Vocalist Stacey Quinealty of Los Angeles’ CARBON 9 has checked in with BraveWords.com and spoke to correspondent Deb Rao regarding the band's latest release, The Bull, and upcoming tour and special show at the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles on April 21st.

Q: What is the meaning behind the title of the Carbon 9 release The Bull?

A: "The Bull basically for us represents for us to be able to continue forward. We do this live theatrical show that is about technology kind of bringing down humanity. So there is this whole Carbon 9 world that exists outside of the record. The Bull is kind of a symbol to be just being able to move forward. It is one animal that can get cut, scratched and stabbed and it still just wants to charge ahead."

Q: The song writing on The Bull does display a strong sense of stamina on the release with its bold new approach and alternative techno rock vibe. How would you describe Caron 9?

A: "I would just think of us as extreme alternative hard rock. We are probably more on the commercial side. We are definitely just kind of a basic commercial hard rock band but there are elements of techno, industrial, and tribal that all kind of exist within the music".

Q: How would you describe the writing process for The Bull? Was everyone involved with the process?

A: "To some degree yes. I basically started out a lot of the songs with creating the initial sequence of trying to get the vibe and the energy going and the direction in which we were going to head. Then Darwin the guitar player usually comes in and puts down a lot of guitar parts. Some songs are written on guitar first and then I work backwards and put in the sequences. Then once we get that done, we bring in bass and drums and we work out the tracks and build up the tracks. We actually record all of the songs in a pre-production recording, and that way we get to arrange them and run through them and start the melody writing process."

Q: Over how long a period of time did it take to record The Bull? Also, what was it like working with producer Frank Gryner? I know he has worked with ROB ZOMBIE and a lot of great people in the industry.

A: "This album to write and to record it took us about 14 months. Yes, Frank Gryner mixed the record. He was awesome. He came down to the studio and was interested in working with us. It just so happened that we had just finished recording the record. So we were looking for someone to mix it. It was just like perfect timing. Frank took all of the files and did his magic to them, and gave them back to us and we were just pretty much blown away."

Q: What is it like being a band in Los Angeles these days? I know you were dubbed the hardest working band in Los Angeles. The band has a great resume and has accomplished so much in the time you have been together.

A: "It is interesting. It is different but also the same. The clubs certainly have energy on their own. You kind of get a sense of feeling the same in the club. But the people that attend the shows are a mix of so many different people. There are so many different styles to me it is kind of uncomfortable. I used to like the day where you could to a rock a club and hear a rock band and you go to a jazz club and hear a jazz band. These days a jazz band and a death metal band might play right after them and then a pop band. It is real confusing. There is no sense of focus."

Q: Have you found that the audiences differ from the West Coast to the East Coast?

A: "I love LA and LA is our home but man getting out in the Mid West and the East Coast, I just feel like the fans are just really into fresh new music. We go play places for the first time and it is like we have been there for years. LA people are a little more judgmental. There is so much entertainment here and there is millions of bands. People are a little standoffish I think. It takes a lot to earn respect of an audience in Los Angeles."

Q: What inspired the band to perform the DANZIG cover song 'Mother' on The Bull?

A: "A couple of different things. One of the most important things was a lot of different cover tunes were thrown at our way. I was really adamant about being able to pick a song with my own style without destroying the original song. I wanted to stay true to the original. Literally hundreds and hundreds of songs have been thrown my way, when 'Mother' popped up I said, "That's it. That is the one song I can do this with." The second thing was, the guitar player had just lost his Mother last year. So we dedicated the album to her. It all just kind of fit in together."

Q: What does the song 'My Friend' denote to you? Would you say that it reflect certain people in the music industry on your climb to the top?

A: "Here in LA and the music industry you have so many friends. Everybody is from all over the world in Los Angeles. You kind of re-built your own family here with friends. You rely a lot on each other. But there are just a few of them in there that will turn around and backstab you so fast. They don't really care about anybody but themselves. The odd thing is that we tend to remain in those relationships. The song is really about people who have these friends who are constantly talking about them behind their back and constantly doing things to them but we keep them in that role. Why? What is that about?

Q: I guess it is part of human nature? Would you say the first track on the album,'What Is It We're Made Of’ denotes the meaning behind the band?

A: "Yes, that song sets the vibe for the whole album even though it is a little darker than a lot of the other songs. It is just kind of an introduction thing. It makes you sit back and think. We want you to listen to the lyrics and think. 'What Is It We're Made Of' asking simple questions. Why do we do the things we do? What are we really made of?"

Q: Would you say the song, 'I'm Not Broken’ has to deal with the struggle of being a band in Los Angeles?

A: "That could certainly fall into that category as well. It is also regarding any relationship whether it is working or boyfriend or girlfriend. It is being able to move forward and say I am on my path. If I am not broken, you can't fix me. It is about people that try and change others to fit into their own world. Everyone needs to follow their own path."

Q: What are Carbon 9's future touring plans?

A: "The main thing now is to do a U.S. Tour right now. So we will be going across the U.S. We are going to the East Coast, and The South and the Mid West. There are talks of us going to Europe and Asia as well. We do have a big show in Los Angeles on April 21st at The Knitting Factory. It is kind of going to kick off the tour. We want to thank BraveWords.com for the support."