Autumn Attic




“Spinning Inside”


Interview with Ryan Cook

By Sergio Vilar

How does Autumn Attic history begin? Which is the past of each one of you?
Autumn Attic began in October of 2003, when vocalist and tattoo artist Ryan Cook did a tattoo on guitarist Derek Reed. The two became friends and started to write songs none stop. The first jam sessions started that fall, thus "Autumn" in their drummers "Attic" and there was born a name.
Later that Spring the band travelled to the Legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennesse (the same place Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, etc. started) to record their first C.D. The C.D. was titled “Six from the Sea” and was recorded Live in the studio in only a couple takes. Shortly after that Bass Player Jerry Cordova and Drummer Logan Kennedy were added to the line up greatly inproving the bands sound.  Cordova and Cook wrote nearly 25 songs in a short span following Cordova's joining the band. A few of these songs would become the album “Lessons in Loss”.

Who did have the idea of beginning a progressive band?
The bands progressive sound came from the way Bassist Cordova and Drummer Kennedy interacted.

Which is Autumn Attic musical essence?
Tension between members and friends seems to feed the fire of creativity in this band.

Musically you were always framed inside the same aesthetic mark?
Musically Singer Cook came from a Goth/Psychodelic backround guitarist Reed came from a blues backround and Bassist Cordova was all over the place influence wise.

Was my first contact with your music through the excellent “Lessons In Loss”. Could you be which the main idea of the album is?
The album “Lessons in Loss” is about what we, as a band learned from people who tried to tear apart the band or take advantage of us in some way.

If you find it well, I would like that we made a small review of the disc song for song...
The song “Been So Long” is about missing the house you grew up in. It is about longing to go home to your house and time as a child but never being able to.  It is about choosing to haunt a certain place after you are dead. “Crying into the Sea” comes from my frustration with George W. Bush and how I despise his administrations actions.

How was the recording process and of composition of the album?
I don't think any of us as a band was happy with the way this album was recorded but at the time we had so many people trying to take advantage of us that we just recoiled inside ourselves and each other and just hit record.  After that and the shows that followed we all wanted to work on different things. 

Which are your activities outside of the band?
Jerry Cordova has been touring with Jeff Coleman and the Feeders Drummer Kennedy has been playing with a Band called Fife and Derek and Ryan have been working on new material even though their is already a whole album of songs recorded that could be released.
Ryan Cook has been working on a solo retrospect that covers the last ten years of songwriting he has done plus 4 new songs.

What would you tell to our readers so that they are interested in listening Autumn Attic?
This band considers anyone who tries to listen to their music as a close personal friend.
Updates for the band can be found at Ryan Cook's myspace site  www.myspace.com/ryancooksmusic

Thank you, you can leave some final message if you want it...
Thank you all for the interest.

Nucleus interview: 14/11/05