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| ::Interviews:: |
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| review & interview content, as well as web site graphics & design, copywrite 2003-2004 Euphonia Online. use of materials granted only with reasonable purposes. |
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| interviewed by robby sumner |
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| Interview with Daniel and Justin April 20th, 2005 |
| E: Bel Air Academy has been bringing a distinct new sound to listeners now for a little over a year. What was the initial inspiration for starting the group?
Daniel: I think that we wanted to do something different that sounds good... that wasn't like everything else. Justin: I was in a ton of bands who were totally all about the politics of being in a music group... shit like people getting kicked out for not looking a certain way, and lame crap--just trying to get big. I wanted to create something about a bunch of friends playing music we liked, and that was easily liked by people. So pretty much it started as a bunch of friends, and I asked Daniel to be in the band, with him only knowing how to barely play his instrument--just because he was a good friend. Daniel: *Laughs* E: Do you think bands will generally be more successful when they arise from a group of close friends, as opposed to simply a mix of acquaintances who know their instruments extraordinarily well? Justin: Definitely. When you're stuck that closely with people for such a long time, you have to get along. Daniel: Yeah, there is more cohesion. Things are easier to talk about with less arguments. Justin: If you're all amazing musicians with nothing in common, attitudes collide and shit hit's the fan. Daniel: I think that is why we have succeeded as a band. We have that friendship outside the band too. E: Has this always been intended to be a serious commitment? Justin: Not at first. At first it was all in fun, then we just wanted to see what we could do with it and decided we wanted to do this full-time. So now this is pretty much what we are doing full-time come summer. Daniel: When I first entered the band, it wasn't that serious. Through experience, fans, and friends, we have made it serious. E: Is it difficult songwriting with six or seven members? Justin: Not really. The only clashing we have is in the guitar department. Alex is more metal and I'm more pop, but for the most part it comes together amazingly quick and easy. We always find a way to combine the elements to make it a Bel Air Academy song. Everyone has a say on a song. If one person doesn't like it, we don't play it. Daniel: The friendship factor takes affect here, too, because we are able to agree on a lot of things, and most of the time we agree. E: Are you a band that bases it'self on a lot of touring? Daniel: Not until recently. We never toured before. This summer is our first taste of it. We're the band that stays home and just tries to write the catchy songs. And I think once we get that taste, we will want to do more. Justin: Agreed. Daniel: That's what we want to do... just get the music out there anyway possible, and have fun doing it. E: When did you first start to realize that you had fans in places far from your hometown? Justin: I still don't realize it. *Laughs* I don't think it will hit me until I'm in another town on tour and some kid knows the words to a song. That will blow me away. Daniel: When we got a Myspace account, people from far places would talk to us online through AIM or Myspace, and they would talk about how much they like the music... other than that, I don't realize it either, and I hope I do realize it when we go out on tour. Justin: I do get lots of IM's from kids from out of state that like us, and that's pretty cool. I just don't think it's hit me yet. E: Do you think there'll ever be a time where you'll have to make yourselves more distanced from the fans in terms of direct communication? Justin: I would hope I don't ever fall into that category. I mean, everyone has bad days and deserves privacy, but I love talking to people who dig our stuff, and probably always will... unless I turn into Dick of the Century. It's just a weird thought, thinking we could ever get to that status of being that big... that mass amounts of people would IM us. Daniel: I love talking to new people, whether it be about our music or not... but I got a lot of IM's, and I can talk forever. E: Once you've completed new material, how anxious are you to release it to the public? Justin: We fight about this constantly. We have about four or five songs right now that blow all of our old stuff away, but we kind of want to bring it to labels and stuff before we release it to the public. We are even holding off on playing them live a lot of the time. Daniel: I think we'd be anxious just like any other band... we have songs that are somewhat done that no one has heard yet, and I personally always want to play... but it's a band decision. E: Have you been looking into label intervention? Justin: Yes. We are in need of a label... we are running out of money! Daniel: *Laughs* Agreed. Justin: We need someone to take care of us, and help us get out to the masses... and hopefully get our full-length released. Daniel: You don't realize how hard it is to do things such as tour and make CD's and merch without a label until you are one of those bands. And believe me, we have all put in plenty of our own money into this band. Justin: Yeah, everything we make and do is out of our own pockets, which I'm sure most bands understand. It's just something you have to do. We break even on most of our merch and all that good stuff, so it would be amazing to have some type of support system that brought in tons more fans. P.S.: Any labels reading this, hit me up on AIM: DontPunchLanky. E: *Laughs* What do you think is the most essential thing to have accomplished as a band to be truly successful? Justin: To play music that makes you happy, makes your fans happy, and makes you have a strong connection together. Daniel: And with the people that you are really good friends with. Justin: Like I said, I will feel accomplished when I'm in a state far away and every kid in the room knows and sings the lyrics to "Waking Up" just like they do out here in good ol' Tracy, CA. Daniel: That will make us feel accomplished and successful as a band, because we have done what we can to get our music out to as many people as possible. Justin: Hopefully this can all happen once we get on a label and are given the opportunity to prove that we can work our asses off. E: Thanks a lot, that should about do it--anything else you want to say? Justin: Listen to us at www.purevolume.com/BelAirAcademy. Daniel: We have a new website that has just been put up--it's www.BelAirAcademy.com. Before that it was just PureVolume and Myspace. Justin: Come see us on tour, and maybe give us a place to stay when were out on tour this summer with the Goodbye Celebration. Check our Myspace for dates. Daniel: Anyone should feel free to talk to us on AIM... we are generally nice people. Justin: And if you happen to IM Dustin, the band isn't liable for anything freaky he tells you. |
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Troy Liljedahl - Vocals Justin Cutright - Guitar Alex Vitelli - Guitar Chris Corsaro - Guitar Daniel Costa - Bass Chaz Maybry - Drums Dustin Lievsay - Synthesizer |