Decider
Photo Supplied by Eric Alper PR

Decider shares new single, “Underwriter” (Interview)

Toronto Rockers DECIDER Prove Their New “Underwriter” Single Is A Sure-Fire Investment

Not every act introduces itself to the public by holding up a mirror to their innermost delusions. But Decider aren’t just a pretty fearless bunch: Like any skilled financial analyst, they’re good at weighing the angles. The Toronto-based duo of Eric Wood and Jake Israel have made the canny calculation to sign in to the music scene with their brooding single “Underwriter,” a recorded testament to the mental bargains we strike with ourselves just to keep keeping on.

With the composed solemnity of a grand tragedy, the song confronts us listeners directly, challenging us to acknowledge our most self-salvaging habits:

So you
You level out
Just to hide the pain
You push it down
Go underground
And throw it all away
But you should know
You’re not the same
As you were before

“Underwriter’ is a ritual statement, a plague we all share,” the duo says. “That thing that we tell ourselves that makes it alright, though its effects may be short-lived.”

And what about that enigmatic title?

“We all struggle with the cost of living. Some see that as a financial statement, while others share a voice that persists, a mantra that calms, or a wound that never heals. We may never be perfect, we might have to fight the pain of existence, but the underwriter of your consciousness is forever the judge, jury and executioner of your experience.”

That’s pretty heady stuff, but this pair has the musical goods to back it up. Fellow guitarists Wood and Israel complement each other to create a sound that’s Spartan yet never, well, under-written. Clean, unadorned arpeggios create a solid foundation for Wood to emote his scalpel-sharp lyrics—sentiments made all the more affected by the gradual insinuation of string-section notes that are drawn out to the point of heartbreak.

The track is a tantalizing sample of Decider’s eponymous debut album, a nine-track manifesto that seamlessly blends elements of rock, alternative, and progressive music into a unique sound tailor-made to convey the duo’s particular preoccupations. Hints of iconic artists like Incubus, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, and Big Wreck get swept up in an expansive soundscape that encompasses themes of love, loss, and triumph over adversity. Songs like “Mine to Lose” and “Tempted” – both of which have also been earmarked for single release – share thought-provoking visions of adoration, temptation, and the very nature of being human. 

Co-produced by Wood and Israel and mastered by the legendary Noah Mintz at Lacquer Channel, Decider boasts a polished feel that showcases the duo’s raw talent and undeniable chemistry. In addition to their shared six-string duties, Wood lays down some haunting keyboards and Israel contributes an understated yet firm bass guitar. And they aren’t afraid of relying on technology to embellish their efforts either: The album makes judicious use of state-of-the-art digital instruments and the latest remote recording and monitoring software.

The finished product is the culmination of four years of meticulous work, from writing and arranging to recording and mixing.

“We’ve literally poured our very essence into this debut,” the group says. “The themes we explore on the album—we’ve lived them. We are living them.”

And they’ve been doing it for a long time. Wood and Israel grew up in the same neighbourhood, knew the same people and even attended the same schools. They just didn’t happen to meet until much later. But their similar musical tastes and love for the “craft of creation” created an instant and lasting bond. Over the years, they’ve been in bands together and cheered each other on when they weren’t.

Now that they’ve found their ultimate configuration and purpose as Decider, they can finally make good on the twin goals they’ve ways harbored: to create music they themselves would like to hear, and to amass a body of work that will stand the test of time. To Wood and Israel, the ultimate aim is to use their music to tell a grand, overarching narrative.

“The notion of a thematically rich and emotionally resonant story that explores the journey through the highs and lows of the human experience—hope, despair, redemption, reverie—really resonated with us. It gave the story we’re telling some substance.”

The next chapter in that story is a trio of music videos Decider have produced for “Underwriter” and the other two singles. For that endeavor, they’ve relied upon Israel’s extensive experience in videography, media arts, and graphic design. They’ve even turned to Generative AI to develop the entire sequence in the infinite-zoom music video for “Tempted”. But whether they’re in the studio or the editing bay, don’t worry that technophilia is going to eclipse their interest in spinning a very flesh-and-blood yarn.

“Decider is a choice,” they explain. “A dichotomy of good and evil, the temptations we face, and the love we nurture.” And if you think that looks good on a balance sheet, just listen to how great it sounds.

Hi Eric and Jake! Care to introduce yourself to the readers?

Hey, this is Eric Wood and Jake Israel! We are a Canadian rock duo from Toronto, collectively known as DECIDER. Over the past four years, we’ve been meticulously working to craft the stories and music behind our self-titled debut, which saw its worldwide release in late May 2024. In addition to the album, we’ve also produced three music videos for the singles “Underwriter,” “Mine to Lose,” and “Tempted,” each one a unique cinematic extension of our artistic vision.

