E: Ben, Only In Movies has been putting out some great emotionally charged music as of late... who would you say your songs are written for?
Ben: For the most part I'd say the songs are written for us. Playing in bands is a great release for reality and lets you put things into perspective. If other people get something out of our music as well, it�s a great feeling. Nothing is better than be able to connect with your audience.
E: Is your live show an essential part of your band?
Ben: Yeah, playing in the studio and playing live are very different realms. Now a days with pro tools and auto tune any band can go in the studio and sound like Cher, but what I think separates some of the better bands around is the ability to take what you've done in the studio, and play it in a live setting. We always keep people wanting more, and sometimes you aren't really sure what to expect when you come to one of our shows.
E: How much attention do you pay to the audience when you perform?
Ben: A lot. The audience is a part of the band in a sense. Without them there would be no performance.
E: Do you get the chance to interact with fans a lot?
Ben: Yeah, we're always around town at local shows seeing our friends play. It's very easy to get a hold of us online, and we enjoy talking to the people who come to see us and listen to us very much.
E: Have you been developing relationships with other bands?
Ben: Yeah, although Only In Movies has been around for a matter of months, we've all been in other bands and have been playing together for years. Over the past six moths a bunch of our friends from other states have been getting deals with labels such as Victory and Trustkill. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when these labels discover what�s going on in Detroit. There�s nothing like the bands out here. They�re the most dedicated and hardworking people I've ever met.
E: Do you think you've gotten a lot accomplished considering how long you've been together?
Ben: Yeah, we've been getting really good exposure locally, we're getting ready to record our debut EP and tour in the spring. Things have been happening faster than we could have ever hoped.
E: Are there any specific dreams or plans?
Ben: I think we all share the same dream: to play music. It's my dream to show up in a city and play for even five kids that know my music. There�s no better feeling than showing up in a city you've never been to with kids singing along. As for plans, 2005 is going to be a big year for us. Our debut EP will be coming out sometime in the first quarter, and at least two months of extensive touring are in the works with various bands that will takes all over the United States.
E: How are you expecting this band to be different from past musical experiences?
Ben: I really feel we all know what we want out of this band. We all want to take this band until our hearts give out, whether that means we play in front of one hundred kids in Detroit, or being able to play in front of thousands of kids in other states. When it boils down to it, we're all here to have fun and do what we feel we do best.
E: Thanks a lot for doing the interview, man.
Ben: Thanks so much for the opportunity; we really appreciate it. |
