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| Academy Is, The - 04.21.07 | I had the chance to sit down and chat on the phone recently with The Academy Is guitarist, Mike Carden. Big thanks to him for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk and answer questions, those at Atlantic for helping set up the interview and making it happen, and to all of AP's users who submitted questions.
What kind of experience was it to work with producer Butch Walker? As a musician himself, do you see any influences from his own musical project in Santi? What sort of influences were there from Almost Here to the new album?
As far as Butch as a producer, we had a wonderful time. As far as Butch as a musician, we've all been a fan of him. At lot of times with Butch when we talked about the sound and the sonic value of the record, I think we all agreed on a lot of the same kind of values that we wanted within the songs, if that makes sense. As far as the sound of it, I don't think that much. I've definitely done my fair share of Butch Walker listening, so it's probably picked up somewhere in the music.
What sort of influences were there that became present from the recording of Almost Here to the writing and recording of the new album?
When we were recording Almost Here obviously different music was happening, influences were not as extreme as they were for Santi, but for Santi, we were on the road. The touring was relentless for about two and a half years. Some stuff that I can pick off the top of my head that influenced us
were The Smashing Pumpkins; a big band for me for this album, the next album and forever I think, The Clash, The Jam, The Replacements, we were listening to a lot of [Weezer's] Pinkerton, especially when we were making the record, Stereophincs, so there were those influences floating around. I think there were some English bands in there too. I don't know how much I was really
listening to them at the time, but there's some of those contemporary bands in there too. I think Blur has always been a band we've been a fan of and I think you can hear that.
What sort of influence or story was behind the artwork for the album? Do you think an album's artwork is important and essential in selling or representing an album?
There’s all of this of neon-ish stuff, and for a lack of better word it's kind of tacky. It's funny because I'd be driving at night looking at all of these neon-ish kind of things, and it didn't make very much sense with the way they were placed. The Academy Is… on three separate lines for some
reason, doesn’t look funny. I remember how it looked a bit aesthetic because I never would have thought to put those three words up. As far as the neon sign, we had it built and we snapped photos of it. There were different kinds of set-ups for it, but I think the one that everyone agreed on, was the big mondo one. To me, I think it's a vibe, I just go with instinct, and I think William does the same thing, and I know everyone else does too. I don't think why certain things happen, especially with the art. As far as the back photo, it's very important to us. The back piece on the record, which we're all proud of, was done by this guy Jack who was on tour with us to do some of the video and photo stuff and he just snapped it. I think all of us felt that it had some sort of energy within that photo. It was all of us in the practice space and he came in for a day while we were rehearsing. I am proud of the artwork.
Almost Here was written by yourself along with William. Did the process change when it came time to write Santi into an entire band effort, or was it again primarily you and William together? What sort of influences did the other band members bring to the table in Santi that wasn't present in your debut album?
It was a whole band effort, especially with the Butcher, and Michael Guy Chislett joining the band; Sisky has always been in the picture. On this record we were all in it together. Right after Warped Tour we had a member change, Tom was asked to leave at that point, and Michael came into the
band. We had a practice space in Chicago for a few weeks where we were trying out some songs that basically came out of jams. There were five individuals creating together as opposed to Almost Here, where there was a bit of a different writing style. It was more than there being a guitar
line on an acoustic, instead it was all of us writing the song in our practice space. I definitely think that with this record it feels like five individuals playing as opposed to just two players.
The new album is a big step up from the poppier Almost Here. What's the fan response been? What feelings do you have towards those who say that this was too big of a step forward in progression for the band?
I try to stay away from looking at things that are negative because I remember making the record and all of us having smirks on our faces saying "Wow, we love this", "I'm happy to be here." As far as the response I've gotten from friends, especially those from Chicago are good ones. I had a
friend of mine in particular tell me "This is the record I knew you were going to make. I feel like everything you've ever shown me, as far as music, is all collective in this CD." and I felt really proud at that point. There are all these influences packed in, and experiences we were going through - especially with William, touring, and this unexpected burst of success, and now we had an opportunity to make this great record. As far as the sound changing, for me it's a very natural change. I think there are songs that I definitely understand where people are coming from, but at the same time the bands that I gravitated towards when I was younger and bands now are bands that do change, and some of those changes just happen. That being said it's hard for me to get into because most of my favorite bands have the same changes in their records and that's what makes them who they are. I definitely did not want to make Almost Here again. That was the
time then, this is the time now, and this is a snapshot of what's going on now, where Almost Here was a snapshot of what was going on three or four years ago.
In another interview William had stated that there wasn't going to be cameos from label mates and other bands. What was the reasoning for keeping the record strictly a private project amongst those in The Academy Is and not taking the road most traveled lately by bands and having others contribute guest vocals on the record?
I think with The Academy Is.. the music part is pretty serious, in the sense that we're all trying to create this music. That being said I don't think we're against it, it's just that it is what it is - it never came up and we made the record pretty quickly and it was never even a thought. William did a few things, he had a good time and he enjoys it; bouncing around a little bit here and there, he did his fair share of that sort of stuff. It's a good question though. I'm not even sure why we didn't have
the talk.
You made mention earlier of the sudden burst of fame the band was achieving and after touring alongside big namers like Fall Out Boy and being named one of Rolling Stone's Top 10 bands to watch, how is it adjusting to being suddenly thrown into the limelight and everything that it's bringing?
