Rohan Kohli
07/03/07, 10:21 AM
Nick Thompson of Hit The Lights (http://www.myspace.com/hitthelights) was kind enough to take some time to clear up some questions regarding recent lead singer Colin Ross' departure.
AP: First off, thanks for doing this interview with us; we really appreciate it. When did you guys find out that Colin would be leaving the band and what were your first thoughts?
HTL: No problem Rohan, you the ROH-MAN!!! Yea, enjoy that slogan...it took me an hour to come up with it. Colin decided to announce he was leaving the band last week. At the time he wasn't showing up to practices or even calling people back when he knew we were writing. We got the hint and even started talking about finding a replacement before he finally met up with us and came lean about his feelings toward the band.
AP: How does this affect your upcoming UK tour dates?
HTL: As of right now it's still happening. We are bringing over Just Surrender and Valencia, which will be too fun to turn down anyway. If we don't have an official singer by then, we will probably have a fantastic fill in.
AP: You mentioned in the Myspace blog which addressed Colin's departure that you had to convince him to stay in the band about a year or so ago, but knew he would eventually leave; have you had any replacements in mind, or been thinking about it while he was in the band, knowing that his departure would be inevitable, or did you hope that things might work out with him?
HTL: Colin first expressed his interest in pursuing other things in the fall of last year on when we were on tour with Paramore. It pretty much came out of nowhere so it was up to us to explain to him how much work we've put into this band, how talented we thought he was, and how he couldn't just throw it away so fast without at least hanging in there and making sure it wasn't a decision he would regret. He had the same kind of doubt right before we started shopping our "Until We Get Caught" EP around, and if we hadn't talked him into staying we wouldn't have had the little label war we did. Had we let him quit during Paramore we wouldn't have gotten to tour with New Found Glory, or go to Australia with MXPX (which is his favorite band). We thought those two huge things alone would convince him that we're doing something right, along with our headlining tour which did WAY better than we expected. Even after all that we noticed he just got more and more distant, and when someone who has been a close friend for so long starts to put a space between himself and everyone else, it's NOT a good feeling. In a nutshell, things got weirder and weirder when they should have been getting better and better. We knew something was up.
AP: In retrospect, do you wish you had gone with a new singer back then, as opposed to now having to go through the hassle of finding a new singer as well as hoping that all the old fans who have grown used to and loved Colin will take to the replacement kindly?
HTL: We didn't want a new singer, we wanted Colin. Colin is about as solid a singer as you can get. Live he was always dead on and in all honesty he's a person who doesn't have an ego, which is hard to find in a front man. We started talking about a replacement only when he wasn't showing up for practice or even wanting to hang with friends. It's not something we wanted to have to do because we know that in order to keep the fans with a new front man, the new guy has to bring something to the table that Colin couldn't. If we don't do that, it's just HTL minus some talent.
AP: Most bands would probably throw in the towel after losing a member so vital and characteristic to the band's sound; what keeps you guys motivated to continue on? If you are at liberty to say, what was the discussion between the four of you like in deciding whether or not to continue as a band?
HTL: We considered many options. Whether or not we should change our name, should we start all over, is it worth all the backlash, all of that. In the end we've decided that we've put too much time and energy into this band to just "stop" being Hit The Lights. Omar, Dave and I are the main song writers and by the end, Colin had very little to do with the songs. For the last record Stickup, we had lost our old drummer so Colin wrote the drums parts and actually recorded most of them while we were bringing Nate in. That's the main thing Colin brought to the songs. Nate is MORE than capable of doing that now. The song writing is still the same, now we need someone who can bring life to the songs in a better way than Colin did. The discussion wasn't anything crazy. There was no yelling or crying. It was basically Colin sitting in one corner saying "I can't do this anymore" and us responding "Yeah, we kind of noticed." Not the best day, but I know a lot of break offs that went a lot worse.
AP: How much did touring play a part in Colin's departure? What are some of the hardships of touring that fans might not normally see?
HTL: I believe it was the main thing. The only set back of touring is the fact that you get to see everything except for some of the people that you care most about. That's probably one of the biggest problems most bands deal with, and that's why it's so important that you surround yourself with good people and great friends when you're on the road. By the end it felt that all Colin wanted to focus on was who he was missing rather than taking in how incredible it is to tour the country with your friends. Colin also had a lot more doubt about our financial security than the rest of us. We were willing to risk it for something we love, and I don't believe that he was.
AP: What is the writing process like in Hit the Lights? Was Colin a large factor? Who writes the lyrics?
HTL: The writing process for the most part is Omar, Dave or I will bring a big chunk of an idea or song in, tell everyone what their vision is for it, and then everyone puts in their input until we're happy with it. Colin would suggest drum patterns and even work with melodies a little. I love the dude, but I doubt there will be THAT much of a difference in our sound other than getting better at writing our style of music...and, of course a new vocalist.
