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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 Tanner, Franco, and Vin June 17th, 2004 |
Tanner Griffith - Vocals Franco Propato - Guitar Ed Myers - Guitar, Vocals Vincio D'Alessio - Bass Simon Wernofski - Drums |
| E: Lost Before Dawn's sound is packed full of emotion and energy. Do you think that a song is more difficult to play "correctly" when performing it live or when putting it onto a record? Tanner: I'd say it's two different ball games. On one hand, in the studio everything has to be perfect, but you get as many takes as you would like and all the pro tools effects your little ears can handle. But then on the other hand, when it's live you only get one chance, but people rarely notice your mistakes because you look so cool while you make them. Franco: When you play live, you're so into what's going on around you and so much adrenaline is running through you when you play that it's hard to hit everything perfectly. Vin: I think that when a band it playing live, the audience is more focused on the energy of the band, but when they listen to the recording, they're more focused on the little things. E: What aspects of your music do you try to put the most emphasis on making superior when you write and play? Tanner: As a singer, I try to make sure that I sound sincere in everything that I sing. It's important that I sound as if I'm feeling the emotion of the words rolling out of my mouth. Franco: Sometimes it's tough for me to come up with something catchy, but when I do, I try to think ahead to the rest of the song and how it will open, break down, and have a good solid ending. Vin: We like when our stuff sounds different from everything else out there, so I think we try hard to achieve that. E: Do you think that putting on a consistently amazing live show is more important that putting out a flawless album? Vin: They go hand in hand. Tanner: Every fan is different, and I see no problem in doing both extremely well and with morbid consistency. E: When you play live, do you generally keep the same set list from show to show? Tanner: Since we are limited on material at this point, the set list isn't really subject to change or pliable in the least. Vin: Word. Tanner: But with every new batch of music we roll out with, I'm sure the set will evolve naturally. E: Do you think that having a solid assortment of completed tracks is a priority over focusing on perfecting a smaller handful of songs? Tanner: Well, I don't think Franco and I see eye to eye on this--I suppose that's good, because our audience will experience a little of both worlds. I'm for perfecting a smaller number of songs rather than forcing new ones into an unstable mix. But I do realize that without change there will be no progress and no room for creative growth in the group, which is essential. Franco: I think it depends on how established a band you are. At this point we are still working on getting ourselves out there, and trying to create a lot of songs isn't worth it. Tanner: Looks like Franco is singing a new tune now. Franco: Shut up, Tanner. I just want to make a new song. *Laughs* I think it's good to have more songs that you can bring out and keep the audience interested, but right now I think it's more important to have a smaller amount of kickass songs. Vin: I think the more you mature as a band, the more your style changes. If we try to write too much now, everything will sound the same, so I think it's good to perfect the songs we have now, then as we progress, write new ones. E: What part of a song is usually the first part written by a member of the band? Vin: The guitar part is usually written first. Either Ed or Franco writes a riff and then we all sit down and mess around with it. Tanner: Guitar tracks seem to naturally begin the cycle. After the guitar tracks are written, then either vocals or bass and drums come next. Franco: Ed and I are constantly trying to come up with catchy riffs or cool progressions, then Simon and Vin both add their unique ideas and parts, and we all work it, baby. Tanner: Then we add some dynamics to the music and bam, you've got yourself a hit. E: How many areas of the band have gotten methodical and consistent? Tanner: I'd say that nothing about LBD says consistency. Franco: *Laughs* Tanner: Since we are such a new band, everyone is still settling into what exactly their area of expertise is supposed to be. But since we all have a positive attitude, a lot of desire, and some serious experience from previous projects, it's all coming together without any real snags. Franco: We have a pretty consistent practice schedule. I usually try to take any of my free time at home and online and look up shows. E: How many--and what kind of--changes are you anticipating for the band over the next year or so? Tanner: We are anticipating a possible name change in the future, but it's still being disputed. I also expect that some of the chaos and instability in our writing and scheduling will iron itself flat. I personally would like to introduce a keyboard into the mix, but for now it's only a dream. Franco: I think the quality of our music is going to progress. Ed and I keep getting better at guitar and making up more technical/unique