Jason Tate
08/14/03, 08:34 PM
Dave, Jon, Jorah and Jason are all from AP.net and show up randomly throughout this interview, it's been edited for content and time - more of the interview will show up soon
dave: Whats up homey
Ben: yo ninjas!
dave: Wow....
dave: So how did it feel to get back in the studio after so long?
Ben: it was great to be back in the studio. knowing that we we getting a chance to make a real record.
dave: i already have my own opinion on "Ocean Ave" what are your thoughts after completion?
Ben: Oh ya, on the first question i just wanted to add that it was great but very tough at the same time cause of having to come up a whole records worth of new material. So the pressure was on but we came together and Ryan stepped to the plate and wrote some of the best songs he has ever written.
dave: very nice
Ben: and after completion...
Jorah: i agree with that, the lyrics on this album are a lot different, and better at that.
Ben: ya there real lyrics, about something or someone ... from that skinny kids heart, ya know?
dave: Haha, that's great!
dave: wait...i'm skinny!
dave: does that make me cool?
Ben: ryan bitach..!
dave: oooooh
Ben: you're already cool dave
dave: awww, you're so sweet
dave: In my opinion, this is your best album to date, why do you think this is?
Ben: so i think this album reflects Tellowcard right now; it's a truthful expression of us; thanks to a great recording from neal avron(producer)
Ben: the songs are so real, one about warren, one about ryans dad..
dave: may i ask what song is about warren?
dave: i know life of a salesman is about ryans dad
Ben: ryan just went through a break up during the writting process so those songs are real too
Ben: empty apartment
dave: thats what i thought
Jorah: i figured that
Ben: but all songs can be interpeted for others lives as well
dave: ya
Ben: if that made sense
dave: What can you tell us about anything special to look forward to with the release of the album?
Ben: maybe a suprise show some where special in the midst of warped
Ben: lots of in stores
dave: very cool
Ben: but overall we are just gunna keep touring constantly
dave: just like yellowcard to do so
Jorah: thats rad, fans will love that
Ben: ohh a music video...thats special and un ordinary for us
dave: ya...by the way...the video for powder...AMAZING
Ben: playing the new songs is gonna be sick
Ben: thanks
Ben: thank you scott culver
dave: he's amazing
Ben: definitely an up in comer
Jorah: no doubt
dave: the video he did for over it was awesome too
Jorah: love that one too
Ben: i wanna see it
Jorah: listening to the new records, i caught a lot of religous references...i don't know if you want to speak for the band on this or just yourself, but where did this stem from?
Jorah: especially in #11, "Believe"
Ben: well...
Ben: belive is in a way inspired by sept 11th
dave: my thoughts exactly
Ben: its about heros and people that risk there lives for other people
Jorah: i was thinking that too
Jorah: who wrote this song?
Ben: ryan
Ben: ryan always writes the basis of the song and the lyrics
dave: ryan, simply enough...is amazing at what he does
Ben: then we go and fuck it up to make it whole
dave: no way
Ben: or make it yc
Ben: the audio clips in beleive are from guiliani talking to the fire fighters a year after the incident
Jorah: oh thats rad
dave: i got goosebumps listening to that
Ben: he is reciting the gettysburg address in the second clip on the song
Jorah: i love the bridge at the end of it, the lyrics are AMAZING
Ben: thanks
Ben: its an epic song
Jorah: are any of you religous in general?
Ben: well a couple are christian but not hard core or anything
Ben: at a big dinner they'll say blessings ya know but thats it
Ben: we were raised in the bible belt so a little of that is reflected
Jorah: i see
Jorah: thats really cool
Jorah: i think you guys have developed a ton in your writings
Ben: hmmm alot behind that song
Ben: probably the most emotional
Ben: but at the same time its up beat and countryish is view from heaven.
Jorah: ya, a lil of everything
dave: haha..i love that song though
dave: its perfect
Jorah: always good to mix it up you know
dave: who is the girl in the back ups?
