Joe Cardamone is a staple in the L.A. rock music scene.

Equal parts punky and poetic, his band The Icarus Line went on to perform for over 17 years, receiving accolades from music buffs and critics alike. The Guardian went as far as to call The Icarus Line, “The greatest rock group of the 21st Century.” But Cardamone had his sights set on other goals and disbanded the group in 2015. He has since taken to filmmaking as an alternate form of creative expression and in his film The Icarus Line Must Die, directed by music video connoisseur Michael Grodner (available on VOD platforms today), audiences get a peek into the life and times of this fascinating artist. In our exclusive interview, Cardamone talks about the beauty of East Los Angeles, the risks involved in creating art, and the universal struggle to succeed as an artist. We begin:

It’s been said that artists are ultimately driven by a need to be understood, on some level. With a film like this, to what degree is your message trying to be “understood”?

In my life, art doesn’t really function as a way for me to be understood by anything or anyone external. The process of making the work is more about sifting through the subconscious mind to piece together the missing parts of reality. Often, I don’t know what the work is about completely until after it has been finished and there’s enough space to digest. Having said that, with this film I was at a loss about why people would care about my day to day at first. At some point in the production, I realized this story was much more universal than it felt. The notion that the film is about all people who reach a place where they’re struggling to keep the plates spinning, that really made it click for me.

The Icarus Line Must Die is so strong and precise in its art-house, black & white aesthetic. Did you have a visual style or certain imagery in mind that you were looking to reproduce in the film?

[Director Michael] Grodner and I had discussed the east side of Los Angeles becoming a main character in the film. The setting being handled with respect and attention to detail was really important. Our DP Jacob Mendel is extremely talented and I have to say that he captured the entire thing with some raw artistic class.

The Icarus Line. Courtesy of Playing With Chaos.

What have people asked you about the most after seeing the film?

They ask me which parts are true. Sometimes I answer them truthfully.

Unfortunately, founding guitarist Alvin DeGuzman (who was featured in the film) passed away in early October 2017.  How did that affect you and/or the film?

The film was made and completed before he passed so I don’t think it affected the film much directly. As far as the impact on me…he was my best friend for over 20 years.

The Icarus Line Must Die played at the Highland Park IFF last year. Was that a special experience, given that the majority of the film takes place in East LA (specifically Highland Park)?

It was cool to see a movie that I’m in at a theater that I have paid to get into. That’s kind of a rush. I mean, the theater is in the film.

The Icarus Line Must Die premiere performance. Courtesy of Rock NYC Live and Recorded

Can you talk about the writing process with first-time feature director Michael Grodner?

The writing process was over the phone mostly. Some emails. We just tried to collect relevant info until an arc of some sort started to present itself. My partner Travis Keller would weigh in on the beats to check the authenticity of it. It was a super organic process.

Professionally, what’s the biggest risk you’ve taken that you feel has paid off?

Every time I make a move it feels like a risk. If it doesn’t feel like a risk then you probably aren’t doing it right.  For sure leaving the band behind and hitting stages solo felt like a risk. Leaving the safety of rock music and moving toward the unknown.

Why should audiences seek out this indie film, now available on VOD today?

I think this film is specifically for people who have a long-term dream that they lean into and make it their life for better or worse. Most of the time it’s both.