We’re excited to be speaking today with music maestros Mob Dylan – Jon Von Letscher and collaborator and partner Franz Novotny; welcome to our humble pages, Jon and Franz! Before we get too far down the rabbit hole, how has the New Year been treating the both of you?
A lot of making tunes and 3D art for me (Jon). Staying super busy over here in Sweden. Not much else to do in the winter here but grind. We both got a lot of projects we focus on with different collaborations with EP’s and albums in the pipeline. Just living for creativity and living off creativity basically.
Major congratulations are in order for your upcoming debut EP Bare Witness, which drops on February 11! With the release of the new EPimminent, has it been a long road to get to this moment in time, Franz? Jon, What’s the backstory on how Bare Witness came into being? What was the genesis of this particular EP?
Franz and I have been collaborating for years and have always wanted to do some rap stuff. Did a track and felt like damn this is tight. Lions in the downtown just popped out hella fast (it was that one). We were like : ‘lets do more.’ I was in a kinda intense headspace at the time so the lyrical content came out heavy. Anyways we made this stuff fast. 10-12 sessions over a few months and it was done. Said a lot of shit, Franz pushed a lot of buttons and this is what came out at the end.
Did the worldwide pandemic at all inform some of the work that the two of you did on Bare Witness?
I think its hard to deny that. I tried to stay on the fence and not dive too far in any particular direction regarding that but the emotion was real. It’s been hard for everyone and I think that it’s influenced all of our headspace’s in one way or another. I just happen to yell at microphones for a living so it came out there in whatever shape it came out as. Maybe I need a muzzle.
A question for the both of you – how did the pairing of you two very talented artists happen? Is there a Secret Origin story for Mob Dylan?
As I mentioned earlier we’ve been collaborating for years. Mostly it has been me (Jon) writing lyrics for Franz’s solo project ‘Francis Novotny’. We shared a studio and mgmt. team ten years ago. Damn time flies. Anyways we met that way and started hanging out in the studio/sometimes at the pub. We’re good friends and that creates a great creative atmosphere in the studio, plus we both love each others art. win win.
And speaking of the name “Mob Dylan,” where did that name come from, Jon? It’s quite catchy and memorable!
It just kinda popped out in another project I was in and never really got used for anything. It stuck in my mind as it is pretty memorable and catchy as you say. It fits well with the music I think so it just felt like the right time to pull it out. Bobby D’s doppelgänger is on the loose playa’.
Bare Witness is making its way to us courtesy of the Below System Records label. What made this outfit the perfect home for Mob Dylan and your music, Franz?
Franz, when working on new music with Jon, what does that process look like? Does one write lyrics and the other music?
Jon, what do you hope fans walk away with after listening to Bare Witness?
A sore neck and maybe a few less brain cells from head banging. Also the need to push play again so we get rich af and sleep under palms trees sipping vodka soda’s.
Are there plans afoot to tour in order to promote Bare Witness?
Dude I hope that comes about. I would love to get a sore neck and lose some brain cells myself on stage. Haven’t played so much as you can imagine with the pandemic. Im thirsty for it af and this project I know would wreck shop on a crowd. We see what we can do. Got any contacts?
Jon, you are also a vocalist and instrumentalist for the band Honey Claws. How does your music in Honey Claws inform the sound of Mob Dylan?
I think it was a precursor to this for sure. The project (HC) is kinda punk rap by nature and it felt at times like deja vu when we were making this. As a vocalist I can get into characters in the studio and I was definitely channeling the younger me. Ive always been a lil angry fucker I guess. Life sucks and then you die so you might as well yell about it on a U47 with 6 beers in you. Thats my life philosophy anyways…shit maybe I write that on my tombstone.
Franz, where do you see Mob Dylan in five years? Is there a big picture sort of game plan for the band?
Final – SILLY! – Question for the both of you: Favorite movie about the music scene – Almost Famous, This Is Spinal Tap or The Buddy Holly Story?
Best, Almost famous for me (Jon). Great film with a lot nostalgia around it. Who didn’t crush hard on Kate Hudson after that? Speaking of which im gonna follow Kate Hudson on insta and probably watch it right now. Thanks for reminding me.