Ben: its about scott shad the original drummer of inspection 12 who passed away in march 2001
Ben: its sad
dave: beatiful tribute
Ben: on the back of under dog and ocean ave it says our music forever dedicated to him
Ben: he was ryans best friend
dave: oh wow..i never knew that
Ben: and his father was ryans dads business partner
dave: so he was definitely like family.
dave: Who is the girl singing back ups in View from Heaven
Ben: its actually our bass player alex's little sister
Ben: aliqia
dave: how old is she?
Ben: i dont know how to spell her name
Ben: shes is 18
dave: she's got an amazing voice
Ben: has a beautiful voice
dave: compliments the song perfectly
Jorah: very good
Jorah: does she do this normally?
Ben: ryan and sean we sooo stoked on her
Ben: they worked it all out themselves
dave: nice
Ben: i dont think she has ever recorded before honestly
dave: on the advanced copy...
Ben: yess..
dave: the picture on the back...the promo? does not include alex, is this an indication of anything? because he is in every other promo picture i have seen
Ben: it just basically stands for the fact he didnt play on the record
dave: oh ok...
Ben: ok ya but alex is rockin it with us
Ben: and pete rocked it with us on the record
dave: definitely..and he's doin a good job
Jorah: i think everyone improved dramatically in the past year or so
Ben: thanks jorah
dave: So..
Jorah: i remember when all you had was the first record and the Lobster Seasons gretting samplers...and you played with bands like Days Away
Jorah: so much improvement since then, SO MUCH, and i think the fans are gonna love it
dave: Why choose Way Away as the first single...there are 13 amazing tracks to choose from, it had to be hard to make the decision for the single...but why way away
Ben: well it just kinda happened everyone: label, producer, and band all agreed
dave: i guess thats a good reason to choose it
Ben: its weird its just the song we wanted to put out there first lyrically and musically
dave: nice..well it's definitely a strong one
Ben: and it had violin in that biatch all over it
Jorah: very fast and catchy...friendly to a new listener as well
Ben: ya it made sense
dave: Ya....you've definitely stepped up the amount of the violin work on this album? why the increase?
Ben: well its been a gradual increse since sean joined the band
dave: other than the obvious reason that its what makes Yellowcard who they are
Jorah: the first album was fast and a lot of rock...the ep was more mellow, but had a lot of violin in it. The new album blends the best of both worlds in my opinion
dave: So the violin wasnt ALWAYS a factor in YC?
Ben: we keep finding new ways to make it work and he keeps writinng amazing parts that fit the rest of the band
Ben: only for a month or two
dave: oh ok
dave: Why Capitol?
Ben: why ash why...jk
dave: true
Ben: they were so layed back
Ben: the president on our first meeting was wearing chucks and jeans
Jorah: thats laid back alright
Ben: and played guitar for us for the first 5 min
Ben: it was amazing
Ben: the have this indy feel its so weird (alex has now joined the interview) dave: welcome
alex: hey hey hey
Ben: I am gonna go pee...welcome alex.......
dave: so alex....
alex: what u got
dave: tell us about your life previous to YC
alex: i used to work freelance for production companies being an on set bitch
alex: i worked on videos and commercials
alex: for about 2 years
dave: badass...
dave: any bands?
alex: i used to sing and play bass in a band called same difference
dave: were they a touring band?
alex: i did everything for them and pulled of two official tours over the years
alex: we had many line up changes which forced us to have alot of time off
alex: but thats all in the past
dave: but how does it feel to be thrown on the road on some pretty big tours?
