Self Against City is mere days from releasing their Drive Thru/Rushmore full-length, Telling Secrets to Strangers. Vocalist Jonathan Michael talks to us about the new album, what they would like listeners to walk away with, and what plans the band has budding on the horizon.
What is your name and what do you play in Self Against City?
Jonathan, I sing.
How did Self Against City come about?
We came together as Self Against City in April 2004. The five of us began writing songs immediately and recorded our first studio demo in June '04. Shortly after, we signed our first recording contract, began to tour the U.S. almost incessantly, and supported our demo, which was released in April '05 as the Take It How You Want It EP. In October of '05 we began the writing sessions for our debut full-length album, Telling Secrets To Strangers. We wrote 16 songs and recorded home demos of them, finishing in January '06. We booked studio time and in March '06, drove from California to Long Island, New York to record the album with Steven Haigler and Mike Watts at Vudu Studios. The album was recorded over the course of two and a half weeks. After mixing, mastering, artwork, and pressing, the album is set to hit stores January 9th, 2007.
What has been going on with the member changes?
In regards to the departures of our original drummer and bassist: Chris left the band with intentions to expand his musical knowledge at the Berklee School of Music. Patrick had personal and familial reasons for leaving the band. The remaining 3 original members (Myself, Jack and Jeffrey) wanted nothing more than to continue the work we started, so we began auditioning bassists and drummers simultaneously. Finding good chemistry in a live setting was our main focus, but live chemistry is something that develops over the course of time, so finding the right fit wasn't easy. At the same time, we had tours that we committed ourselves to, so we had to keep those commitments whether the chemistry was there or not. We were in a bind.
We called up Hunter Macdonald, a bassist we met while we were on tour with JamisonParker. Hunter was JP's touring bassist and currently plays in the band Firescape. Firescape was taking time off, so Hunter was happy to take the opportunity to get out on the road. We auditioned two drummers while Hunter was getting his groove down, but neither of them seemed to click. A few days before we were set to leave, Jack's long time mentor, Danny C suggested that we call Sac-town drum legend Justin Barnes. We did, and after only 5 hours of practice, Justin had learned the entire set. Three days later we left on a three-month long touring gauntlet.
During our last tour, new developments in the career of Firescape brought the band out of hibernation and back onto the touring circuit. Hunter's loyalty and friendship with Firescape was exactly the type of chemistry we needed to find for SAC, so we parted ways for mutually beneficial incentives. We needed someone who understood our live presence, future aspirations, and could be completely dedicated to being a new, permanent member. Jack, Jeff and I began to talk about Blake Abbey. Blake filled in on rhythm guitar for one tour in fall of '05 (while Jeff was performing in another group), but originally played bass and sang in the central Florida band, Abagnale. We gave Blake a copy of the new album, and 4 days later he left his home in Florida to find his place here (in our Chevy 3500 van) in sunny Sacramento, CA, as the newest member and bassist of Self Against City.
You guys are from Sacramento, CA. What kind of music dominates the area, and how does Self Against City fit into it all?
When we started the band we all felt like metal/hardcore dominated the Sacramento scene. Recently, however, I have noticed or been turned onto a myriad of bands and groups coming out locally that are a far cry from the heavy scene that was when we started just two and half years ago. I think the local scene here is changing and making way for something new to emerge. As to how we fit into it, only time will tell. Hopefully we can inspire musicians to do what we do, and that is simply, PLAY MUSIC THAT YOU LOVE, and never stop growing as an artist or individual.
The release date for Telling Secrets To Strangers is just around the corner. What should we expect? Tell us what you were trying to accomplish with this record, and what you would like your listeners to walk away with.
Wanna know a secret? Because I know I always do. All the songs on TSTS are about personal human experience and our inner-reflections on memories we could never erase. The record itself was the goal in mind, and by that I mean writing/conceptualizing, recording, and materializing the album itself – turning the brainwaves into sound waves. We took our ideas and experiences and crafted them into musical movements for the purpose of recording and performing in a live setting. We wrote about self-realization, consequence, sincerity, fate, and numerous other aspects of the human condition. In a nutshell, our goal was to create meaningful music that we could perform with genuine emotion and intensity, something that would make the listener walk away with a smile.
The album was originally set to release in the fall of 2006, if I heard correctly? Why was the date pushed back? Was this your decision or the label's?
There was no major reason the album was pushed back. All records are different, and therefore take different amounts of time to be properly developed and completed. If anything did actually create a noticeable delay, I would say it would have to be compiling the artwork. Jack, Jeffrey and I created the set on the cover, rear and inner panels of the album using personal belongings and a few lyrically connected items that we purchased at The Goodwill in Santa Monica. With the help of photographer Issac White, and all around whiz Kelly Orr doing the layout, the artwork finally took its form.
If you had to pick one of your songs off the new album for a potential fan to listen to, which one would you pick? Which song off Telling Secrets To Strangers was the most difficult to record or write? Why?
It would absolutely depend on the person, but if we're talking blind, then probably “Tequila Moonlight.” It's pretty, and it's rockin’. The most difficult song to record was probably “Back To Our Innocence” because the style of the song required much more attention to production. Time is money in the recording studio, and extra time was a luxury we didn't have.
