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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 Jeff and Ryan June 14th, 2004 |
Jeff Sahyoun - Vocals, Guitar Kenji Chan - Guitar, Vocals Ryan Black - Bass, Vocals Chris Crandall - Drums |
| E: So Best Interest has been making a growing mark on the scene with a well-crafted live performance ability and a strong fan backing. How has the band worked to give back to the fans that support it? Jeff: Seriously, I think our fans are amazing. We don't really like to call anyone "fans"--everyone is our friend. We just want to give them music that can help them get through anything they're going through. We're also online, and we try to talk to everyone we can. Hopefully when the new album comes out we'll be on tour, and we'll be able to hang out with everyone that has supported us. We'd give them anything. We recently had a contest where we were going to fly two people out to California to watch us and hang out with us at Warped Tour, since we're not touring right now. We try to repay them with the music, and most of them know how much they mean to us, which is the only reason we're still together. They're our inspiration to writing and never giving up. E: What first motivated you to join the band in the first place? Jeff: I've been playing since I was a kid, and going to tons and tons of shows made me want to be in a band so bad... I started my first band at the age of, like, thirteen. Playing in front of people was the greatest feeling in the world. Ryan: My motivation came from my parents at first, but then music turned into my life, and I started and joined many bands playing drums, back in the day... and then I turned to bass about two years ago. I started when I was nine. E: Was Best Interest the sort of band you'd always imagined being in? Ryan: Yes and no. I love so many genres of music, but I'd have to say that this band is definitely one of the funnest things I've ever been a part of, and I've made great friends, and yeah... I love this band. I like playing music that makes kids want more and have fun, and laugh and think and cry all at the same time. Jeff: Best Interest is everything I've imagined being in... best friends, good music, and always fun. Well, now anyway. I'd always imagined being in a poppy band of some sort, kind of like New Found Glory, Starting Line, etc... but we've grown into our own kind of style, and I'm loving every minute of it. It's growing into being everything I've ever wanted. E: Is there anything you'd rather be doing right now in regards to the band? Jeff: On tour for sure, but we've got to finish recording our full length until we get to do that again. Less than two months left! Ryan: Oh man! I would love to be on tour right now, but we have so much work to do, and I know that it'll happen when we're ready. E: What do you most look forward to about the upcoming tour? Jeff: Meeting all the kids we've never met yet! I can't wait to hang out with them. Ryan: The friends to make in far away places and just being in a different city every night, seeing different places and learning from them. E: What does playing on the Warped Tour mean to you as a band? Jeff: I guess it must mean we're doing something right. I grew up going to the Warped Tour, and now I'm actually a part of it, so it's pretty amazing. E: Would you say that the spot is the greatest display of your successes to date? Or were there other instances that rival it? Jeff: Being the featured band on PureVolume made me feel really proud. We work so hard, so something like that makes me feel like it's all paying off. Another instance that probably rival that was our show at the Galaxy Theatre a couple of months ago where you can't hear yourself singing because the kids are singing louder than you are. Ryan: Any packed show where I can hear the crowd singing louder than me. And it just seems like each show that we do, I feel more and more into it and more in tune with the rest of the band. E: Do you find that there are parts of your life supposedly unrelated to music that the band somehow still affects? Jeff: School and social life. Instead of taking notes or doing my homework, I always end up writing lyrics and writing a new song, so I start to slack off. The social part of my life has become the band. I don't have the same amount of time to hang out with everyone like I used to. I'm always at practice or locked up in the studio. Weekends is always shows or practice as well, so it's kind of hard sometimes, but it's the sacrifice I chose to make, and I don't regret a second of it. Ryan: It affects every aspect of my life. I can go to the beach, school, the mall, anywhere and I'm always thinking about the band and everything that we do, and it seems like I apply most of the band's aspects to everything I do. E: What have you found to be the most gratifying moments of being a musician? Jeff: Live shows. Everything comes together and watching kids sing along or cry to the songs I'm singing is the most gratifying feeling the world. E: So what would you say are the elements that make up a great show? Jeff: Lots of kids, to feed off of their energy... nice size stage is a must... awesome lighting and a kickass sound man that respects your band and knows what he's doing. The rest is history from there. E: How much has this career helped you make friends with other bands? Ryan: Well, I've made friends with many bands since I've been a part of Best Interest, and I've met lots of awesome people. Jeff: It has helped us so much! We always meet bands at shows or on small tours and make so many friends. It's always good to have friends in case you ever need anything. E: Do you predict any changes for the better in the band's near future? Ryan: Our music has definitely gotten better--more energetic and fun to listen to. We have lots of new songs, and we can't wait for the fans to hear them. Jeff: I think the band's sound will evolve into something awesome and very different. We're almost where we want to be... the new album is definitely a lot different than our older stuff, so I think that's the first change we've made for a better future. E: Do you think that your sound will keep changing as you release more and more albums? Jeff: Definitely. We're always trying something new. I think all great bands try to make every album different than the last. I'm excited to see what comes in the future. I think our sound will keep growing and progressing into something unique. That's what we're always shooting for, nowadays. Ryan: I'm about 104% sure that we will change as times change; not to fit in, really, but more so just to feed our musical status for that particlular time. *Laughs* E: And what do you hope to do with the band over the course of the next year? Jeff: Take everything one step at a time, and not rush anything. I want to build a huge, solid fanbase, then tour as much as we can, try to promote the album as much as possible, and hopefully land a good record deal when we're ready for one. Ryan: I would love to tour and tour and tour some more--just get away from our town and build up a huge following, and then try for a major label, and hopefully start to get good exposure and make some money. E: Well, that's about it. Thanks for doing the interview--anything else you want to say before we go? Ryan: Thank you so much for having us. I just want to thank any person or band that has ever inspired me to do what I love, and thanks again for the interview. Jeff: Thanks for interviewing us! Ryan: And all of the awesome fans and friends that we've made. |