Ben: ya your ours now bitatch
alex: it has been awsome
Ben: he filmed us for the last year and a half too!
alex: it is still hard to consider myself part of yellowcard, i dont want the guys to feel like i'm taking credit for all the work they have put in
Jorah: its tough to be the new guy
dave: ya, but you definitely deserve to have some credit for steppin up to the plate and fillin such big shoes
alex: i have known these guys from before ryan was in the band, thanks
Jorah: but YC doesnt seem to be a band that does the whole outsider thing
alex: they dont at all
alex: they all rock, and we have a great time together
Ben: he is close friend with all of us
Jorah: you can see that everytime you hit the stage
dave: so your sister? how did everything work out for her to sing on "View from Heaven"
Jorah: such a "family"
alex: if i was not in the band i would still be supporting them all i could
Jorah: thats very cool
dave: yet you still are..in the best way possible
alex: i knew ryan was looking for someone to sing on the song
alex: my sister had sung on one of my old bands tracks
dave: oh nice...
dave: shes got an AMAZING voice
alex: i knew that she would be perfect and i drug her over to the sudio
alex: she says thanks
dave: you're welcome
dave: i am listening to it now...
dave: So why did you guys choose Neal Avron?
Ben: he was one of the first producers that approached us
Ben: he has a very musical background
dave: hes amazing
Ben: and he worked with violins before
dave: didnt know that
Jorah: thats not too common
Ben: hes done a lot of orchestral and recording with strings
dave: What keeps YC so genuine to its friends and fans?
Ben: its important to us to just put on the best show as possible, its definately the best part of what we do
Jorah: as i feel you do
alex: i'm just stoked to finally be doin it for real
alex: we all know that we wouldn't be around without them
dave: thats cool..cuz there are bands out there that dont have that mindset..you are one of the few that still do...
alex: i think we look at them more as friends then fans
dave: and honestly....i hope that stays..which i trust it will..
Ben: we try to keep contact with the fans as much as possible, when we play we try to go straight to the merch stand, alex is always yelling at me, "c'mon Ben, let's go to the Merch stand" and im like, dude i gotta breathe!
Dave: I want to thank Alex and Ben from Yellowcard for helping out with the interview, buy this album!
Interviewed by Dave Gaslin & Gang
Interviewed on 21 July 2003
[www.yellowcardrock.com (http://www.yellowcardrock.com)]
dave: Whats up homey
Ben: yo ninjas!
dave: Wow....
dave: So how did it feel to get back in the studio after so long?
Ben: it was great to be back in the studio. knowing that we we getting a chance to make a real record.
dave: i already have my own opinion on "Ocean Ave" what are your thoughts after completion?
Ben: Oh ya, on the first question i just wanted to add that it was great but very tough at the same time cause of having to come up a whole records worth of new material. So the pressure was on but we came together and Ryan stepped to the plate and wrote some of the best songs he has ever written.
dave: very nice
Ben: and after completion...
Jorah: i agree with that, the lyrics on this album are a lot different, and better at that.
Ben: ya there real lyrics, about something or someone ... from that skinny kids heart, ya know?
dave: Haha, that's great!
dave: wait...i'm skinny!
dave: does that make me cool?
Ben: ryan bitach..!
dave: oooooh
Ben: you're already cool dave
dave: awww, you're so sweet
dave: In my opinion, this is your best album to date, why do you think this is?
Ben: so i think this album reflects Tellowcard right now; it's a truthful expression of us; thanks to a great recording from neal avron(producer)
Ben: the songs are so real, one about warren, one about ryans dad..
dave: may i ask what song is about warren?
dave: i know life of a salesman is about ryans dad
Ben: ryan just went through a break up during the writting process so those songs are real too
Ben: empty apartment
dave: thats what i thought
Jorah: i figured that
Ben: but all songs can be interpeted for others lives as well
dave: ya
Ben: if that made sense
dave: What can you tell us about anything special to look forward to with the release of the album?