AP: Will you guys change your writing style at all to accommodate the new singer?
HTL: No, we are all the same dudes, we're more focused on harnessing our sound than ever before. I think we're even more confident in our style now. Hopefully the new singer can bring some great writing to the table, as well as possess a higher range. Colin had a relatively low range and many of our newer songs would probably sound a little more energetic a step up. By the end we were tuning our guitars to drop C which, for those of you who don't play guitar, is the tuning a lot of metal and hardcore bands use to get a more heavy sound. Probably a tad too low for a Pop Punk Band. The heavy's nice though.
AP: What qualities are you looking for in a new singer? How will you know when you've found "the one?"
HTL: We're looking for someone who knows that being in a band is what they want. Someone who can command a crowd, tour CONSTANTLY and, of course, have a powerful, solid voice that can be pushed and sound energetic. I suppose we'll know when we all look at each other and go "yea". I hope it will happen like that.
AP: Are you looking for a new singer that resembles Colin (e.g. Saosin), or are you looking to head in a new direction?
HTL: We aren't too dedicated to Colin's exact sound, we more so would like someone who has Colin's control. Someone who can sing easily without getting off key is more important to us. Tons of people can sing, but it takes a special effort to be solid, especially when you're on a stage jumping around and sweating your ass off. The only direction we are heading for is bigger and better than before. Maybe even adding a few dimensions sonically.
AP: If folks are interested in trying out for the new position, what is the best way for them to get in touch with you? Will you be holding tryouts? If so, when will information be made available regarding said tryouts?
HTL: The best way to get in touch with us right now if you're SERIOUSLY interested is sending us a myspace message and stating something along the lines of "singer interest" in the subject. As long as you have a link to something that would showcase your vocal ability then we will absolutely check it out. This is very serious to us, so only contact us about this if you are entirely serious. If we like what we hear, we'll get a hold of you. Our fans can do their part to keep their ear to the ground as well regarding great singers. We've already gotten so much support from the fans, it's honestly helped inspire us to search even harder for the right person.
AP: Many people have been asking whether or not Nick could take over vocal duties; is this a thought that has crossed the band's mind?
HTL: While it's awesome that people have that much faith in my voice, we know there is someone out there who will be able to do it A LOT better than I can. We can't be selling ourselves short and while Dave and I both have good voices, we know that it takes a special voice to stand out. That's why a lot of people liked Colin's voice and it will make it all the more worth while when we can pull off SIKK three part harmonies with a great vocalist. That and I'm an ugly motherfucker.
AP: Is there any possibility that Colin could make a guest appearance on any of the songs on the new record?
HTL: That would be cool, I just hope we have a vocalist by then.
AP: Though his message to the fans implied otherwise, several fans were wondering if Colin has any plans to continue singing as a career?
HTL: Colin is working with his Father under a company that Colin actually started before Hit The Lights. He better not, we'll kill him. Well, if he sings at church that's o.k. Anyone other than Jesus, he'll have some problems.
AP: If fans are interested in keeping in touch with Colin, what is the best way to go about doing so?
HTL: We're having trouble staying in touch with him, good luck to anyone else! I'm sure he's been reading the myspace and people's reactions.
AP: If Colin ever decides that his decision was a mistake, would you guys be willing to take him back as a lead singer in the future?
HTL: This one is a good question. We've actually all discussed this over a lot of beers, and the fact that he did this twice before his actual departure is pretty discouraging. I don't think we could set ourselves up for a let down like that again. I'd say no.
AP: What are your plans when it comes to recording your new album? Do you
have any time set aside?
HTL: Right now the number one thing on our mind is writing. We want a solid record that reflects our band and we're very excited to have the opportunity to do that this time. We feel that Stickup had it's moments, but there were a lot of old songs snuck in and we feel that we lost a little of our character and charm through the process of production. We do have time set aside in the fall to record, but finding a singer might put a slight wrench in the gears. Either way we are planning on putting out the record in the spring of next year, so it shouldn't effect the actual release date.
AP: Do you have any producers in mind for the next record?
HTL: We do have some producers in mind, maybe even booked. We'll just let it leak on ap;). p.s. I'm winking because I have a boner.
AP: Here's your time to shine; feel free to say whatever is on your mind or talk about things I didn't ask in the questions.
HTL: We would love to thank all of our band friends for offering their help and support, whether it be nice voice mails and texts, or offers to fill in whenever we need it. It's good to know that we have so many honest friends, and it really shows that what we're doing matters. Thanks dudes. We would also like to thank the people that are leaving comments and emails to us telling us that they'll back us no matter what. It's overwhelming and we won't let you down when it comes to finding a singer. To wrap things up, it always helps to know that people actually care, it let's us know that we
aren't a lost cause.
