Cog Interview – Flynn Gower
Cog have an unprecedented reputation for producing amazing live shows which is something that lead singer, Flynn Gower, admits is no accident. “It’s something we f****** strive for” says Gower, “an album is just an advertisement for a tour….a tool to get people to the show”. The focus on perfecting their live gigs seems to be paying off with Flynn revealing that they have “sold out almost every show” on their Sharing Space tour. So with this much love and admiration from fans, who Flynn describes as “passionate people”, you start to wonder if they still get nervous when performing new material. The answer? A definitive “Yeah!” from Flynn, although he adds that it does depend on the song.
Even with such an intense focus on touring the boys still have as much passion and drive in the studio as they do on stage. When it comes to touring or recording “we love them both” says Gower. To record their recent release, Sharing Space, Cog travelled to the small town of Weed, California to work with famed producer Sylvia Massy. Cog’s collaboration with Massy, who has worked with Tool and System of a Down, came about not only due to her impressive credentials but also the fact that the equipment in Massy’s studio is “hard to find [in] one studio in Australia” says Gower. After the success of The New Normal, the boys decided to approach the new album with a fresh outlook. “We wanted a different album” Flynn admits, although it wasn’t till later reflection that the differences became evident such as the lyrics being “more to the point and overt.” This isn’t surprising for a band fueled by politically conscious and thought provoking lyrics.
It is always hard to describe a band’s music to someone who has never heard it before especially when they are a band like Cog, who have such a unique and diverse sound. So it’s not surprising that when asked how he would describe Cog’s sound Flynn finds it easier to give musical comparisons such as Tool, Pink Floyd and Midnight Oil with a surprise inclusion of Bob Marley. “Gotta have some Marley in there” says Gower with a smile on his face.