Ben: maybe a suprise show some where special in the midst of warped
Ben: lots of in stores
dave: very cool
Ben: but overall we are just gunna keep touring constantly
dave: just like yellowcard to do so
Jorah: thats rad, fans will love that
Ben: ohh a music video...thats special and un ordinary for us
dave: ya...by the way...the video for powder...AMAZING
Ben: playing the new songs is gonna be sick
Ben: thanks
Ben: thank you scott culver
dave: he's amazing
Ben: definitely an up in comer
Jorah: no doubt
dave: the video he did for over it was awesome too
Jorah: love that one too
Ben: i wanna see it
Jorah: listening to the new records, i caught a lot of religous references...i don't know if you want to speak for the band on this or just yourself, but where did this stem from?
Jorah: especially in #11, "Believe"
Ben: well...
Ben: belive is in a way inspired by sept 11th
dave: my thoughts exactly
Ben: its about heros and people that risk there lives for other people
Jorah: i was thinking that too
Jorah: who wrote this song?
Ben: ryan
Ben: ryan always writes the basis of the song and the lyrics
dave: ryan, simply enough...is amazing at what he does
Ben: then we go and fuck it up to make it whole
dave: no way
Ben: or make it yc
Ben: the audio clips in beleive are from guiliani talking to the fire fighters a year after the incident
Jorah: oh thats rad
dave: i got goosebumps listening to that
Ben: he is reciting the gettysburg address in the second clip on the song
Jorah: i love the bridge at the end of it, the lyrics are AMAZING
Ben: thanks
Ben: its an epic song
Jorah: are any of you religous in general?
Ben: well a couple are christian but not hard core or anything
Ben: at a big dinner they'll say blessings ya know but thats it
Ben: we were raised in the bible belt so a little of that is reflected
Jorah: i see
Jorah: thats really cool
Jorah: i think you guys have developed a ton in your writings
Ben: hmmm alot behind that song
Ben: probably the most emotional
Ben: but at the same time its up beat and countryish is view from heaven.
Jorah: ya, a lil of everything
dave: haha..i love that song though
dave: its perfect
Jorah: always good to mix it up you know
dave: who is the girl in the back ups?
Ben: its about scott shad the original drummer of inspection 12 who passed away in march 2001
Ben: its sad
dave: beatiful tribute
Ben: on the back of under dog and ocean ave it says our music forever dedicated to him
Ben: he was ryans best friend
dave: oh wow..i never knew that
Ben: and his father was ryans dads business partner
dave: so he was definitely like family.
dave: Who is the girl singing back ups in View from Heaven
Ben: its actually our bass player alex's little sister
Ben: aliqia
dave: how old is she?
Ben: i dont know how to spell her name
Ben: shes is 18
dave: she's got an amazing voice
Ben: has a beautiful voice
dave: compliments the song perfectly
Jorah: very good
Jorah: does she do this normally?
Ben: ryan and sean we sooo stoked on her
Ben: they worked it all out themselves
dave: nice
Ben: i dont think she has ever recorded before honestly
dave: on the advanced copy...
Ben: yess..
dave: the picture on the back...the promo? does not include alex, is this an indication of anything? because he is in every other promo picture i have seen
Ben: it just basically stands for the fact he didnt play on the record
dave: oh ok...
Ben: ok ya but alex is rockin it with us
Ben: and pete rocked it with us on the record
dave: definitely..and he's doin a good job
Jorah: i think everyone improved dramatically in the past year or so
Ben: thanks jorah
dave: So..
Jorah: i remember when all you had was the first record and the Lobster Seasons gretting samplers...and you played with bands like Days Away
Jorah: so much improvement since then, SO MUCH, and i think the fans are gonna love it
dave: Why choose Way Away as the first single...there are 13 amazing tracks to choose from, it had to be hard to make the decision for the single...but why way away
Ben: well it just kinda happened everyone: label, producer, and band all agreed
dave: i guess thats a good reason to choose it
Ben: its weird its just the song we wanted to put out there first lyrically and musically
dave: nice..well it's definitely a strong one
Ben: and it had violin in that biatch all over it
Jorah: very fast and catchy...friendly to a new listener as well
Ben: ya it made sense
dave: Ya....you've definitely stepped up the amount of the violin work on this album? why the increase?
