Detroit band Marcus: The Apex Predator! is back after seven years with their new EP, “Newborn Fossil.” The band features Kevin Watts on guitar and vocals, Nick Marko on drums, and Sean Bondareff on bass.
The five-track EP was recorded and mixed by Jake Shives and mastered by Grammy winner Dave Feeny. It combines punk energy with thoughtful moments, exploring themes of time, identity, and memory. Songs like the title track and “Lo-Fi” showcase the contrast between youthful ideals and adult realities.
We recently spoke with Kevin Watts about the EP, how their sound has changed, and what it’s like to return after such a long break.
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“Newborn Fossil” is such a striking title — what inspired that phrase and how does it reflect the themes in the track?Thank you! This song and much of the EP wrestles with time, age, and legacy. The idea behind the song came from me finally getting to see one of my favorite bands ever–Jawbreaker–a couple of years ago with my friends Joe and Mike. I imagined being at that show and witnessing an out-of-body conversation (or maybe a confrontation) between my younger self and my older self as we “both” hear the same song (“Condition Oakland”) at the same time and bring our present lives to the table as we take it all in, live. The younger me is an old sould and the older me won’t grow up, so we kind of collide and fulfill each other in that way.
Can you walk us through the creative process behind the single? Was there a specific moment or idea that sparked it?Musically, I just started banging out the verse and chorus riffs very spontaneously on a Saturday morning during the COVID days. I honed it a bit and then played it for Nick when we could finally get together to play again.
Did the song evolve much from its original concept, or did it come together pretty quickly?This is one that did not go through much tinkering. It came together really quickly musically. The vocal patterns and theme came a bit later, but it all felt pretty organic and natural.
How would you describe the sonic landscape of “Newborn Fossil”? Were you experimenting with any new production techniques or sounds? The sonic landscape is very emblematic of who we are and what we want to sound like. It’s raw enough to be true to ourselves, but we want it to sound clear enough to do the song and the musicality justice. Dave Feeny (mastering) and Jake Shives (recording and mixing engineer) at Tempermill Studio did a phenomenal job of finding that balance in the production.
Your name — Marcus: the Apex Predator! — suggests a bold, primal energy. How does that persona come through in this track?I think there is a rawness, a grittiness, even a desparation, but yet a vulnerability to this track–and much of the EP–that is very true to our namesake (my late cat, Marcus).
Lyrically, “Newborn Fossil” sounds like a paradox — something ancient and brand new at the same time. What’s the deeper meaning behind the words? This goes back to the Jawreaker concert. It all stemmed from that concept–the confrontation, collision, and co-existence of new and old. I like writing about paradoxical things and juxtaposing competing things and seeing if they somehow find ways to fit together.
Are there any specific lines or moments in the track that you feel hit hardest emotionally or conceptually?I really like the chorus because the vocal pattern and guitar 2 part present a counter-melody to guirar 1 and the bass that I was worried might not work, right up until the time we recorded. Nick and Sean hadn’t heard it before I recorded those parts and it was gratifying (and a relief!) that they dug them.
As it turns out, I think the chorus is what really makes the song. I also really like the lead guitar line in the outtro. It just kind of happened as I was messing around in the days leading up to recording and I think it’s a good emotional cap on the song–especially with the really anthemic feel that Nick and Sean bring out in that part. They did amazing work on this song, and the whole EP.
What were you listening to, watching, or reading that might’ve influenced the vibe of “Newborn Fossil”?I think our influences (Jawbox, Husker Du, Fugazi, Queens of the Stone Age, Protomartyr, the Clash, Jawbreaker, At the Drive-In, etc.) are all rattling around in there somewhere. But I think that more than anything it was the drive and desparation to get something musical out there in the world in the wake of COVID that fueled a lot of the feel of the track and the EP.
Does this single signal a new direction for you musically, or is it more of a continuation of your current sound?I dont’ foresee us straying too far from who we are, musically. But there are always different ways to play in that playground of colliding sounds that we like to play in–aggressive, but beautiful; reaw but thoughtful.
Is “Newborn Fossil” part of a larger body of work, like an upcoming EP or album?There are quite a few songs that are not yet finished, but that were already coming together during this recording process. And there have been more song sketeches coming out of me in the few months since we finished Newborn Fossil.
So, I hope and expect that we’ll get to work on some new songs before too long. No more of this “seven years between records” business! Nick and I are committed to not letting that happen again.
What can fans expect from your live performance of this track — any visual or thematic elements you’re bringing to the stage?We’ll see. We don’t have any shows booked at the moment, but if and when we do, I foresee it being three guys leaving it all on the line–loud, honest, no frills.
If “Newborn Fossil” were a creature or character, what would it look like?Great question! Maybe a mix between me and Marcus the cat? No. That would be scary. I’m not sure, but hopefully something awesome–maybe with fangs, horns, a Detroit Tigers baseball cap, and a jetpack.