AP: First off, thanks for doing this interview with us; we really appreciate it. When did you guys find out that Colin would be leaving the band and what were your first thoughts?
HTL: No problem Rohan, you the ROH-MAN!!! Yea, enjoy that slogan...it took me an hour to come up with it. Colin decided to announce he was leaving the band last week. At the time he wasn't showing up to practices or even calling people back when he knew we were writing. We got the hint and even started talking about finding a replacement before he finally met up with us and came lean about his feelings toward the band.
AP: How does this affect your upcoming UK tour dates?
HTL: As of right now it's still happening. We are bringing over Just Surrender and Valencia, which will be too fun to turn down anyway. If we don't have an official singer by then, we will probably have a fantastic fill in.
AP: You mentioned in the Myspace blog which addressed Colin's departure that you had to convince him to stay in the band about a year or so ago, but knew he would eventually leave; have you had any replacements in mind, or been thinking about it while he was in the band, knowing that his departure would be inevitable, or did you hope that things might work out with him?
HTL: Colin first expressed his interest in pursuing other things in the fall of last year on when we were on tour with Paramore. It pretty much came out of nowhere so it was up to us to explain to him how much work we've put into this band, how talented we thought he was, and how he couldn't just throw it away so fast without at least hanging in there and making sure it wasn't a decision he would regret. He had the same kind of doubt right before we started shopping our "Until We Get Caught" EP around, and if we hadn't talked him into staying we wouldn't have had the little label war we did. Had we let him quit during Paramore we wouldn't have gotten to tour with New Found Glory, or go to Australia with MXPX (which is his favorite band). We thought those two huge things alone would convince him that we're doing something right, along with our headlining tour which did WAY better than we expected. Even after all that we noticed he just got more and more distant, and when someone who has been a close friend for so long starts to put a space between himself and everyone else, it's NOT a good feeling. In a nutshell, things got weirder and weirder when they should have been getting better and better. We knew something was up.
AP: In retrospect, do you wish you had gone with a new singer back then, as opposed to now having to go through the hassle of finding a new singer as well as hoping that all the old fans who have grown used to and loved Colin will take to the replacement kindly?
HTL: We didn't want a new singer, we wanted Colin. Colin is about as solid a singer as you can get. Live he was always dead on and in all honesty he's a person who doesn't have an ego, which is hard to find in a front man. We started talking about a replacement only when he wasn't showing up for practice or even wanting to hang with friends. It's not something we wanted to have to do because we know that in order to keep the fans with a new front man, the new guy has to bring something to the table that Colin couldn't. If we don't do that, it's just HTL minus some talent.
AP: Most bands would probably throw in the towel after losing a member so vital and characteristic to the band's sound; what keeps you guys motivated to continue on? If you are at liberty to say, what was the discussion between the four of you like in deciding whether or not to continue as a band?
HTL: We considered many options. Whether or not we should change our name, should we start all over, is it worth all the backlash, all of that. In the end we've decided that we've put too much time and energy into this band to just "stop" being Hit The Lights. Omar, Dave and I are the main song writers and by the end, Colin had very little to do with the songs. For the last record Stickup, we had lost our old drummer so Colin wrote the drums parts and actually recorded most of them while we were bringing Nate in. That's the main thing Colin brought to the songs. Nate is MORE than capable of doing that now. The song writing is still the same, now we need someone who can bring life to the songs in a better way than Colin did. The discussion wasn't anything crazy. There was no yelling or crying. It was basically Colin sitting in one corner saying "I can't do this anymore" and us responding "Yeah, we kind of noticed." Not the best day, but I know a lot of break offs that went a lot worse.
AP: How much did touring play a part in Colin's departure? What are some of the hardships of touring that fans might not normally see?
HTL: I believe it was the main thing. The only set back of touring is the fact that you get to see everything except for some of the people that you care most about. That's probably one of the biggest problems most bands deal with, and that's why it's so important that you surround yourself with good people and great friends when you're on the road. By the end it felt that all Colin wanted to focus on was who he was missing rather than taking in how incredible it is to tour the country with your friends. Colin also had a lot more doubt about our financial security than the rest of us. We were willing to risk it for something we love, and I don't believe that he was.
AP: What is the writing process like in Hit the Lights? Was Colin a large factor? Who writes the lyrics?
HTL: The writing process for the most part is Omar, Dave or I will bring a big chunk of an idea or song in, tell everyone what their vision is for it, and then everyone puts in their input until we're happy with it. Colin would suggest drum patterns and even work with melodies a little. I love the dude, but I doubt there will be THAT much of a difference in our sound other than getting better at writing our style of music...and, of course a new vocalist.