We’ve never been happier. We’re basically doing everything we've always wanted to be doing; it's just been in the recent months that these other outlets have had an interest. The feed back that I've gotten was they had listened to Santi and said "This is something I want to cover or write about, this is something we have to have." and then they find out that the fan base is really important and there is already this movement happening with The Academy Is.. At that point it becomes "Oh well it's this band, they tour, and they did it all without radio or MTV." It's a different way to build a band. We're all kind of saying "Wow this is so funny" because we've been doing the same thing we've always been doing and now people are taking an interest. I think the goal is always the same, and what keeps us going is that the part we do so well, other than the records we make, is that we tour and we keep touring. We love playing live and we pride ourselves on that.
What sort of expectations do you have for the Honda Civic tour as far as getting your name out there and promoting the new record? Are there any other tour plans in the works after the Civic tour has finished?
I get a lot of questions like what do I expect and what our moral achievements are. Pete called while we were making the record and said "We're doing this tour, do you want to be apart of it?" And of course our response to him was that we wanted to be apart of the tour, it’s the first one after the album and it'll be good times. Our buddies, Cobra Starship is on the tour too, so that makes us even more excited about the whole thing, and it'll make it an enjoyable time for seven weeks of good hangs, good music. If you enjoy the band on that tour and you're downloading or picking up the record, or going to a show, or checking out any of the other bands, then I'm excited about it. Plans after the tour is over are going overseas, mainland Europe, Japan and Australia will all be done over the summer. After that we'll come back to the States and tour, but I'm not sure what
that exactly is yet.
A lot of fans were curious about the label deal. Have you guys moved up from Fueled by Ramen to Atlantic Records or are you still on Fueled by Ramen and the label is just affiliated with Atlantic?
From what I understand, there is a deal made between Atlantic and Fueled By Ramen Records. Basically what we do is we all work together and it's a lot of people at Atlantic that work with us at Fueled By Ramen.
One of the bands you played in before was Jodie, and since the break-up other members of the band have formed other bands in the Chicago scene. With so many bands coming from Chicago, do you think it's a good thing as far as being able to network amongst them? What sort of experiences or lessons have the bands you began your musical career given you, if any?
I'm very excited about what goes on in Chicago, obviously. As far as my friends, and you mentioned Jodie, a few of them went on to be in a band called June. I still keep in-touch with AJ and we jam on occasion when we're both home. I'm happy to be apart of that whole thing. The main thing I've learned, when you search for a different understanding a lot of the things will come out of yourself and others will be there to share it with. There's nothing that I can think of that is way different now.
Are there any up and coming bands from Chicago, or anywhere for that matter - that fans should be listening to or paying attention to?
Anything I say is going to be way too-cool-for school, and I don't want to be that guy, because that's not what I'm about. I like this band named Eel, I think people would enjoy them. But as far as Chicago, I know June's getting ready to go and make a new record, so check that out. |
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Displaying posts 1 - 15 of 30. |
08:48 AM on 04/21/07 | I found the influence thing kinda strange, because I definitely hear Butch Walker (not literally) in the beginning of Bulls in Brooklyn. | | |
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08:59 AM on 04/21/07 | Originally Posted by harryCane I found the influence thing kinda strange, because I definitely hear Butch Walker (not literally) in the beginning of Bulls in Brooklyn. |
He did say they were all fans of Butch, but there are others mixed in as well. | | |
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09:20 AM on 04/21/07 | Where Will We Be, Years From Now ? He gets points for mentioning The Jam and Blur as influences. I wouldn't have thought that from listening to the record but I can hear a little bit "Crazy Beat" in some of those songs. | | |
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09:51 AM on 04/21/07 | i'm kinda excited for the Honda Civic Tour. Thanks for the interview. | | |
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10:15 AM on 04/21/07 | Santi is really growing on me. I think it's musically superior to Almost Here, but I think both of their albums are great. I think these guys have a great attitude in how they craft their music, and I can't fault them on much with the stuff they've put out. | | |
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10:21 AM on 04/21/07 | good interview! i'm excited for them. | | |
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10:44 AM on 04/21/07 | Santi blows Almost Here out of the water. | | |
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11:07 AM on 04/21/07 | great interview! Mike is super cool- i got to meet him on Warped last year and talked to him before and after their set: a very fun, down to earth guy.
And Santi is amazing. I cant seem to stop listening to it. It's almost got that "summer album" thing going on... i dont know, i just like to roll the windows down and drive around with it on all day. | | |
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11:37 AM on 04/21/07 | I'm trying to get into santi but its like a whole new band to me and just feels weird. Idk maybe I'm on crack but a lot of the album feels like filler. I do love "lifetime" and "chop chop". | | |
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11:42 AM on 04/21/07 | Originally Posted by Bury Your HeadI'm trying to get into santi but its like a whole new band to me and just feels weird. Idk maybe I'm on crack but a lot of the album feels like filler. I do love "lifetime" and "chop chop". |
Give it a few really good listens. While it grew on me immediately, I know others have had to really sit and listen a bit before they "got it". | | |
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12:05 PM on 04/21/07 | I'm trying to get into santi but its like a whole new band to me and just feels weird. Idk maybe I'm on crack but a lot of the album feels like filler. I do love "lifetime" and "chop chop". | | |
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12:12 PM on 04/21/07 | mike is that man.
im suprised the interview was this short... mike LOVES to talk | | |
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