E: So Chris, you sing for the band Falling for Alba--how much of your life have you spent as a member of this band?
Chris: Well, Keoki and I started the band back in Hawaii in 2002, so a little over two years now. We've only been a full band for about a year. We started off playing a lot of acoustic stuff--Keoki and I are both writers and do a lot of our own acousitc work. So I've been working on FFA for around two years, I'd say.
E: Had you much experience prior to forming the band with Keoki?
Chris: Just messing around. I played in a band back on the big island called A Day Late, but there is no music scene there at all, so we just played for fun. I played with them for a couple of years, then met Keoki through my little brother. So Falling for Alba would be our start into something more serious--playing actual shows and getting into the scene.
E: How quickly do you think the band started toward success?
Chris: Um, well, we've been serious about this ever since we decided to pack up and move to SoCal, so we owe any success to just our love for playing and music. We are still working on spreading our music and name. We do a lot of our own promotion--passing our thousands of free sampler CDs at malls and shows--just trying to get a word of mouth buzz out there, because the southern California scene is way too overgrown: you have to work really hard to make anything happen in San Diego. We are slowly carving our own place in San Diego and in the scene.
E: So how much of the move was caused by the band?
Chris: All of it. Well, actually, I had already decided to move to San Diego before I started playing with Keoki. I was going to move and find some people to play with or even just play acoustic... but we decided in about four months of jamming that if we wanted to play our music we would have to move out of state--there's no scene, no venues, nothing.
E: What sort of reaction have you been seeing in San Diego?
Chris: Pretty good, actually. We are persistent. Like I said, a band has to work really hard to get any recognition in the scene, and since we are from out of state, it has made it four times as hard to break into the scene. There are hundreds of bands, hundreds of them, in San Diego, and you have to find some way to make your name stand out. It doesn't even matter if you are good; if you know people, you'll get shows. If you know a lot of people you get the good shows. That's why the scene is so overgrown--there are a lot of high school bands that bring all their high school friends, bring the big draws and get on the shows. We are from out of state. We started off knowing no one. From scratch. And even if you are out promoting, people don't want a free CD or flyer, because there are so many local bands out there no one wants to hear another sh*tty local band anymore--not that I have anything against highschool bands, there is a lot of talent out there, it's just all about the draw at the venues. It's hard. But we are persistent and we have been building our fanbase and we are doing quite well. I think half of it is just sticking to what you love, and just sticking with your bandmates. It takes time in SoCal to get respect, but if you are playing from your heart and being real about your music, people will see that and respect it in time. We aren't looking to blow up out of nowhere, we want to build a solid fanbase. We are friends with all our fans too--most of our close friends are all from shows we've played.
E: How has touring been?
Chris: Well, we are on the road right now on a self-booked and financed tour. We are having a blast... everyone has been really cool, and we have some good shows coming up, too. This tour we are doing a number of house parties mixed in with venues... and crashing at houses along the way. There is going to be a lot of memories on this trip. It's a short one, but we are having a blast and just playing out of state and getting our music heard in general is going to help us a lot in the long run. We hope to learn from our mistakes, since its our first time out.
E: How fair a system would you say it is to rate a band's success by the notoriety of the bands they play shows with?
Chris: That's a pretty good question... I guess it's not a good way to rate a band at all, but then again, sometimes you have to. It's all about how you look at it--a band's success of being heard, or success on the business side of the music. And I guess that question goes into the whole "selling out" thing. If a band has a loyal fanbase, then I think they have become successful. But if you want to make your music more serious business-wise, you have to get out there and play good shows, and yes, playing with well-known bands helps on the business side of the scene.
E: You were the first of the Tinted Amber Records bands--how happy have you been with the decisions the label has made in its new band signings?
Chris: Oh, wow, we were just talking about it last night. I was saying I have really good feelings with and about Tinted Amber--they have made really good choices with The Turnout (formerly Somerset) and Races to April. I am amazed by both of the bands. We just watched The Turnout jam acoustic last night, and watched them practice this morning, and I'm blown away. Such cool guys, too. Races to April is amazing also--can't get them out of my head.
E: Why do you think different generations usually have their musical tastes and genres unique to them?
Chris: Just growing up. What you are around is what you fall into, usually. Our generation is going to be full of us when we are sixty, listening to emo, hardcore, rap and all that. It's pretty funny if you think about it.
E: What do you think is the greatest thing a person can get out of music?
Chris: Something to relate to, something to help you through the good times and the bad... memories. Music is a voice, and a powerful one. You can use it to relate to others, you can use it to say what you want, to teach and even to preach. Music is a great thing, and it's my life... it's our life.
E: Well thanks, and have fun on tour.
Chris: Thanks so much man, you guys are awesome. |
