E: The band's new record, Conversations, was just recently released on the label Trustkill Records to a good deal of scene appreciation... did this album consist of songs you'd spent a long time writing, or was the composition process compressed into a specific period of time?
Matt: We had a couple demos written that we were shopping around to a bunch of different labels, and Trustkill was kind of the most into them. So we had three songs written, and then we basically just sat down for four months and just wrote. We'd had a lot of ideas that we all just sat down with. We didn't write as many songs as we could have, but we just started writing. And over the course of the next four months, we wrote the rest of the record. We just kind of wrote, and rewrote, and worked them until we thought that they were the best they could be.
E: Was there a strong desire to get a record out for Trustkill as quickly after the signing as possible?
Matt: There was, because we wanted to start touring--to just get the wheels moving as quickly as we could. So as soon as we signed, we knew the first thing we had to do was write the record, then get out there and just push it. But we definitely wanted to take our time and make sure the record was really good, because we knew we'd be touring on it for the next two years, so we definitely wanted to be really proud of it. So there was a balance of trying to get the record out really quickly, but also trying to make a really good product.
E: Do you think the fans seeing you live who have already heard the album are more likely to have a greater experience than those hearing you for the first time at a show?
Matt: I think it's easier. I know a lot of people who buy the record and enjoy the record who come see us live, and they just love it--they're familiar with the material, and when no one's heard your band and you're playing for them the first time, it's a little bit harder for them to get into it, I think. But from our end, that just makes it more of a reason to sell it. Like, I'll want to play really well, because this person's never heard my band, so I'm kind of showcasing to them just what we're about.
E: So would you rather have a fan's first interaction with your music be through your live performance or on the CD?
Matt: I'd have to say live performance--like, I'm really proud of our CD, but I think our live show sells us better. I know there's a lot of people who are like, "I had your CD for a while and I liked it, but then I saw you guys live... and it just kind of made sense." We're all performers as much as we are musicians, and it's like... we just really enjoy playing live and we really enjoy meeting people. That's a really big part of it for us. So as much as I love our record and I'm proud of it, I think our live show is definitely our strong point.
E: Would you say the music you write really comes out the way it was meant to when it's unleashed in a live set, as opposed to when it's put down to record?
Matt: We try to keep our production like... not minimal, but when we're recording, we're constantly thinking, "Can we do this live? How will we do this live?" There are songs on the CD that have a couple of piano parts, but we play those songs live--we get a keyboard out and we play them. We try our hardest to give the audience everything they're expecting. Because the last thing you want is for someone to be expecting to hear something, and then it's not there. And then it sounds less full.
E: Do you and fans generally agree on what songs should be played at your shows?
Matt: I think so. Like, if enough people are saying to us, "I really wanna hear this song, I really wanna hear this song," then we'll start playing it. But usually, when people ask us before we play if we're going to play this song, are we going to play that song... we usually play everything everybody wants to hear.
E: Are the bands you play with on tour a major factor of how successful your band will be playing?
Matt: Yeah, I'd like to think so. I mean, we're constantly trying to tour with different bands and new bands, and we try to come across as many audiences as we can. So sometimes we try to do heavier tours, and sometimes we try to do poppier tours or softer tours. We're constantly trying to get in front of as many different people as we can.
E: As we reach an era of music where bands that were originally exclusive to your scene are hitting the main stream--bands like Taking Back Sunday becoming strong radio focal points--do you think you're in an exceptionally fortunate time to be making the music your band makes?
Matt: I do. I think it's probably the best time--it's not a thing where we're playing this music because it's popular now, but it's just a coincidence that works in our favor. But yeah, I definitely think it's a good time for bands like us to be playing the music we're playing.
E: Are you generally just as proud of those fans who've only heard you recently as you are of those who've been listening for a length of time spanning back closer to your beginning?
Matt: Yeah, I mean, some bands get really picky about them, but the way I look at it, it's like... if you like my band, I think that's awesome. If you've liked my band for a couple of weeks, I think that's just as awesome as if you've liked my band for years. I'm just trying to connect the people who are into the music that we're making. As much as I appreciate someone who's liked my band for two years, I appreciate someone who just recently got into my band just as much.
E: To what extent do you keep your fans' expectations in mind when you're writing new songs?
Matt: We're thinking about them, but it's definitely more of making the music that we want to make. But it's usually never a problem. I mean, if I feel like we were writing a record and it was going in a totally new direction, then we'd be like, "Are our fans going to be into this?" Generally, we just try to write straight-up rock songs with riffs, hooks, and leads, and people seem to be into that. So I think that if we stick with that formula, then we'll be okay.
E: Well thanks a lot, man.
Matt: Hey, no problem. Take care, buddy. |
