The Devil Wears Prada Print Email Date: December 5, 2008
Band Member: Jeremy DePoyster
I recently had the chance to talk with The Devil Wears Prada guitar player and singer, Jeremy DePoyster. See what he has to say about the band, a new album, and his beliefs.
To start, can you introduce yourself and what your role is for The Devil Wears Prada?
My name is Jeremy DePoyster, and I play guitar and sing for The Devil Wears Prada.
What is the story behind the band? How did you guys all come together?
The band actually started about three and a half years ago with Chris, Dan, and James writing songs and jamming together and just coming up with a concept for a band. They made a myspace, and Mike joined because their other screamer wasn't really keeping up. Andy and I both went to the same school and were good friends, and we found their myspace before they had played any shows or anything, and I saw they needed a guitar player and a bassist so we both tried out and made it after they played a few shows with a fill-in bass player and one guitar. Everything just kind of took of from there. We all grew up in north suburbs of Dayton, but only Andy and I, and Dan and James were good friends before the band.
Your album Plagues has been out for over a year now. When are we going to start seeing new material? Have you started pre-production? Recording?
Well we started writing for this new record on our little headlining tour in May, and came up with some ideas over Warped tour, but we got two good, solid songs done on our break after Warped. We have about seven or eight skeletons of songs that we're going to build together into full-blown TDWP songs in this break. We just got home from our tour with Underoath so now we have pretty much a month and a half to finish writing and piece together all the parts that we have.
How do you want this album to be different than Plagues? Are you going to try and stick to the sound you guys have put out there OR are you going to show your listeners a new side of TDWP?
There will definitely be the common theme of The Devil Wears Prada, with epic keyboard breakdowns and fast-paced song structures, but I think we're going to throw in some stuff we haven't been able to before. The thing that turns me off to a band is when they re-invent themselves too much, because obviously you like the band for a reason. So we're going to stick with the same sound and ideas but add in some different feeling singing parts, and some cooler electronic type stuff. Chris and I have been talking about doing some different tunings just to get out of the same feel as the last two, but there's definitely going to be some dark parts, some melodic parts, and an overall heavy record. We were different people when we wrote Plagues, Mike and Chris were in high school, we hadn't been on most of the tours that we have now, so we're definitely coming from a different place and it's exciting. Hopefully people get into it!
What is Shipshape Clothing? How did that all start?
Mike started Shipshape just as something to do, I'm pretty sure. He said he'd always wanted to have something like that, and now he had the chance, so why not do it? He usually has really cool designs that are a bit different than the rest of the stuff companies are printing. And we get free shirts, so we're stoked on that. He sponsors a lot of cool bands.
You are currently finishing up a tour with Underoath and Saosin. How has that tour been so far? How are the dudes in Underoath and Saosin?
This tour has definitely been one of the most fun tours we've done. We hit it off amazingly with the Underoath dudes, and started playing Halo and bro-ing down with them a lot. The Saosin guys are also some of the nicest people we've been able to tour with. It's awesome. It's awesome to see a band in such a great position that is still down to earth and has their head on their shoulders. We definitely learned a lot from this tour.
What are your goals for 2009?
For 2009 we just want to put out a great record that people get into, that shows how we've matured as a band. We're doing our first major headlining tour in the spring, so that's really exciting, we're bringing a lot of our friend bands out and it should be a blast. We're also going to Russia, which is just nuts, and doing some awesome stuff in the summer. Hopefully going overseas in the fall? Who knows. It's definitely an exciting and very blessed time for us as a band.
The Devil Wears Prada is a Christian band. How have your religious beliefs influenced your music? Your life in general?
Obviously because I'm a Christian, it shapes the way I live my life, and look at and treat other people. I try to be as positive as I can, even when it's a struggle. But I think more so with Mike on his lyrics, a lot of faith-based stuff comes through. I think more than anything this band has shown me just how real God is to me and the rest of the guys in the band, and the things He's put us through and taught us are just amazing. I feel compelled to at least share that with other people, like if you found a great new book or saw a good new movie. It's not that we're preachy or forceful, it's just something that we feel has changed our lives for the better so we don't want someone else to miss an opportunity to at least hear about it?
You guys are absolutely out of control on stage. Have you guys always had that terrific stage presence?
I don't know about terrific stage presence haha. We've always gone pretty nuts onstage, and if you'd seen us back in the day we used to go even crazier. Now we're a little more concerned with making it sound good too, but there's definitely an understanding that when you go out onstage every night in this band, you give it 110% no matter how many kids are there or how crazy they're going. We've never really planned out how things go onstage, they just kind of fall together I guess? We're just goofy energetic guys and play with a lot of passion.
What are some of your musical influences?