AP: Will you guys change your writing style at all to accommodate the new singer?
HTL: No, we are all the same dudes, we're more focused on harnessing our sound than ever before. I think we're even more confident in our style now. Hopefully the new singer can bring some great writing to the table, as well as possess a higher range. Colin had a relatively low range and many of our newer songs would probably sound a little more energetic a step up. By the end we were tuning our guitars to drop C which, for those of you who don't play guitar, is the tuning a lot of metal and hardcore bands use to get a more heavy sound. Probably a tad too low for a Pop Punk Band. The heavy's nice though.
AP: What qualities are you looking for in a new singer? How will you know when you've found "the one?"
HTL: We're looking for someone who knows that being in a band is what they want. Someone who can command a crowd, tour CONSTANTLY and, of course, have a powerful, solid voice that can be pushed and sound energetic. I suppose we'll know when we all look at each other and go "yea". I hope it will happen like that.
AP: Are you looking for a new singer that resembles Colin (e.g. Saosin), or are you looking to head in a new direction?
HTL: We aren't too dedicated to Colin's exact sound, we more so would like someone who has Colin's control. Someone who can sing easily without getting off key is more important to us. Tons of people can sing, but it takes a special effort to be solid, especially when you're on a stage jumping around and sweating your ass off. The only direction we are heading for is bigger and better than before. Maybe even adding a few dimensions sonically.
AP: If folks are interested in trying out for the new position, what is the best way for them to get in touch with you? Will you be holding tryouts? If so, when will information be made available regarding said tryouts?
HTL: The best way to get in touch with us right now if you're SERIOUSLY interested is sending us a myspace message and stating something along the lines of "singer interest" in the subject. As long as you have a link to something that would showcase your vocal ability then we will absolutely check it out. This is very serious to us, so only contact us about this if you are entirely serious. If we like what we hear, we'll get a hold of you. Our fans can do their part to keep their ear to the ground as well regarding great singers. We've already gotten so much support from the fans, it's honestly helped inspire us to search even harder for the right person.
AP: Many people have been asking whether or not Nick could take over vocal duties; is this a thought that has crossed the band's mind?
HTL: While it's awesome that people have that much faith in my voice, we know there is someone out there who will be able to do it A LOT better than I can. We can't be selling ourselves short and while Dave and I both have good voices, we know that it takes a special voice to stand out. That's why a lot of people liked Colin's voice and it will make it all the more worth while when we can pull off SIKK three part harmonies with a great vocalist. That and I'm an ugly motherfucker.
AP: Is there any possibility that Colin could make a guest appearance on any of the songs on the new record?
HTL: That would be cool, I just hope we have a vocalist by then.
AP: Though his message to the fans implied otherwise, several fans were wondering if Colin has any plans to continue singing as a career?
HTL: Colin is working with his Father under a company that Colin actually started before Hit The Lights. He better not, we'll kill him. Well, if he sings at church that's o.k. Anyone other than Jesus, he'll have some problems.
AP: If fans are interested in keeping in touch with Colin, what is the best way to go about doing so?
HTL: We're having trouble staying in touch with him, good luck to anyone else! I'm sure he's been reading the myspace and people's reactions.
AP: If Colin ever decides that his decision was a mistake, would you guys be willing to take him back as a lead singer in the future?
HTL: This one is a good question. We've actually all discussed this over a lot of beers, and the fact that he did this twice before his actual departure is pretty discouraging. I don't think we could set ourselves up for a let down like that again. I'd say no.
AP: What are your plans when it comes to recording your new album? Do you
have any time set aside?
HTL: Right now the number one thing on our mind is writing. We want a solid record that reflects our band and we're very excited to have the opportunity to do that this time. We feel that Stickup had it's moments, but there were a lot of old songs snuck in and we feel that we lost a little of our character and charm through the process of production. We do have time set aside in the fall to record, but finding a singer might put a slight wrench in the gears. Either way we are planning on putting out the record in the spring of next year, so it shouldn't effect the actual release date.
AP: Do you have any producers in mind for the next record?
HTL: We do have some producers in mind, maybe even booked. We'll just let it leak on ap;). p.s. I'm winking because I have a boner.
AP: Here's your time to shine; feel free to say whatever is on your mind or talk about things I didn't ask in the questions.
HTL: We would love to thank all of our band friends for offering their help and support, whether it be nice voice mails and texts, or offers to fill in whenever we need it. It's good to know that we have so many honest friends, and it really shows that what we're doing matters. Thanks dudes. We would also like to thank the people that are leaving comments and emails to us telling us that they'll back us no matter what. It's overwhelming and we won't let you down when it comes to finding a singer. To wrap things up, it always helps to know that people actually care, it let's us know that we
aren't a lost cause.