"This time, I was in the music-making process in the studio," Hacikyan says. "Usually, the music is already together and I write. [As] Jeff and David put the music together, it allowed me to go off the cuff. It was a great vibe this time."
It's obvious from the first note on Rotation that CIWWAF is gunning for a mature sound. In the two years between projects, as the band toured relentlessly, the guys had a little time to think about the direction of the new album.
"We learned so much," says Hacikyan, 21. "We learned that usually the first idea is the best. Songwriting is like a sport: The more you practice, the better you get. We learned to trust ourselves."
To craft the multilayered sound of the new CD, the group enlisted producer John Feldmann, known for his work with The Used and Story of the Year.
"A lot of that had to do with the luxury of time we had and the brilliant work of John Feldmann," Hacikyan says. "Our budget was immense. [Feldmann] literally put his bells and whistles on it. I hear something new on it every time I hear it."
Feldmann beefs up the sound with a horn section and synthesizers. Heavy doses of studio gloss coat such numbers as the first single "Practice Makes Perfect" and "Hollywood." Though overly calculated in some spots, the ultra-bright production is an improvement over The Same Old Blood Rush. But, still, CIWWAF hasn't locked down a sound that makes the band stand out. The group is trying, though.
"This album reflects us growing up so fast," Hacikyan says. "We went from being 17-, 18-year-old kids and then we traveled the world four times. I know we're lucky to have the chance to make music and have a label that believes in us. We're too young for this to fail, man."
if you go
See Cute Is What We Aim For at the Recher Theatre, 512 York Road in Towson, at 6 tonight. Tickets are $18 and are available through Ticketmaster. Call 410-547-7328 or go to ticketmaster.com.
