E: The Track Record, one of Rushmore Records' first signs, has been making a name for itself with a recent release that has been steadily making its mark. At what point did this whole music thing stop being a full-time hobby and become in your opinion, a career?
Rob E.: When we stopped going to school and started practicing 4-5 days a week� We had no time to chill with our friends anymore. It was weird, but I guess in a good way.
Rob V.: I think we allowed ourselves to look at the band as less of a hobby and more of a career once our names were on the paper. I think we needed that tangible piece of security in order to consider it a career 100%, which was around the same time as Rob said.
Rob E.: Even now it�s still just hitting us as we are going to the west for the first time.
E: Has your escalated success shaped the way you write your songs? Or have you simply been able to record the same sort of material at better quality?
Rob E.: It doesn�t completely shape the way we write our songs but it definitely has influence and pressure. Knowing you have to please fans around the world as well as the label owners is very difficult and stressful sometimes.
E: Do you think your latest release was done with as much time as you'd hoped to spend? Or were you compelled to get something released quickly to show those interested due to your recent sign?
Rob V.: The EP released in stores is the material that we showed to Drive Thru/Rushmore in the very beginning. After we were told that we would be offered a contract, it was suggested that the EP be released "as is" with new artwork.
Rob E.: It was only remastered. It gave us a chance to release something and have more time to work on a full length.
Rob V.: So I feel like we haven�t really been put in a position yet where we get to put as much attention and time in as we will be able to when recording the full length.
E: What sort of factors do you have to keep in mind when dividing your time between going out on tour and returning home to record?
Rob E.: Our goal is pretty much to have our full length out less than a year after the release of our EP... so before April 19th, 2006. We realize that touring is important but we also don�t want to be one of those bands that tours on an EP forever and takes a really long time to get a full length out. It�s kind of unfair to the fans to only have 5 recorded songs for years, so we are gonna finish up the last few songs as soon as we get back from tour in late October.
Rob V.: As with any career, it�s hard to keep a balance between your work and personal life. It just basically means you have to work hard to build strong relationships with people that will in turn last when you�re away or very busy.
E: Do you think your individual ages have an impact on how your musical success is being determined?
Rob E.: Sometimes I think that I wish we were younger so we would have more time to get popular. However, looking back on it, I�m glad we didn�t get signed until we were 2 years out of high school. It gave us more time to figure out who we were as people. We learned a lot about life and didn�t get too wrapped up in success as teenagers. I think our ages are perfect for where we are now.
Rob V.: Kids are getting signed so young these days, and a lot of them play really good music! The only thing that I could say is, the younger you are, the more time you have to build a career. I think Rob is exactly right if you apply this to our specific situation.
E: How relevant do you think the music you make is to the direction the scene seems to be going these days?
Rob E.: I think that the music on our EP borrows just enough scene elements that it can be very popular among kids that are into modern music. It will pave the way for the more progressive direction that we are going for with the full length.
E: Do you think that any changes your style goes through will be an evolution? Or will you simply be tinkering with what you have now?
Rob V.: Of course. I think that playing music is all about being a lifelong student of it. I think that as your experience as a student changes, so do your sound and product.
E: Great, thanks a lot--anything else you guys want to say?
Rob V.: Thank you and please be on the lookout for us on tour through October and in stores always! Thanks again.
Rob E.: I would like to personally thank everyone that has bought our CD or come to a show--it means the world to us. And thanks to Robby and Euphonia for doing this interview. Definitely check out our site for tour dates in your area. |