guitar parts: Vin: I want to try some mellow stuff--something different--and add some cool sound effects in there. E: How much change do you think a band is set to go through throughout the entirety of it's career? Tanner: Now I guess that would depend on the length of a band's career, and I think we all have seen how long bands are lasting these days. It seems that most bands that last more than a few years slowly become more and more radio-freindly, and less attached to their original influences and objectives. Maybe this is to be expected after ten years in the music industry, but as of now I would hope that given the time and money we could use it to further explore ourselves and morph contemporary pop music to how we see fit. Franco: Once we all decide that this is the career we want to focus wholly on, then we will grow and our style will change slightly, but still stay true to what we all like and feel like writing. E: Has what you've experienced in LBD something new to you all? Tanner: I'd say it felt more fluid than any other band I have ever played in. These guys are all such bad ass musicians that it's really exciting to just get to sing along. Vin: Definitely. My other bands were just something to do on the weekend. We never played shows, we never had shirts, we never had songs! We're all full of passion about what we do, and I've never felt that before about any band I was in. Franco: LBD is the first band I've been in, and it's such a fun experience to play and actually have something strong to let people listen to. Being friends with The Grand Finals and Prize Fight and having Ken from the Starting Line go to my school makes me want to try to take this band as far as possible, knowing that people so close to us have and are getting to where they want to be. E: What do you think is the most important thing a band needs to have to be successful? Tanner: Obviously, good music really says it all. Franco: I think the most important thing besides getting along with your band is still having fun at what you're doing. Tanner: Most bands don't realize that it's going to take a lot of work to get what you want. You can't just hang out and play local shows and--abra kadabra! You're rich and famous. Franco: When it becomes just a job and playing because you have to play a show because you need money, it's not worth it anymore. And also, make the music you want to make, not the music your record label or the same sh*t that the media wants to hear all the time. Tanner: You have to get yourself out there. They say you have to be at the right place at the right time... well, I assure you the right place isn't in your best friend's basement. Vin: I think the most important thing to be successful is definitely good music and good attitudes. E: And how far are you hoping to take Lost Before Dawn? Tanner: Oh, us... we're going to run the gamut. It's important to know that sure, thousands have come before you and fallen never to be heard from again... but the evidence that success is possible is all around us. We are inspired by our favorite rock heroes and are willing to fight to make a name for ourselves. Franco: I hope to get onto a good label, and that we can make this our job. There's nothing better than getting paid for just messing around and having fun. As serious as a career this is, it's just friends playing and making the music that they love. Tanner: As long as you're willing to fight and keep your mission in the cross hairs, the rest is cream cheese. Franco: Cream cheese like on a cheesecake, or on a bagel? Vin: I love cheesecake. E: What do you think the band has done and will continue to do for your everyday lives? Tanner: I really only have two reasons to get up in the morning: my precious little muffin Emily--girlfriend--and LBD. Without it I would probably go down in a blaze of gunfire somewhere on the turnpike. If I don't play music at least once a week, I can feel it welling up inside me and I know it's time to perform. It's a release I depend on and I don't plan on ever stopping or slowing down. Franco: Yes, there's nothing I want to do more in life than play in a band, or work somewhere in the music or sport world. Being in this band has given me the opportunity to live a dream. Tanner: We have only been in a band a short while, but we're coming out of the gates vigilantly and steady. Franco: I really feel that we can take this band somewhere, and I want to get somewhere with it so bad, and we are on the right path to get to where we want to be. Vin: I also agree with you, Tanner. I feel like it does give me a reason to wake up in the morning-- LBD and my girlfriend, Briana, and I really can't top everything else you guys said with your big words and sh*t, so... yeah. Franco: After a long day of cutting grass with my Pops, there's no better feeling than rocking out with my best friends and making music and playing to people... that's right. I'm a landscaper. E: Thanks a lot for taking the time and doing this interview. Tanner: Thank you, sir, for this interview. Franco: No problem. Thanks so much for taking your time to interview us. It's so satisfying to know someone like you took interest in our band.. and is helping us out by interviewing us. Vin: Thanks man. |