If You Could Only Open Up Your Eyes: A Chat with Jeff Russo of Tonic
Discography:
Lemon
Parade (Polydor, 1996)
Sugar
(Universal, 1999)
Head
on Straight (Universal, 2002)
Tonic
(429, 2012)
Lemon Parade Revisited (Self-Released, 2016)
Popular Tracks: If You Could Only See, Open Up Your Eyes, You Wanted More
Tonic blew up around 1997 and managed to have one of the longest lasting hits of the era with “If You Could Only See.” Forming a few years earlier, the band had an impressive pedigree and used that to their advantage, going on to score several more hits and be nominated for a few Grammys in the process. Though they went away and came back about a decade ago, guitarist Jeff Russo has found success in the scoring business and is now one of the more prominent film and TV composers working today. This interview was conducted before the band released a new single in 2021 but the band have had a storied and successful career and that's summed up in Jeff's own words.
Pete
Crigler: When do you remember becoming interested in music?
Jeff Russo: As far back as I can remember, I’ve had a love for music and playing it.
Pete: How did Tonic come together and what was the scene like?
Jeff: Emerson and I have known each other since we were teenagers in NYC. We coincidentally, ran into each other in Los Angeles after moving out separately and not having seen one another for a few years. We talked a bit about music and our aspirations and then decided to get together a play some tunes. We really dug that first session and continued to do so.
Pete: How did the band come to sign with Polygram/A&M and how do you feel about it now?
Jeff: We were playing shows every Sunday night at “The Mint” in Los Angeles. Tom Storms, the guy who signed us, and also coincidentally knew me after working for Capitol records when I was signed there before Tonic was born, saw a few shows at the mint and brought in the Prez of the label, Nick Gatfield. Signing with them was really the best thing for us at the time. They were a small label with a large backbone (Polygram) so we got the attention we needed and the marketing machine to boot.
Pete: What was it like recording Lemon Parade?
Jeff: It took us about a year to make. It was a grueling, but really amazing process. We worked for a month, then took a week or two off to go write some more and then we did that again. Many studios and rehearsals spaces and couches were utilized.
Pete: What were the inspirations for songs like If You Could Only See, Open Up Your Eyes and Take Me as I Am?
Jeff: The lyrics certainly speak for themselves in terms of what the songs are about. In terms of inspiration, we have always worn our emotions on our sleeves and let life and experience guide our writing and playing.
Pete: What caused Dan Rothchild to leave and Dan Lavery to take his place?
Jeff: There were a few reasons but suffice to say there were artistic differences. He’s a fantastic bass player and all-around great musician. Dan [Lavery] stepped in since he was already a close friend. He had been introduced to us by Rothchild.
Pete: What was success like and how did everyone react to it?
Jeff: It was a super easy transition. There wasn’t really a reaction. The change happened and it was and is as if Lavery had been in the band the whole time.
Pete: Was there any pressure when it came to making the second record?
Jeff: Well, yes. The follow up to a platinum record is always difficult. We tried not to think about that pressure and went to make the record that we wanted to make without really trying to make a “hit”
Pete: What caused Kevin Shepard to leave?
Jeff: Family and personal reasons.
Pete: What was it like making a record with Bob Rock?
Jeff: Bob is a consummate record producer. Making that record is probably the most memorable for us. We really had a great time and Bob made the process as easy as it could be.
Pete: How did it feel being nominated for Grammys?
Jeff: That certainly came as a shock to all of us. We had no idea that that was even possible! Other than shock, I would say it was such a great feeling to have that record recognized for its artistic value!
Pete: What ultimately caused the band to split up?
Jeff: Well, we didn’t split up, really. There was a break in the mid oughts. Emerson went to make a solo record and I bounced around thinking about what I wanted to do next.
Pete: Tell me a bit about Low Stars?
Jeff: Low Stars was a group put together by Dave Gibbs (Gigolo Aunts) and Chris Seefried (Joe 90). They asked me and Jude Christodal (Jude) to get together a play some songs and harmonize. It sounded so great that we decided to make a record. In the end we partnered with Starbucks and released the record there.
Pete: I understand you made a solo album during this period, what was that
like?
Jeff: I never finished it. Once I got started doing the scores to Films and TV shows (Fargo, The Night Of, Legion, etc) I never really had a chance to get back to it.
Pete: How did the Tonic reunion come about?
Jeff: It all started with Emerson and I having sushi and talking about having kids. Once we started talking about how life was changing, we decided it was time to get back together and make a record because we felt we had something, artistically, to say.
Pete: What was it like making that 4th record?
Jeff: Totally different than the previous 3. It was way more relaxed and easy…
Pete: How did it feel to fan pledge the 2016 acoustic record?
Jeff: That was the most fun we’d had in a long while. It gave us complete control of what we were doing and got directly connected to the fans.
Pete: What do you think about the explosion of alternative rock in the ‘90s?
Jeff: It was the right time and place for it. People were craving melodic music again and I think Alt rock delivered that.
Pete: What do you hope Tonic’s legacy will be?
Jeff: Great songs that were always honest and played with heart.
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