Why We Fear Fiction takes great pride in being self-produced, self-recorded and self-released. “We have no desire to be idle,†says guitarist Sean Cochran from their homemade studio in Portland, Oregon. “We are not going to wait for good news to come to us. We are going to pursue and define our own.†After enduring a yearlong rollercoaster ride of label demands and showcases in the band Emberghost, vocalist Sarah Jennings and Cochran realized that it was time to start a new project on their own terms. “It became evident that the focus was veering away from song quality and more towards trying to please label executives. Why We Fear Fiction gives us room to create and develop without an outside agenda,†says Jennings.
With their newfound artistic freedom, Cochran and Jennings sought out to find the best musicians possible to round out their new endeavor. “Hans [Huffman] is amazing,†says Cochran. “We knew right away that he was going to be the perfect fit.†Huffman met the eager duo while engineering their first demo as Why We Fear Fiction in December of 2006. Not only does Huffman take them over the top musically, his producing and engineering skills are what allow the band to be so self-sufficient.
A simple phone call to a high school friend solved the bass dilemma when Cochran reunited with Jake Fenske. “Jake’s free-flowing bass style adds a great depth and energy to our music. It also helps that he and Sean have played in random bands since they were 14,†says Jennings. The most recent addition is Matthew White, who stumbled upon the band’s ‘drummer wanted’ ad in October of 2007. White learned their set in three days and made his astounding debut in front of a packed house at the Hawthorne Theatre in Portland.
The band is young (ages 21 to 23), ambitious and busy. They are currently finishing their debut release entitled The Culling. Not afraid to flex their musical muscles, The Culling is peppered with forceful guitar solos and abnormal time signatures. The opening track “Elijah Craig†is a near 7-minute whirlwind of intricate guitar riffs, soulful grooves and intense melody. Jennings wrote the lyrics to The Culling while undergoing chemotherapy. “Having this creative outlet to express the loneliness and difficulty of what I have been going through has been invaluable to my perseverance. Every time I perform it is a cathartic release,†says Jennings. The Culling will be available in January 2008.