Our journey has been driven by a passion to create music that not only resonates deeply with us. but also forges a timeless connection with our listeners. We aim to deliver a sound that is both unique and evocative – an homage to the very best that music has to offer – yet hasn’t been heard from or seen in a while.

We are excited to share our music with you and hope it brings as much joy and meaning to your life as it has to ours.

“Underwriter” is quite an evocative title for your debut single. Can you explain more about the concept behind this track and how it reflects the themes of your album?

“Underwriter” is an emotional odyssey. It’s a story that really pushes us to dig deep within ourselves, examining the choices we make and how they shape us as human beings. Our past events and traumas can lead us to the edge, but they also reveal the resilience and beauty within us. They illuminate the importance of recognizing when we’re struggling and reaching out for assistance that can guide us from darkness back into the light of our potential. This song acts like a reflective lens, guiding us through the paths we choose and the little things we hold onto to keep pushing forward, day by day.

We set out to write an album of substance, something that resonated within ourselves, as well as with others, and “Underwriter” is the grand summation of that endeavour – it speaks to an introspectiveness that we maintain thematically throughout our collection and exemplifies a “consciousness of being” that encapsulates the other works. These songs are about hope, despair, redemption, reverie, love, temptation, and the dichotomy of life and death – they are our greatest fears and our deepest desires. They are you. They are us. We live them.

Both of you have a background in web development, media, and graphic design. How do these seemingly different fields influence your songwriting and musical approach?

Indeed! We’ve found ourselves navigating similar career paths, landing somewhere in the web development, graphic design, media management, marketing, and advertising industries. Along the way, we’ve honed a diverse set of skills that have enabled us to refine our workflow into what we consider the most efficient approach for our musical endeavours. After all, even making music, is a process. The process is constantly evolving – yes – but it often plays a crucial role in shaping the outcome.

We utilize technology to assist in developing our artistic and musical compositions; whether it be software or service for production and recording, or the best in digital instrumentation to fill out our sound. It’s important for us – as artists – to establish and trust a workflow that consistently delivers results. This enables us to refine our ideas into the truest expression of our vision. By adhering to that standard, we grant ourselves the freedom to explore our ideas without constraints.

The album took four years to complete. Can you walk us through the creative and production process during this time? What were some of the challenges and highlights?

Yes, the album took about four years to complete – it’s not unheard of, nor unexpected. There was no rush. It needed to become its own living, breathing thing.

Throughout that period, we encountered numerous challenges alongside significant successes, all of which have played a pivotal role in shaping our musical and creative processes. Between us, we’ve faced pandemic-related and geographical challenges, as well as changes in our professional and family lives. Yet, we’ve always persevered with the determination to adapt and overcome, driven by our passion for making music together.

Like crafting any great art with intention, our process has been one of continual adaptation and refinement over time.

It typically begins with a single thought, which then evolves into an idea, then a word, a verse, and ultimately, a fully formed song. And absolutely! – we experienced numerous breakthroughs in our recording and mixing processes while creating this album tackled technical barriers head-on and pushed ourselves to write with a clear purpose. Some of those breakthroughs were gear-related, others process-related.

However, at its core, this “journey of discovery” we’ve embarked on has truly been the highlight of the entire process. We’ve learned to push ourselves to become better artists, better friends, better people, better listeners, and to reflect on our weaknesses with introspection.

That itself, is worth all the toil and trouble.

Looking ahead, what are your plans for promoting the album and engaging with your audience? Are there any upcoming tours, live performances, or other projects we should look out for?

We deeply value the connection with our fans and audience – and make it a priority to stay in constant contact with them. You’ll find us actively engaging on social media platforms and participating in discussions with our listeners and fellow artists.

Beyond simply promoting our own work, we’re committed to nurturing our community. We recognize the importance of listening to and supporting other artists; it’s an essential aspect of the creative process that ignites our passion for making music. This philosophy holds even more weight here in Canada, where the music and creative industries are so closely connected. In such a tight-knit community, we believe in championing each other’s successes just as enthusiastically as we celebrate our own.

We’re currently focusing on refining our live performance and are excited to announce that a full-length live concert video is in the works and coming soon. While touring is certainly part of our plans, the exact timing, venues, and artists that we are hitting the road with are still in the works. Stay tuned!

Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?

It’s tough to pick from the wealth of Canadian talent out there! Acts like The Tea Party, Rush, I Mother Earth, Matt Good, Big Wreck, and Crown Lands have all played a role in shaping our musical journey and have certainly made a lasting impact on both of us.

But…If we had to highlight a recent artist that resonates deeply with us, it would be Dear Rouge.

As a core duo, they embody the essence of what we strive for in our own music. Their commitment to creating authentic, resonant music inspires us and serves as a reminder of the possibilities within our reach. Seeing their blend of creativity and professionalism, mixed with not only fun, positive vibe – but truly stellar music – reaffirms our belief in our ability to achieve our artistic goals.

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