By Sean Maldjian, Contributor

Meet Whiner

Hi everybody. Oh boy, what a special day it is. Whiner has new music out. And a new video to go along with that music! The NJ-based rock and rollers unleash a throbbing barrage of guitar and tight drumming on their latest track ‘varicose veins’. In our latest interview, we do a deep dive into the latest single and the music video by Jacob Kessler. Check it out.

A self-portrait by, Whiner

Would you rather…

your sense of smell or sense of hearing be a hundred times stronger? Why?

Dynamite: Well not sense of smell because more things smell bad than good. So I’d probably take 100x hearing to make up for what I’ve lost.

Henry: Due to the fact that I have played so many shows where my guitar player had his amp like wayyyyyy too loud my hearing has become diminished. I’m fucking deaf yo. Whenever anyone says anything I go "what???" So I guess I'd go with having my hearing be 100× stronger. Besides if I ever play a show again in a dingy basement I def don’t need those smells amplified by 100 🤢🤮

Some questions with Whiner

What was the creative process like working with Jacob Kessler on the music video for your track ‘varicose veins’?

Boon: There was no creative process on our end, Ha. Jake had this song in mind, and really took full control of the plot and direction for the video. He explained to us it was vaguely going to be a love story/dream sequence type of deal and take part in the streets of Bushwick.

Cam: “It was really a blessing to have Jake offer to help. I think we have always been lucky to have such talented friends. I think a big part of the creative process and seeing a good idea to fruition is knowing when to ask for help. I’ve always struggled to connect visual aspects to our music.

Kessler: After I showed the band the treatment they encouraged me to take it in whatever direction I saw fit. I tried to tailor the style to the band’s ethos as I understood it both as a friend and a fan, so there was a strong sense of being on the same page creatively. From ideation to distribution we had a lot of mutual trust in handling each other’s work.

If you could be on any reality TV show, what would it be and why?

Boon: Jersey Shore easy…. we are from New Jersey, a good part Italian (Boon, Cammy) and people always call us guidos. I think the only collective hobby we ever had besides music was partying. I think with the right haircut and a little G.T.L I would fit perfectly on set.

Cam: “Someone recently told me they were going to nominate me for Queer Eye..”

Henry: “I would have to ask my Mom.” 

Can you walk us through the love story told through the video and the way it relates to the track?

Bakie: My thought is that both lyrics and video story represent the uncomfortable vulnerability that comes with falling in love or unapologetic self-expression. I think a primary characteristic of whiner lyrics is that like x-rated wearing your heart so much on your sleeve but showing every raw bit of hurt and loss that results, in the most genuine way. So much media and Jersey/NYC culture romanticizes those who are hard and have thick skin, and I don't think that's healthy or even relatable. Most people I believe have had that experience of vulnerability where they feel like they're naked and cold walking barefoot on the sidewalk, while at the same time having deep, positive experiences as the main actor relives through his dreams while sleepwalking.

Kessler: I wanted to hone in on a few of the prominent themes I saw in the song: dreams, loss of oneself in another, and embodiment of emotional turmoil. We only see the love story unfold through idealized memories and don’t know exactly what went wrong, but I wanted the visual symmetry between the two lovers to suggest a course of identifying with something/someone external to oneself and failing to live up to that. We now just see the protagonist left naked, vulnerable, and directionless. What’s emoted through his physicality fills in a lot of the gaps.

Through the video, there is a fair amount of footage of walking half-naked through the streets of Brooklyn. Did this attract attention or did people not notice?

Kessler: Most bystanders seemed confused at first but not concerned enough to intervene—pretty much how you see people regularly react to sidewalk antics in NYC. When they noticed the film crew they quickly caught on and went about their business. Whether it was out of courtesy for the shoot or just being accustomed to weird shit happening by Myrtle-Broadway, I’m grateful that everyone on camera acted naturally. Our lead actor A.J. did get applause after some takes.

How do you feel about bodega cats?

Bakie: Badass as hell. Imagine fighting an NYC rat almost your size and then eating it.

Dynamite: Bodega cats are great. I usually stay away from them though because they’re hard at work and I respect that.

Cam: “Meow”

How do you navigate releasing new music during the quarantine?

Boon: We definitely wanted to do the right thing and wait it out while the world was falling apart. Although, our release was originally set for last March(2020)and was already a year delayed, so the thought of waiting another year would have ended the band. We are doing what we can, and want to thank everyone who is streaming the tracks and showing love on the internet.

Cam: “It was life or death.”

It was great to see Alphaville at the end of the video. How close to the lockdown was this filmed?

Anonymous: Alphaville was purposefully included in the music video. We played a bunch of shows there but the last time we played, probs 2018, we got in a “verbal” (not to incriminate) argument with the sound guy for pulling the plug on sound during our last song. Which translated into a lifetime ban, which was uplifted about 1 year later after the incident. Anyways boring story, if you were there fucking cheers, rock n roll is alive n well. 

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

All: Stream our album, buy our merch and cassettes, you cheap bastards. Light up the blogs and fuck the haters.

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