Fever 333's new era is ramping up. Last year, the rap-rock rabble-rousers — fronted by former letlive. vocalist Jason Aalon Butler — unveiled their new lineup with a fresh single called "$wing."
Today (February 15th), they're back with another. It's a track called "Ready Rock," and it's co-produced by Glassjaw guitarist-songwriter Justin Beck, as well as Beach Noise, a production trio who've worked with Kendrick Lamar.
Longtime fans of Butler's music will know that letlive.'s sound drew a great deal of musical influence from Glassjaw, so it's pretty amazing that Butler has now worked with Beck on some Fever 333 material.
Check out "Ready Rock" above via YouTube.
"Ready Rock" is the first taste of Fever 333's forthcoming album, which will be their first since 2020's Wrong Generation.
Butler had a quick chat with Revolver about the song, working with Beck and what the band have in-store for 2024. Check it out below.
TELL ME ABOUT THE LYRICAL THEMES OF "READY ROCK." WHY DID YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO APPROACH THIS TOPIC IN SONG?
This song is a reminder that there is no arts/entertainment industry without the art and entertainers first. Many an artist seem to be under some obscured assumption that we need the aid of corporately structured entities that dubiously claim to know art in order to navigate success.
This is a tale as old as time, but much like most archaic tales, they become obsolete and no longer relevant in modern times. I feel like now, more than ever, this is true. We are finally seeing how powerful the art can be without the interference of the aforementioned entities and how such interference is more often than not detrimental to its fulfillment.
More specifically, these industries have plundered and exploited Black artists from the start. A lack of proper compensation and recognition drove me to pen this song. It is a love letter enveloped in a cautionary tale to all POC in these industries, and a reminder that although underrepresented we not only belong here and deserve more, we are the reason it exists.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH GLASSJAW'S JUSTIN BECK ON THIS TRACK? WHY DID HE FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT FIT FOR A COLLABORATOR?
It was amazing for me as a massive Glassjaw fan to be able to enlist one of my favorite guitarists-songwriters to create an evolved and intentional iteration of this new Fever sound.
Having the ability to fan out ask about the sonic choices he made while writing Coloring Book was one thing, but then getting to understand the method behind such choices really put me in a new place while writing and producing this album which was a real gift.
What should fans expect from Fever 333 in 2024?
Everything.