I watched a video interview with you guys from Drivenfaroff.com. There you talked about writing for the new album, and how you popped in a bunch of albums from your predecessors for inspiration. What were these albums? What bands and albums would you consider your biggest influences?
We studied many albums to gain better personal understanding of why they had such great success. We needed to know how these albums managed to incite such strong emotion in the listeners, and how they inspired people to live more vivid lives.
The Beatles - entire collection
Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
Oasis - What's The Story Morning Glory?
Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind
Radiohead - OK Computer
Will you be touring in support of the album soon?
Yes. We have a few album release shows in early January. Then we're hitting the road with Boys Like Girls later that month.
Say you guys were booked to headline a tour. What bands would like to see as your openers? Why?
It would be unstoppable to have The Killers and Oasis open for us just so we could piss off Noel Gallager and Brandon Flowers, haha. I can see them now over a cup of tea. "Bloody American bastards, Id give my child away just to 'eadline over em'" while Flowers piously knots his bow-tie to perfection. I'm kidding of course, I love both bands. Honestly, we're nowhere near big enough to headline a tour right now, but I'll keep thinking about it for when we do.
You recently posted a blog about Myspace "dying." Obviously being a band that frequents the mega-community, what are your thoughts on the matter? Do you think bands are putting themselves in a bad position by depending on Myspace too much?
Before I answer this, let's be clear that although we did "post" this blog, we did not write it. This article can be found at http://duggmirror.com/music/MySpace_is_Dying/. My purpose for posting it as a blog was one of inquiry as well. I wanted to know what others thought about people considering teenagers to be whimsical fodder for corporate marketing plans, but more importantly, bring attention to the fact that Myspace IS actually changing the music industry.
Is Self Against City still considered a Rushmore band?
We're usually considered a rock band, but I guess you could call us that. Who wants to be a rock when you could be a whole mountain? Ok, yes.
In interviews or in talking with fans, does it bother or tire you to talk about Drive Thru? The label has been under so much heat from fans lately, what would you like to say in response?
Yes. I enjoy talking about Self Against City much more. We are unaware of any heat that the label is under that will inhibit us.
What do you like about being on Drive Thru/Rushmore?
The 401k plan!
Any plans to make a video soon? If so, which song?
We will be making a video for “Becoming a Monster” very soon.
What do you think of AP.net? Do you check out the site often or others sites like it?
AP.net has always helped us further our cause. We gladly support any site that does the same for us. It helps us gain access to a huge online community of people who we would be unable to reach otherwise.
It seems as though you guys were signed relatively soon after forming. That being so, you must've learned a lot about the music industry, the tricks of the trade, very quickly. What advice can you give bands that are looking for or in the midst of label deals?
A band’s main focus should be writing the best songs they can. A label deal will only work for you in the long run if you can write and perform great songs and continually excel. Find it, manifest destiny, instead of trying to use a record label to make destiny find you. When you find it, tell everyone, and when you do, the labels will find you.
Do you have any bands you would like to recommend us? What have you been listening to lately?
Kings of Convenience, Mates of State, The Killers, The Velvet Teen, Sigur Ros
Jonathan seems to have his head on straight. Very modest, but a pretty good sense of humor. He keeps it real, and Self Against City, since I've heard them, have never heard a song (I have all their songs previously released on Itunes) that I do not enjoy. I do not expect this album to be any different. Awesome interview.
" Jack, Jeff and I began to talk about Blake Abbey. Blake filled in on rhythm guitar for one tour in fall of '05 (while Jeff was performing in another group), but originally played bass and sang in the central Florida band, Abagnale. We gave Blake a copy of the new album, and 4 days later he left his home in Florida to find his place here (in our Chevy 3500 van) in sunny Sacramento, CA, as the newest member and bassist of Self Against City. "
Abagnale could have been huge IMO. I Love Blake Abbey.
Jonathan seems to have his head on straight. Very modest, but a pretty good sense of humor. He keeps it real, and Self Against City, since I've heard them, have never heard a song (I have all their songs previously released on Itunes) that I do not enjoy. I do not expect this album to be any different. Awesome interview.
" Jack, Jeff and I began to talk about Blake Abbey. Blake filled in on rhythm guitar for one tour in fall of '05 (while Jeff was performing in another group), but originally played bass and sang in the central Florida band, Abagnale. We gave Blake a copy of the new album, and 4 days later he left his home in Florida to find his place here (in our Chevy 3500 van) in sunny Sacramento, CA, as the newest member and bassist of Self Against City. "
Abagnale could have been huge IMO. I Love Blake Abbey.
Amen to this - Abagnale was amazing. I miss seeing them live, still listen to their songs all the time.
Julia Conny! You always do the best interviews.
Great job, as per usual.
I am so excited for this. I pre ordered this CD the first day you could. I expect great things from these boys.
Julia Conny! You always do the best interviews.
Great job, as per usual.
I am so excited for this. I pre ordered this CD the first day you could. I expect great things from these boys.
Well thank you. I try. I've been getting excited about this release too. I need some good pop in my life.
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