Planet Loud caught up to hard rock stars Candlebox before their show in New York recently. Found out what they had to say below.

Planet Loud – Can we talk about the recording process, do you have a set structure when you go into the recording studio? Or do you throw around ideas until something sticks?
Candlebox – Well we predominately spend about a year recording and writing, it’s weird with the first record (self titled) we spent about two years writing it and playing around town. Lucy we wrote in the studio, we made a concious effort to make a right hand turn when we made that record. Happy Pills was a record that we wrote around a song concept and we worked with Ron Nevison (who has worked with both Led Zeppelin and the Who) to produce something that was slicker and more polished for us. This record (Into the Sun) was something that we knew we had to *pauses to think* essentially we decided if we’re going to comeback we’re going to have to come back really strong and we knew that we had to work with a producer that understood our envelope and hard we could push it. So this album was recorded over two years, we threw away a lot of stuff, three songs were written in the studio. We don’t really have a structure, other than show up, set up and just jam. Like the intro to Breathe Me In wasn’t actually something we rehearsed, our engineer just happened to be rolling tape while we were jamming and recorded that.

Planet Loud – So that song intro came very organically while the band was jamming?
Candlebox – Yes exactly, that’s why it starts out the way it does. Ron was like, we got a whole intro to a song here, so we pieced it together with Breathe Me In that’s why it’s called Breathe Me Intro. That just happened by chance, and that’s kinda how we work we just jam, it’s very organic.

Planet Loud – Ten years inbetween albums, it’s great to see you guys back.
Candlebox – Thank you

Planet Loud – How did getting the band back together come to fruition? Did you communicate in that ten years with the other guys?
Candlebox – Actually there was a logistics problem between 2000 and 2005 with Maverick records, once that was solved Rhino chose to put out the best of Candlebox.

Planet Loud – So you had contractual obligations with Maverick?
Candlebox – Once the contract was resolved and done with Maverick then Rhino who is part of the Warner catalogue can put out a best of. So that’s when we said they’re putting out this best of, it’s the perfect time for us to go back on the road. I called Pete and said, “Hey ya know this best of is coming out?” and he said “No I didn’t”, and I said “Well we need to figure out a track listing”. I said, I’m coming home for Christmas. I live in LA and he lives in Seattle, all of my immediate family still lives in Seattle. I said well lets get together over a cup of coffee and we’ll figure it out, in the process of sorting out a track listing Pete told me he had chatted with Bardi and Scott and everyone was free, you wanna maybe go out and tour again on this best of thing? Pete was really the catalyst behind putting the whole thing back together.

Planet Loud – What were you doing in LA during this time, did you keep active making music?
Candlebox – I had a side project, I was writing for other people, I was producing bands. My side project was called the High Watch. I started a record label and toured a bit. Went to Europe with Seether, just did what I do ya know, kept myself busy.

Planet Loud – Lyrically where do you pull your inspiration from? Is it maybe a specific movie you’ve seen or a life event that’s had a profound effect on you?
Candlebox – Exactly, like Miss You is a song that I wrote about my father, Into the Sun is about that sexual desire for your partner or whoever it may be in your life. I was inspired by something that happened the night before with my wife and I came to the studio and I wrote that song about our experience.

Planet Loud – That’s amazing, do you have kids?
Candlebox – I do.

Planet Loud – How many?
Candlebox – One, a 10 month old son.

Planet Loud – Dude congrats!
Candlebox – It’s fucking rad!

Planet Loud – Dude, I know I’ve got two myself, a 5 year old little girl and a 14 month old boy. It’s phenomenal, they’re the loves of my life.
Candlebox – I’m watching my son grow everyday, it’s absolutely amazing. It’s tough being on the road, I miss him, I have to iChat with him every night, I tell him a story and sing him to bed.

Planet Loud – So give me a few road essentials.
Candlebox – I need Windex.

Planet Loud – Really? Why? No iPod or Laptop? Your creature comfort is Windex?
Candlebox – *laughing* I like to clean and if I feel like I’m being a bit overwhelmed I’ll go clean.

Planet Loud – That mellows you out bro?
Candlebox – It clears my mind. I stop thinking about what I’m stressing over.

Planet Loud – Cool…Was there talk about doing a video for Miss You? Do you think videos are worth it nowadays, aren’t they more or less obsolete?
Candlebox – Unless your Beyonce or Kid Rock, what’s the point. They’re a waste of money, people are just going to go watch you live on youtube anyway. We planned on filming in NY @ Irving Plaza, essentially filming the whole show and we may end up making a live video for Miss You out of that footage.

Planet Loud – Excellent, we’ll look for that in the new year. Thanks for taking time out your schedule to chat with us…
Candlebox – No problem, thank you for all the support!

Interview by Scott Stewart