Frantic Clam

Frantic Clam, an up-and-coming Austin, Texas band, formed in the Iraq desert amidst a war that front man Zack Hadley endured, only to return home to alcoholism and drug addiction. From that pain, Hadley and Frantic Clam developed a sound all their own with inspirations from artists such as David Bowie and Iggy Pop. The band has gained popularity in the Austin, Texas music scene, and hopes to expand its deeply personal and unique sound across the nation.

Kayla Heinen: How did the idea of the band come about?
Zack Hadley: My friend, Joe Sparks and I were deployed to Iraq together in 2007 during the height of the surge. I had been writing music in one form or another for many years and we collaborated during our free time to kill stress and make the days go by faster. We planned on starting a band when we came home later that winter.

Why the name Frantic Clam?
We were flying 16 hours back from Kuwait to the States and somewhere over the North Atlantic when during an Ambien induced psychosis the name Frantic Clam popped into my head. I woke Joe up and he agreed that it was unique so we stuck with it. It makes finding us in a Google search rather easy.

How have you developed as a band with the release of Anatomica?
Anatomica was our second EP and was written after we returned home. We had the added benefit of playing all the songs live for a few months locally before we recorded it. This gave us the ability to figure out what worked and what didn't. Ultimately, it was a much stronger EP and showcased the band playing together with minimal overdubbing.

What inspires you when you are creating music and lyrics?
Most of my music is a direct reflection of what I'm feeling at that moment I sent down at the piano or guitar. I write about what I know and tend to stay away from loftier ideas like politics, religion, or the current scandal of the day. I draw on my personal demons, war, and lost loves. Experiences are unique but emotions are universal.

Can you describe what is the writing process like? Is it collaborative or does one member write the lyrics and another member the melodies?
I'll write the lyrics, song structure and overall concept. Scott, Jack, and Vasanth will take what I give them and inject their own personality into the music. I'd rather it be that way than try to control every single element thereby squashing their inspiration. Very rarely does a song end the way it begins. I learned early on to stop forcing a song to be something it can't and simply let it become what it does. It's more interesting that way.

What other artists have influenced you?
Some of my earliest influences were in the post-punk movement like The Talking Heads, late David Bowie and Iggy Pop. More recently, we've pushed into other genres to put our take on old ideas. Groups like Kraftwerk, Squarepusher, and Air have had a lot of influence on us as of late.

Do you have a favorite song on the album?
My favorite track on the album is the one that isn't listed. It's titled "Savannah" and you'll find it hidden at the end of Anatomica. It's the most personal song that I've written. It is for my late wife and for love we shared in Savannah.

Frantic Clam

What is the message you want to send through your music?
My music doesn't have a universal message. Emotions are too complex and hypocritical to be packaged up with a bow for a three minute song. At the time I recorded those songs for Anatomica, I felt that way and the lyrics were honest in expressing those emotions. They are a testament to the alcoholism, prescription drug addiction, and severe depression that I was struggling with during that time. I was an angry, bitter twenty-five year old kid who felt used up by a war and then fed to the lions when I returned home.

Tell us what is the best show you have ever played?
The Mohawk during Free Week last January was really great for us. To that point we'd been slogging our way through Red River trying to get a decent show on a decent night.

What's next for the band?
We've undergone some band member changes these past 6 months. Joe had to leave for family reasons and now Vasanth is heading to medical residency in Phoenix. However, we gained a new member and bassist, Scott Cater, who's working out spectacularly. We're taking our time and finding the right drummer to join us. We're also looking to move outside of Austin and start traveling regionally this Summer. Later this fall, we're going to go back into the studio to work with Erik Wofford at Cacophony Recorders here in Austin on our first full length album. Our best work is still ahead of us as we continue to grow.