Personally, I'm really into Interpol, The Cure, Jimmy Eat World, MeWithoutYou, Brand New, those types of things, but I'm also really into As I Lay Dying, and I really like that new Underoath record. I've always been a fan of those guys. I just started getting into this band Parkway Drive from Australia, they're pretty intense and have some sweet riffs. We're pretty across the board within the band, as far as what we listen to, so I think that comes through in the music.
Overall, what would you say is the best thing about touring and writing music?
Probably the people you meet. Meaning the bands that you become friends with, the people that work for you and other bands, the kids in the crowd and at your merch table every night. I've met so many amazing people doing this that I never would have doing just a normal job. All the guys in our touring crew are some of my best and closest friends. And I get to play shows and watch other bands every night, what's cooler than that?
Besides playing music and touring, what do you guys do for fun? Any interesting hobbies/interests?
We just started getting really into Halo 1 and Call of Duty 4 on the bus. We have two X-Boxes linked together and we can do 8 players in Halo and 4 at a time in Call of Duty, so if we're not onstage or hanging out, that's probably what we're doing. We're just a goofy bunch of dudes, we're 19-22 years old so we love video games, going to movies, just having a blast.
Any last words?
Thanks for the interview, hopefully people will pick up a copy of the new re-release of Plagues that has a DVD, and the new record when it comes out next Spring!
Thank you to Jerry Graham for setting up this interview and Jeremey DePoyster for taking the time to answer these questions. Be sure to check out The Devil Wears Prada on
Myspace and be on the look out for a new album sometime in Spring!
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House of Heroes Print Email Collin : Hey we are House of Heroes collectively, and I am Collin and I play the drums.Jared: I’m Jared, and I play the guitar!Tim: I’m Tim and I play guitar and sing.AJ: AJ. Bass…Guitar. Bass Guitar.Tim: GUITAR. VOCALS. HOUSE OF HEROES. HOUSE OF HEROES.Tim: No but really, if they’ve never heard of us. Expect a lot of rocking. I don’t know, it is kind of modern rock with a classical, more of a classical rock spin.Collin: Dynamic.Tim: Dynamic, yes. A lot of harmonies. A lot of riffs. A lot of rocking.Tim: Because it’s better. DUH.Tim: Well. It is a free country, man; you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. But uh, check it out, because we would like to keep on doing it. And that is the only way it is going to pay the bills.Jared: “Alive” - Pearl Jam.Collin: Probably something off of Dookie, Green Day.Tim: “Paulie” by Nirvana.AJ: “Say it Ain’t So” - Weezer.Tim: I like playing “I Fought the Law”. By, so and so… and The CricketsAJ: We played a Beatles song tonight, so Beatles songs are fun to play.Jared: You can’t go wrong with The Beatles.Tim: Awesome. People actually come. [Laughs] No, it’s really great, they are really great, really fun guys. We get along really well. And people come.Jared: Yeah, people come to the shows haha.Tim: Basically, Treaty of Paris wanted to do a tour with us in the Summer but for whatever reason it just didn’t end up working out for us and so we kind of felt like we screwed them over. But fortunately I guess we didn’t and they were cool enough to invite us to play that show. And so we were, “Yeah! We will come and play there.” Like, to play at The Metro just blew my mind. It’s just one of those venues that you hold in high-esteem, um, so yeah, those guys…the Treaty of Paris guys are the best. So nice, so cool.Tim: Let me answer your question with a question. How many bands are you friends with that you can put in a good word with to get us on their tour?AJ: Yes!AJ: I paint houses.Tim: I fabricate granite countertops.Jared: Thievery!Collin: Barista.Tim: I don’t know if I would choose to be in the music industry, but I would still choose to make music.Jared: I can’t do anything else!AJ: I don’t know. That is a loaded question. The industry itself is pretty terrible.AJ: The industry is a lot less about being creative and more about finding the right gimmick. And it is really hard to make money, even if you have a great gimmick.All: [Laugh in agreement]AJ: It’s really hard to make a living.Tim: One can only hope that it won’t stay like that. It kind of seems like it’s not as easy to make a record and make a million dollars anymore, so hopefully it will beat out some of those pretenders and hopefully real music fans will continue to pay the money for the music that they love. And then the cream of the crop can rise to the top of the crop and theJared: Crop top gives off that cream. CROP TOP. Errrrr.
