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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 Martin and John February 22nd, 2006 |
Martin Johnson - Vocals, Guitar Paul Digiovanni - Guitar, Vocals Bryan Donahue - Bass, Vocals John Keefe - Drums |
| E: Boys Like Girls is a band with a strong fanbase generated primarily through internet attention. You're about to go on a PureVolume-sponsored tour featuring some other great bands... is this all stuff you've done before?
John: No, it's all pretty new to me and the rest of the guys. We have all played in bands and done smaller tours, but never anything like this. It's unbelievable to be able to do this, especially with awesome bands like Hit The Lights and A Thorn For Every Heart, not to mention the rest of the bands--Drive By and Keating, who are also great bands. Martin: I went on a whack tour around the country when I was seventeen with totally DIY dates, but I'm not sure that counts. The internet thing is the new revolution of music. It's the flipside of downloading. It's all about the family of bands and kids who support them... we are so fortunate to be hitting the road with A Thorn For Every Heart and Hit The Lights, and I'm very excited kids have taken the second to check out an MP3 and hear what we're all about. E: Do you think that by the time you finish the tour, it will have had a strong impact on your direction as a group? Martin: I definitely do. It's our first time out, and all the songs we are recording for our debut are going to be taking shape along the way. We are relying on the reaction of the crowd and the feeling of playing things live to feel out what is the strongest material. We already live together, but I'm sure being in a fucking van for two months will bring our personal relationships to new heights, and there is something about touring and feeling the rhythm of a crowd, other bands, and different parts of the country that totally impacts the passion. I want this to be a really fucking passionate record. We hit the studio four days after our last tour date. I feel like this tour will have a huge impact on how we record in the studio, and where the passion for the recordings is coming from. John: I think this will be nothing but a positive experience for all of us... going out there every night and performing is what we love to do, and it's going to help in all aspects as a band, and we will make a lot of new friends, which is awesome. Ultimately, it's about getting out there and doing what you love, and playing with some other great bands. We are very excited. E: While most bands traditionally have their largest fanbase in their hometown, do you think this is still holding true for you in an age where the internet has seemed to usurp the word-of-mouth method of learning about bands? Martin: Somewhat. We have recently developed a lot of love in Boston, mostly due to our good friends in other Boston bands throwing us on shows and helping spread the word about us. But as a new band, it's crazy to see kids from across the country feeling our shit and spreading the word. Thanks, Myspace. John: Yeah, I think it holds true... especially in Boston. Because Boston fans are, like, the most die hard. Only time will tell, though. E: So doing things DIY is easier than other these days... but is there a cost? Martin: Yeah, I mean, the internet gives a lot more bands a chance. I consider that a good thing. But it's still obviously up to the kids who they want to tell their friends about. It's still up to the kids what records they want to buy and what concert they want to go to. We are just happy that the internet has given us enough exposure to go on tour with some great fucking bands and allow kids to see us do what we love live. But when it comes down to it, you can't rely on cyberspace for everything. It's all about getting in a van and winning kids over oldschool... which is what I hope we can do in the upcoming months. E: Did you all meet through the band? Or were there already relationships when this got started? John: No, we met through other bands, actually. Me and Martin toured in separate bands years ago together, and developed an awesome relationship. And me and Bryan, our bassist, played in numerous garage bands, and while me and Bryan were doing a small project called States and Capitols, we met Paul, our lead guitarist, and then it kinda just came together. Martin called me, said he had some song ideas and wanted to jam, and then asked me if I knew anyone good. So it just kinda came together after that, and it worked great. E: How quickly was new material written after you all formed? John: We just kinda went for it. We practice everyday... things came together quickly because we all had so many ideas.. the chemistry is, like, unbelievable. I wrote a couple songs a week, basically. Martin: We have twenty-two songs written and demoed for the record. I had about sixty songs written that were all possiblities. I sat down with the band and we went through them and picked the best, made a list, and took 'em home. Along the way, like five more were written. I still have to pen some lyrics for the record, but we're close now. It went fast. Everyone has their own visions, and they come together real nice and create unique textures in every song. E: John, is your writing limited to the drum parts? John: No, not at all. I play other instruments as well, and I do a little singing, so if I have an idea I can sing it to them. I do a lot of arrangements, but ultimately the groove and flow of the song is my biggest part. I really like to get involved in all aspects. A good groove can drive a song and make things happen musically. E: At what point of a song's creation do you begin writing the vocal melodies? Martin: The melodies come before the lyrics, after the raw music is put down acoustically or roughly full-band. I like it when melodies can stand alone without a lyric and you can still sing along, even if it's just to "da da da da da." If the melody moves you as much as the lyric, it's a keeper. E: Do you think that writing something "catchy" is easily done on command? Martin, you seem to do a pretty good job. Martin: Thank you! "Catchy" is in the eyes of the beholder. Some people's bag is math-music, where they are "caught" by complexity. And some people just wanna hear radio-style repetition. For me, every song is different. Some lyrics and melodies come out catchier than others, but it's up to the listener to sing along, and their state of mind will let it stick in their head all day. E: So would you say you have a single philosophy about writing music? Martin: Hell no. John: Definitely not... every song is a different process, and you can never approach any song the same exact way. Martin: Every time is different. It's all about emotion, man... to me there is no way to sit down and be like, "Now I'm going to write the best melody ever." If you're feeling it, it'll come out. If you're not, you get pissed and throw your notebook at the wall and go watch reruns. E: Well thanks a lot for answering these questions... anything you want to add? John: Come check us out on tour... check out the other bands; they're all great. Visit www.myspace.com/boyslikegirls for tour dates and everything else. Martin: If you care about a band, tell your friends. That's all they ask for. Check out the other bands on the tour! A Thorn For Every Heart, Hit The Lights, Keating, and Drive By are all amazing. We are so fortuate to be rocking with them all. Stay tuned for our record this summer. Oh, and don't let Myspace ruin your life... but I bet it already has. John: Thanks a lot. |