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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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Cove Reber - Vocals Beau Burchell - Guitar, Vocals Justin Shekoski - Guitar, Vocals Chris Sorenson - Bass, Vocals Alex Rodriguez - Drums |
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| Band Website Label - Death Do Us Part Listen - "Translating the Name" |
| Interview with Beau May 8th, 2004 |
| E: Beau, the success of Saosin has been astounding as you've been gaining more and more fans around the world. What do you think it is that the band offers that has taken in so many listeners? Beau: We are just trying to write really good music... music that we are proud of, and music that we would listen to. To be honest, I really don't know why we have been so lucky in gaining so many fans. We are just being ourselves, and trying to write good music. E: Is it easy to get caught up in the excitement of the fans at shows? Beau: We all really love the fact that a lot of kids sing along at shows. There are kids dancing and singing, and it's a really positive and reassuring feeling we get from seeing them all out there. E: Would you say that the band is turning out the way you would have predicted it would when you first started out? Beau: Yes, but I didn't know that we would grow so fast. I mean, we really believe in what we are doing. We are proud of it. So of course we thought it would be a success. I don't think anything is worth doing unless you think it will be a success. We are just happy so many people found out about us and started supporting us. E: How is Saosin different from other experiences you've had as musicians? Beau: Saosin is the result of all the other musical experiences we have had. Everything that went wrong in other bands, we tried to make right in this band. And I think that could be contributing to our success that we have experienced so far. E: Should fans be expecting any change in Saosin's style or sound as the band undergoes line-up changes? Beau: We wrote the EP before [former vocalist] Anthony [Green] was even in the band... so the music will be the same. He never wrote any of the music. E: So has the current songwriting process shown any signs of a new direction for the group? Beau: I don't think so. There is just more of the EP. Obviously the voice will be different, but I think it will be better. We have some heavier songs, and some that are softer. All in all, it will be a really good record that we are all proud of. E: With the coming full-length, are there any plans to join an established label? Or will the band continue to work under Death Do Us Part, which I believe is under your own management? Beau: Yeah, me and my partner Drew own Death Do Us Part. I'm not sure what label the new record will be out on. We had a lot of offers on the table, but since our singer quit at the last minute, it really screwed things up for the band financially. We had to cancel tours which we would have made a lot of money from to pay our bills with. If we do decide to release it ourselves on Death Do Us Part, then we will have a distro deal that will make it available in all stores. E: So what are the chances of seeing the band on this year's Warped Tour? Beau: I don't think it is going to happen. Unless we can finish writing and recording all the music before we leave. I think we could... but we wouldn't have much time to practice. We haven't rehearsed in over three months, so we would be pretty rusty. Especially with having to teach someone all our songs. E: Do you still find yourselves as excited about being involved with music as you were at the start of your careers? Beau: Oh yes, definitely. Music is all of our lives. E: Beau, you're involved in a number of aspects of the music scene. What involvements do you find to be the most rewarding? Beau: Playing in front of an audience, I think, is the most rewarding part of being involved with music. But producing and creating music is a totally different area that is very rewarding also. E: How does a band come about being produced by Beau from Saosin? I take it they seek you out? Beau: Yeah... I really don't go out and hunt bands down and say, "I want to produce your band!" If a band likes what I do as a songwriter and as a producer then somehow they contact me. Then, if I like their music... and if I feel I can make it really good... then I will commit to giving them 110% and make the best record we can. E: How do you think being a producer affects your other life as a musician? Beau: Well, when I wear my producer hat, it lets me take a step back from being in a band. That way I never take it for granted. And being a producer, I am always thinking about the best thing for the song, rather than the band member. E: What's the greatest difficulty when it comes to songwriting? Beau: Writing songs. *Laughs* The whole process is hard. Writing riffs... arranging them... putting them together with other parts... deciding on tempos... everything about it is hard. E: How have you and Justin learned to work with one another with dual guitars on each song? Beau: I really don't know. It's like we are brothers or something... and we share a brain when it comes to guitar parts. It's been like that from the very beginning. E: In what way do you think the relationships that you have with your bandmates affect the music? Beau: I think it affects us in a really good way. We are all really good friends now, and can tell each other anything. So if a part in a song sucks, someone will say something. None of us are scared of getting our feelings hurt if someone doesn't like a part. So we let each other know. It is a really good quality control. E: How many of the songs that you write and record as demos end up making it onto the final release? Beau: Well, we write as we demo. I have a studio, so it makes things really easy. If a riff or part sucks, we will hear it recorded, and we will realize that it is not good enough, so we throw it out right there. We don't like wasting time. So pretty much, if we complete a song, it stays for the record. But they will still be tweaked a little bit. E: Are there ever specific vibes or feels you hope to get from the songs you write? Beau: Well, it's hard to explain, but I will try... some songs, where they are riff-y... I want to get a great vibe where you can't deny that it kicks ass. But other songs, I try to get a vibe where you can't deny that it is a great song. Like, some songs, you may not necessarily like... but you can't deny that it is a great song. E: Is there anything you've decided you definitely don't want to do as a musician? Beau: Yes. I don't want to play the kazoo. Or the whistle. E: Are there any regrets about picking a name that so many people fail to pronounce correctly? [Note: "Saosin" is pronounced "Say Ocean"] Beau: Nope. It has actually helped us, I think, 'cause it gets people talking about us. E: Where do you hope to take Saosin in the future? Beau: I would have to be able to go around the world and have people singing our songs and coming to shows. I don't really have the desire to get insanely huge, but if it happens, then it's more people that know about us... and that would be really cool. E: What do you think is the truest way that fans can express their appreciation for your band? Beau: Just coming to shows and being nice to people. There are a lot of bands that have mean fans, and so far we have been extremely fortunate that all of our fans are really nice people. Well, at least the ones that we have met. And I usually try to meet as many people as possible. E: Have you gotten used to seeing kids in Saosin t-shirts and shouting lyrics back at you at shows? Beau: Yeah... I am used to it when I am walking around at a show. It is the coolest thing ever. But once we get onstage, and there are all these kids singing along... it gets me every time. I get so excited. I get all weak in the knees. It's the best high you can get. E: Well thanks so much for taking the time to talk. It's been a real honor. Beau: Thank you! |