Humbled by their south-eastern South Dakota roots, The Tinder Box (Chad Konrad, Dominic Osterloh, & Jon Wallner) offer a uniquely cohesive blend of Folk, Blues, & Bluegrass. With their February 2011 release of the debut EP These Winds (recorded at Blacklodge Recording in Eudora, KS), The Tinder Box emerged as a three-member band with the driving force of most full-bands. Foot-tapping kick hits, elevated banjo picking, complementary trumpet fills and full harmonies have helped to already create a name for this young band; who is currently receiving air-play on college/indie radio stations across the US and international air-play in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil.
With a second EP released in October 2012 (Who’s To Till This Land?), The Tinder Box has continued touring throughout South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, & Colorado with no plans of slowing. A dedicated trio, the band has also established a home based studio (Pony Creek Studios) following the success of self-recording their second EP, where they lay their hats when they are off the road.
Why did you select this song as your current single?
Cut You Down (Cold Dark) represents a different meaning of life. No matter what is said, done or heard – we all have the same fate. Everyone needs to, at some point, in their life understand that we all have same fate in end.
How does this single relate to the rest of the Album, EP or Mix-tape?
The Attic Sessions: Volume I depicts stories written on the road, recorded in attic & weathered by the Midwest. Cut You Down coincides with the rest of album as honest music straight from the heart of the US. The album is a collection of songs that grew over the years & makes a new face for music in South Dakota. Surrounded by fields, valleys & wind, we write songs that embrace our roots & Midwest mentality.
What was the writing process for the song?
Continuous tours & hours on the road. Songs spark from hearing other stories & observing the people/tales/folklore of each pit stop/venue. We are fortunate enough to have widespread fans, who welcome us every time we are in town. Cut You Down was born years ago and the lyrics fell into place traveling from the Rockies down to rambling Kansas City & was finalized in the hills of Duluth.
What does this song’s lyric mean to you?
The lyrics are simply part of the song, words to the melody of Midwest. Mostly, they are words in song that are up for any interruption, no words mean the same thing to anyone. To us, the words fit,
What would it be like to see you in person performing this song?
A performance – bouncing banjo, driving guitar, trumpet whaling along & drums keeping steady time along with some foot-stomping, hand clapping & screams of energy. The transitions of the song keeps everyone entertained & the mood of the song streaming through the crowd.
Could your fans summarize who you are as an artist by this song?
We like to have fun playing music, we will mix up our sound for experimentation & to reach new heights. All our songs are true to the Midwest & are honest to our influences & roots.
Is there a video planned and or completed and if so, what was the idea behind the video?
There is a 110 page story written about this song by a local film director, who will have his creative control over the video. Due to confidentiality & filming schedules – we are not able to discuss in full detail, but we will be sharing once the video is complete.
One last question, what is your motivation behind your music?
Music needs no motivation, it lives & breathes in all of us. Work needs motivation, music is our passion that we will continue to produce for the rest of our lives.
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