The frontman discusses the country’s current state of affairs and how the ethos of Fever 333 has and always will be about championing change.
Few conversations have carried the same weight as the one that transpired recently with Fever 333’s Jason Aalon Butter and Beez of the Knotfest series Mosh Talks.
As the world continues to come to grips with a very surreal pandemic reality, tensions continue to boil over as instances of systemic injustice, bias, and violence continue to surface across the nation. Despite repeated incidents that have plagued the headlines, the catalyst for a rejuvenated call for action seemed to happen with the horrifying death of George Floyd.
Though Butler has long spent his creative platform speaking with a genuine sense of being socially-conscious, the murder of Floyd sent the frontman marching out into the streets alongside his community in Los Angeles.
After two weeks of marching in the streets to demand reform, Butler then got to work. Again utilizing his platform, Butler and Fever 333 spearheaded their now milestone Long Live the Innocent livestream. Amassing more than 300,000 views in what was a one night only production, Butler asserted that the move was pure about the message in music. Opting to use his platform to reach as many people as he could, the production was less a show but rather a rallying cry to force people to listen, acknowledge, and affect change on a systemic level.
In utilizing that platform Butler also acknowledges that even within his own creative space, there is a significant amount of dissent. Butler, as the voice of Fever 333 has never made an effort to pull his punches and in that regard, there is 50/50 shot that someone will agree and equally disagree in digesting the same content. It’s a reality that Butler actually welcomes. He wants that eventual civil discourse but knowing that people might get offended or disagree with his reality is not something that will dilute his message. The frontman makes that especially clear. He will speak his reality regardless of how it is received.
As for how to preserve a sense of community within the space of heavy music fans, Butler would go onto explain that how dialogue of our fundamental differences is something that should be encouraged. Not everyone is going to see the world the same and those different vantage points should all be brought to the table.
Comparing the scenario to a potluck dinner, the idea should be to share and have a reciprocative relationship with different cultures – less trying to lump them all together. Butler’s perspective comes from a place of being more than willing to address and embrace differences in an uncomfortable dialogue if it means learning and inevitably respecting the next man.
For Butler, the ability to be creative has long been a means to an end in servicing a bigger message, In fact, Butler would go on to detail how Fever 333 is actually registered as a charity, not a business in the conventional way bands usually are structured. It was part of the non-negotiables when cementing a label partner in Roadrunner Records.
Butler would travel back to when Fever 333 had just surfaced and though the buzz was instantly at a feverpitch, the end goal wasn’t about becoming industry darlings, for Butler, it was always about galvanizing his community. So when it came time to discuss record labels and the bigger business associated with music, the guidelines were simple – the message, the vehicle, and those who stand to benefit remain the community at large, not anyone else. To ensure it, Butler actually created his own tabel to minimize meddling, but would find an understanding partner in the band’s Roadrunner Records connect.
The conversation is an incredibly loaded exchange that not only offered Butler’s insightful viewpoint on the kind of divisiveness that is all too prevalent, but the frontman also confided details about how his previous project letlive. began to unravel and what his unlikely relationship is with revered produced John Feldmann.
Jason Aalon Butler is among the most articulate voices in heavy music today. The interview is further proof of that. Watch the compete discussion on Mosh Talks below.
Fever 333’s WORLDWIDE D333MONSTRATIONS FOR THE WRONG GENERATION virtual world tour begins October 23rd and coincides with the release of their latest EP, Wrong Generation.
Get tickets and information – HERE
Sign up for the Knotfest Email List for exclusive access to news, tours, interviews, pre-sale codes, giveaways and more.