Author: Jeanette Nguyen
Date: 2009-10-05


Interview:
Fanbolt interviewed frontman Dustin Kensrue of Thrice about their latest masterpiece Beggars. The album was self-produced and released on independent label Vagrant Records. This is the band's sixth album with a street date of Sept 15th.

Thrice's last release The Alchemy Index was a series of four EPs, each representing an element of nature. For Beggars, you are going back to one cohesive, unified album.

Dustin Kensrue: We wanted the record to have certain energy to it, coming from a difference place than we've been before. We had ideas when we got together and we started jamming with these ideas and that's where our cohesion took place, in the studio playing our instruments together. All of the sounds ended up melding into this sound - it was very raw.

Why did you decide to call the album Beggars?

Dustin Kensrue: I've had the idea for it as a song a long time ago. Martin Luther's (theologian/founder of Lutheranism) last words were, "We are all beggars. That is true."

I've been thinking about that a lot, the idea of what does it mean that we are all beggars? I think we really take a lot of things for granted. We take credit for things that we all should be thankful for instead. I really feel like it applies to all of our lives.

That was where it was coming from, so I had to say Beggars. Then I thought it would be a strong, grabbing title to make people think.

Your younger brother Chase is following in your musical footsteps with his band Eye Alaska (Fearless Records). What are your thoughts on that?

Dustin Kensrue: They're doing their own thing, and I think it's awesome. There's never really been any connection. They're definitely making their own music, having fun and working hard.

Has he asked you for musical advice?

Dustin Kensrue: They're finding their own way and I think it's important to pave your own way sometimes. He'll ask me a few things from time to time, but they're in a different position than we ever were. They're a different kind of band. I'm not sure I even know what to tell him sometimes.