Ben: well its been a gradual increse since sean joined the band
dave: other than the obvious reason that its what makes Yellowcard who they are
Jorah: the first album was fast and a lot of rock...the ep was more mellow, but had a lot of violin in it. The new album blends the best of both worlds in my opinion
dave: So the violin wasnt ALWAYS a factor in YC?
Ben: we keep finding new ways to make it work and he keeps writinng amazing parts that fit the rest of the band
Ben: only for a month or two
dave: oh ok
dave: Why Capitol?
Ben: why ash why...jk
dave: true
Ben: they were so layed back
Ben: the president on our first meeting was wearing chucks and jeans
Jorah: thats laid back alright
Ben: and played guitar for us for the first 5 min
Ben: it was amazing
Ben: the have this indy feel its so weird (alex has now joined the interview) dave: welcome
alex: hey hey hey
Ben: I am gonna go pee...welcome alex.......
dave: so alex....
alex: what u got
dave: tell us about your life previous to YC
alex: i used to work freelance for production companies being an on set bitch
alex: i worked on videos and commercials
alex: for about 2 years
dave: badass...
dave: any bands?
alex: i used to sing and play bass in a band called same difference
dave: were they a touring band?
alex: i did everything for them and pulled of two official tours over the years
alex: we had many line up changes which forced us to have alot of time off
alex: but thats all in the past
dave: but how does it feel to be thrown on the road on some pretty big tours?
Ben: ya your ours now bitatch
alex: it has been awsome
Ben: he filmed us for the last year and a half too!
alex: it is still hard to consider myself part of yellowcard, i dont want the guys to feel like i'm taking credit for all the work they have put in
Jorah: its tough to be the new guy
dave: ya, but you definitely deserve to have some credit for steppin up to the plate and fillin such big shoes
alex: i have known these guys from before ryan was in the band, thanks
Jorah: but YC doesnt seem to be a band that does the whole outsider thing
alex: they dont at all
alex: they all rock, and we have a great time together
Ben: he is close friend with all of us
Jorah: you can see that everytime you hit the stage
dave: so your sister? how did everything work out for her to sing on "View from Heaven"
Jorah: such a "family"
alex: if i was not in the band i would still be supporting them all i could
Jorah: thats very cool
dave: yet you still are..in the best way possible
alex: i knew ryan was looking for someone to sing on the song
alex: my sister had sung on one of my old bands tracks
dave: oh nice...
dave: shes got an AMAZING voice
alex: i knew that she would be perfect and i drug her over to the sudio
alex: she says thanks
dave: you're welcome
dave: i am listening to it now...
dave: So why did you guys choose Neal Avron?
Ben: he was one of the first producers that approached us
Ben: he has a very musical background
dave: hes amazing
Ben: and he worked with violins before
dave: didnt know that
Jorah: thats not too common
Ben: hes done a lot of orchestral and recording with strings
dave: What keeps YC so genuine to its friends and fans?
Ben: its important to us to just put on the best show as possible, its definately the best part of what we do
Jorah: as i feel you do
alex: i'm just stoked to finally be doin it for real
alex: we all know that we wouldn't be around without them
dave: thats cool..cuz there are bands out there that dont have that mindset..you are one of the few that still do...
alex: i think we look at them more as friends then fans
dave: and honestly....i hope that stays..which i trust it will..
Ben: we try to keep contact with the fans as much as possible, when we play we try to go straight to the merch stand, alex is always yelling at me, "c'mon Ben, let's go to the Merch stand" and im like, dude i gotta breathe!
Dave: I want to thank Alex and Ben from Yellowcard for helping out with the interview, buy this album!
Interviewed by Dave Gaslin & Gang
Interviewed on 21 July 2003
[www.yellowcardrock.com (http://www.yellowcardrock.com)]