When done well, art can not only remind us of days gone by, but also offer a glimpse of promising days ahead. That's one way he considers the new season of the Dead Dialect podcast. Time, its passage and how we hope it will unfold gloriously before us, is a big part of the new season's story.
That's because the show, created by the dynamic Dead Dialect duo of Brandon Clements and Julian Lara, concluded its most recent season in 2019. The first episode was released on February 3 of this year, more than four years after it was recorded.
“That was right before COVID, and it changed not only the way the world works, but the way me and this guy create,” Clements said. houston press During a recent meeting at Eight Row Flint. “At that point, our new season began. We immediately set out to make it the biggest thing we could. I've learned a lot about video from the work I've done. Let's try to reapply this to the show.”
The podcast started in 2014 and has hosted UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis and many bands including Terra Melos, The Fall of Troy, Cage the Elephant, The Mars Volta, and Dillinger Escape Plan. He has gained a steady following and a solid reputation with his fascinating interviews with celebrities such as . some.
In 2019, “We set out to create our biggest season yet,” Clements said. “Let's mobilize all our resources to find the biggest guest. And I think we did that.”
The season's five episodes feature interviews with Fugazi's Fat Tony, Brendan Canty, and Joe Lally, post-metal band Deafheaven's Dan Tracy, Silversun Pickup's Chris Guanlao and Nicky Moninger, and iconic filmmaker and author John Waters. is featured.
“There were a lot of reasons to be proud of what we accomplished this season. Oh my God, we have great guests that I think have worked hard for years and earned and qualified in many ways. ” Clements said.
So why were the two of them in charge of the episode for so long?
“It was surreal. It was amazing. And then COVID-19 hit. As we were getting ready to put this out into the world, COVID-19 hit. And all of a sudden, we had this… All the work I had done and all the pride I had up until now quickly turned into feelings of anxiety and resistance. Can I release this? Is this what the world wants right now? Even if I release this? Okay?'' Clements explained.
“And it felt all kinds of wrong. At least for the first six months to a year,” he continued. “Looking back, it seems like the perfect opportunity to put this out there and capitalize on the growing viewership. Podcasting has always been a creative endeavor for me and Julian, but it was a great opportunity to learn and improve. It's also a tool, and we didn't feel like it was the right time to be flexible and say, “Look at how good we've gotten.” ”
“There was a lot of uncertainty about how it would continue because it's always been a guest-based show. And how are we going to get people here?” Lara added, adding that during the lockdown period reminded us all of the unpredictability of. “I think there was a part of me that was waiting for the right time, thinking it would blow over quickly, but obviously that wasn’t the case.”
“We felt this was the wrong time to start the marketing train to share this with the world,” Clements said. “And then life presented us with a situation where we had to take stock of our work outside of being journalists, and that’s what we did.
Clements and Lara have developed Dead Dialect from just a podcast to other endeavors.
Photo by Jesse Sendejas Jr.
“We both got really good at other things because we couldn't do the podcast,” Clements continued. “Personally, I worked in Reality (of) Wrestling for over a year, creating promotional videos for wrestlers that appear on TV. Of course, this is one of the greatest professional wrestlers on the planet, and I've never seen him before.” It was done under Hall of Famer Booker T. That's when I got into video.”
With live wrestling canceled during the lockdown era, Clements and Lara created cinematic content for their longtime Houston-based wrestling organization, Doomsday Wrestling.
“I created a 20-minute cinematic wrestling match to dazzle Doomsday fans, and it was a huge success. Reality Wrestling saw it and contacted me. They said, “Hey, we want you to do it too.'' Come here and start making videos for us. ”
According to Clements, it lasted about a year, at which point he and Lara pivoted to a project that further delayed the release of the podcast season, but said it was the next big thing on the horizon for Dead Dialects. Clements said his closeness to Booker T made him realize, “Wow, we're with one of the greatest guys of all time.” We are constantly producing new stars through reality wrestling. That's how great documentaries are made. Right place, right time. That's what we did this time. Instead of releasing this podcast, we are working on a full-length documentary about one of our idols. ”
“The skills we have developed since then have allowed us to not only film this documentary, but also land production and videography jobs, increasing the skills we can bring to the upcoming season tenfold. ” Lara said.
Clements supported that idea, saying, “I think there's probably also a fear of, 'Hey, we shot this a few years ago, I'm sure we've gotten pretty good at shooting it.'” At the end of the day, I think Julian and I do a great job of fostering conversation, listening to our guests, and creating a really good podcast, so it's almost a waste of time to think about it. I think I have the track record to prove it.
“I haven't done a podcast in three years, but in my opinion, we're Houston's podcast as well. I'd love to pick up that mantel again. We're here to support the scene. We want to remind people that we're here to be a voice and a platform for people in this city, not just touring artists.”
There's a little something for everyone in the new season, but Clements admits the John Waters interview was mostly for him. His late mother was a big fan of the director of films such as; pink flamingo and hair spray.
“You know how important my mother is, I think I have waxed poetic many times. I remember thinking, “What the hell happened?'' he said. “That John Waters episode, you'll see at the end, I hung up the phone, took a breather, and thought, 'Whoa.' I was talking to one of the most iconic people on the planet. I had tunnel vision the entire time I was there, and there's no arguing with this: Wild, wild stuff.
“And of course I said to him, 'My mom was a big fan.' The reason I'm a fan of yours is because of my mom.” I think he said, “Well, she's crazy. Yes, it was. good. “
The new season is a great look back at a time when the world wasn't in a global health crisis. But it's also a glimpse into Dead Dialect's future, far beyond his 2024 podcast.
“We make things, and when we make them, it's quality and we care about that. And maybe you do too.”
Photo by Jesse Sendejas Jr.
“I think that's why I've come to love this season so much, that it's a snapshot in time,” Lara said. “I think part of my anxiety when releasing it was improving my production skills, but I think we've now gotten to the point where we're excited to release this as almost ready to come.” “
“If anything, I think the most important point we have to make is that Dead Dialect is a podcast and we're not that anymore. We're not that. Well, Dead Dialect Dialect is 100% the creative effort of Brandon Clements and Julian Lara. Whether it's a podcast, a feature-length documentary, or a photo series, we produce and create as a duo. Whatever you choose, that's what it is. We make things. And when we do, it's quality and we value that and probably you will too. .”
The next step is to finish the film, he said. Clements promises that the film will be more of an emotional and gritty art film than a sports documentary. Considering it took years to bring a new podcast season to viewers, one might wonder when and how they decide to complete the movie. Clements said Dead Dialect will follow the compass of acting at the right time, he said.
“I think it's the plight of creative people to overthink things so they don't look like the most pretentious guy in the world. This was a classic example of that,” Clements said. Ta. “I think if there's one thing I want people to take away from releasing this, it's that art and creativity is always worth your time and other people's time. No matter where you are. Regardless of whether you feel like you can do better or worse, I think it's always a snapshot of the world and where you are.”
