in a special way with visuals, but we will see. We’ll be heading in to work with Fred Durst to do a video on our 2nd radio single soon.
9. Your debut album "Mis-An-thrope" will see its release on July 21st. What comes to mind as you get ready to release this first album?
Joe: It's about fucking time! We've been working on this and preparing for what seems like an eternity... We want it out there so everyone can hear it.
10. Did you get the album you wanted? Did you get all the songs you wanted on there? Or were there some things that were just didn’t make the cut?
Joe: There are a few I would've put on there that didn't make it but I'm happy with everything we chose and stand by the album 200%! It's going to surprise a lot of people that think they have us pegged.
11. Does "Mis-An-thrope", have any hidden “Easter eggs” that we should know about?
Joe: Every song is special to me and will be its own surprise to each individual – give it a listen. ;o)
12. How would you say you differ from other bands and artists on the scene?
Joe: Ded is the band that we wanted to hear that we weren't hearing and made it to fulfill our own needs. We don't care is anyone else hates it or not. We made the music we wanted to make, and we’re ready to put it out there, come what may. The early response has been really good, so far.
13. What does the rest of 2017 have in-store for Ded?
Joe: A lot of touring, Serenity of Summer Tour with Korn and Stone Sour, Rock USA, Chicago Open Air, Rise Above Fest, Sonic Boom, Louder Than Life, Houston Open Air, Revolution Festival, High Elevation, Ozzfest/Knotfest etc. More coming this fall, stay tuned.
14. Anything else you want to share with our readers that you haven’t mentioned in other interviews?
Joe: Go follow us on our socials to keep up with all we’re doing, Thank You!
Connect with DED
Connect with Ded
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/dedofficial
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/weareded
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dedofficial
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0EJ8q62CX4O52UjTN2bAEx
iTunes Pre-order link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mis-an-thrope/id1238486219?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Smart URL to all streaming/sales outlets:
http://smarturl.it/misanthrope
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/DEDband
TOUR DATES:
August 9 – Diamondz Events Center – Jerome, ID (KEDJ show)
August 10 – 3rd Wheel – Lewiston, ID (KOZZ show)
August 11 – Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA (KHTQ show)
August 12 – Knitting Factory – Boise, ID (KQXR show)
Ded Festival Appearances (More coming this fall)
7/22 — Rise Above Festival – Bangor, ME
9/9 – Revolution Rock Festival – Foxwoods Resort, CT
9/22 – High Elevation Rock Festival – Denver, CO
9/30 – Louder Than Life -Louisville, KY
10/1 – Sonic Boom – Janesville, WI
10/7 – Rock Allegiance – Camden, NJ
10/15 – Houston Open Air n- Houston, TX
10/22 – Aftershock – Sacramento, CA
11/5 – Ozzfest Meets Knotfest – San Bernadino, CA
1/18/18 - Shiprocked
Ded with Korn, Stone Sour and more
07/19 – Syracuse, N.Y. — Lakeview Amphitheater
07/20 – Mansfield, Mass. — Xfinity Center
07/23 – Hartford, Ct. — Xfinity Theatre
07/25 – Toronto, Ontario — The Molson Amphitheatre
07/26 – Camden, N.J. — BB&T Pavilion
07/27 – Holmdel, N.J. — PNC Bank Arts Center
07/29 – Noblesville, Ind. — Klipsch Music Center
07/30 – Clarkston, Mich. — DTE Energy Music Theatre
08/01 – Cincinnati, Ohio — Riverbend Music Center
08/02 – Cleveland, Ohio — Blossom Music Center
