Walmart, Metal, And Creative Evolution: An Interview with ERRA's JT and JESSE

Interview by Angela Croudace
It's not every day you get to chat with a band while they're deep
in the chaos of tour preparations, but that's exactly what happened
during my interview with ERRA's JT and Jesse Cash. The scene? Jesse
roaming the aisles of a Walmart sorting out some last-minute tour
merch. As Jesse explained, “Our merch guy is burning the midnight
oil, and I had to run and get some things before it was too late.”
Nothing says rock star quite like managing tour logistics while
dodging shopping carts.
Despite the unconventional setting, the conversation quickly
shifted to their latest album, CURE. ERRA’s sixth studio album
marks a significant creative evolution, and both JT and Jesse
discussed how the band's approach has changed over time. While
their past albums often focused on technical precision and complex
structures, CURE introduced a more groove-based, accessible sound.
JT shared, “Every time we sat down to write, we just kept getting
these groovier ideas, and we just kind of stuck with it.” It wasn't
a deliberate shift, but rather a reflection of where the band’s
creativity took them during the writing process.
Jesse, who had been diving into a mix of nihilistic media at the
time, was inspired by the 1997 film Cure by Kyoshi Kurosawa. The
bleakness of the film mirrored the darker, introspective themes in
the album’s lyrics, like “Crawl Backwards Out of Heaven.” However,
Jesse admitted that his bandmate Joseph was less than enthused by
the deep, art-house inspiration. “Joseph doesn’t always have time
for my 'art house bullshit,'" he laughed, citing his bandmate’s
love for Fast & Furious as a source of inspiration for more
straightforward ideas.
Despite the shifts in their sound, the band stays true to its roots
of pushing creative boundaries. When asked how they avoid formulaic
songwriting, Jesse humorously responded, “I just tell JT we can't
write a song that sounds like Veil of Maya,” acknowledging how
self-awareness helps them remain true to their evolving
style.
ERRA's tour is also a family affair, with Silent Planet and Resolve
joining them on the road. Jesse eagerly anticipated the tour
antics, particularly the "fortress of piss bottles" famously built
by Silent Planet’s Garrett Russell. While the rest of us might
cringe at the thought, for ERRA, it’s just another weird tour
memory to laugh about (Yeah Jesse, we hope Garrett never watches
this interview either!).
In the end, whether it’s touring with friends or evolving
creatively, ERRA continues to prove that they’re not afraid to push
the limits of metal music. As they wrap up their interview, Jesse’s
final words offer a fitting end: “We go way back with them,”
speaking not just of Silent Planet, but of the enduring
relationships and creative passion that continue to drive ERRA
forward.


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