Jared: Tim you tell the story. He was driving haha.Tim: Alright, So. We are driving along in our van and trailer, which isn’t the swift-est of ve-hicles. And there was a semi. And it was a three or four lane high way and we were in the middle lane, one of the middle lanes, and there was this semi. So I went into the left lane to pass the semi, and I was gonna be there, you know, 30 seconds, max. And this jack-whole comes screaming up on my rear in his brand new Mercedes, and, I wont describe the guy, but he just looked like a jerk. He is on my butt and he is trying, he is getting on the edge and flashing his lights and telling me to get over. And I’m like, “Oh my gosh, I’m passing a truck I can’t get over right now.” So I finally get over and he’s passing me andTim: Yeah, let’s hope. If you get caught running someone off the road you better! You could get arrested.Jared: Murder!Tim: It’s dangerous out there.Collin: I think it does in a way. I think it is a double edge sword where there are benefits to it. Cause I think kids like to feel special and feel informed. And kind of feel like they are in on things and it’s cool, there is good stuff to it, but its also I think a big important part of, ya know, all the biggest, greatest stars they are more mysterious and private.Tim: I really get, kind of bothered by that. It used to be, I don’t know, for us it was cool when you went to a show and you would run into your favorite band out back afterwards and be like “Oh my god, there they are! And you would say, “Hey, what’s up.” Now it’s like, kids are like “Where is the rest of the band?” “We need you out here signing stuff for us? WeCollin: And now its like, kids just want your picture…kids don’t buy your CD. I mean it is fine, but it is also like, we are broke!Jared: For example, last night, some kid came up to the singer of Ludo and was like “Hey, take a picture with me.” And he was like, “Okay!” He took some pictures, was talking to them for awhile, and he was like, “Do you guys have our CD?” And the kid was like, “Well, no, why would I buy it? I can just get it for free online…Will you take another picture with me?”Tim: You know, it really isn’t that we are against that…we just really want people to listen to our music. At the same time, we still support the bands that we love and go out and by albums.Collin: I mean, by all means, go out and download it, but if you like and support that band and go out to their show…buy a t-shirt or a CD or something to support us.Everyone: Yeah, yeah exactly.Tim: Sacrificed their life.Collin: Go on…hahahaJared: We get lots of random stuff. Sometimes. Collages.AJ: I think just people letting us stay at their house. I think that is a pretty big deal. They don’t know who we are. Or like, the stuff I’m stealing or what I’m doing in their bathroom. Hahah. They just trust us. That is good, cause when we save money on a hotel, that’s huge. Especially when it is a nice house!Jared: With lots of stuff to steal haha.AJ: In the other cases…we’d rather stay at a hotel! We’ll pay the 60 bucks.Tim: We do have some really cool fans though who bring us gift baskets full of stuff. Really cool stuff like, a friend of ours down in Florida made kind of a poster, plaque type thing for us full of pictures and like framed it for us. It’s cool!Tim: Listen up you’s! Do it for the music!Collin: [Grabs the mic and starts tapping the recorder] Listen to that!Tim: Tim: Sexual preference. yes, sexual preference of the group. Go.Jared: I think it is a family website haha.Collin: We really, really want to go overseas!AJ : Australia and Japan. Go to the UK. They have crazy fans too.AJ: Or UK.Collin: Mongolia. I want to go to Mongolia.Tim: That would be awesome.Collin: Japan most of all.Collin: Mongols love rock music.AJ: It’s true. According to Bill and Ted, that is their new adventure.Tim: Um, no. We have no fun. "We’re a no fun kind of band."Tim: We were harassing some drunk co-eds last night.Collin: That was fun.Tim: That WAS fun.Tim: Just hollerin’AJ: Hootin’ and hollerin’
Thank you to Jeff Risden and Chris Albin for setting up this interview. Check out the Official MySpace of House of Heroes HERE .
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Four Year Strong Print Email I recently got the chance to chat with Alan from the band Four Year Strong. Hear what he has to say about life on the road, superpowers, and Hannah Montana.
Date: September 30th 2008.
Location: Recher Theatre Towson, MD.
Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do. Alan – My name is Alan and I play guitar and sing in the band Four Year Strong.
Could you tell us a bit about the history of the band and how you guys came together? Alan – We formed the band in 2001. It started off as an acoustic type of thing because everyone was in hardcore bands before this, and other pop punk bands and we all wanted to try something new. So we met through friends, Jake(the drummer) and I grew up together and we both went to high school with Dan. We’ve had a bunch of lineup changes since we formed but we all just wanted to try something new and something a little bit different, kind of mixing all the stuff we listen to into one thing.Where was your first live show as a band and how did that go?
Alan – Our first live Four Year Strong show was on an island in Worchester, MA across the street from my house, there’s a pond and a place called The Island Club, it’s not a place where shows happen it’s like a country club of sorts. Since my dad was a member, my sister had a Halloween party there and Four Year Strong played.How did you guys end up getting signed to I Surrender Records?
Alan – We were searching for a label for a while, just sending out press kits and everything. We met up with a lot of people just by doing showcases and stuff. We did a showcase in New York City and met up with Rob Hitt, who owns I Surrender, and we just kind of talked and hit it off and started talking more and more and decided that we both kind of wanted the same things.
You guys released your full length last year, could you describe the writing process you went through on that?
Alan – Well it’s kind of hard to describe, since it was our first full length it was a lot of songs that had been written for our whole lives. It was like bits of pieces of things we’ve done all along the way. I feel like that’s how everyone’s first full length is, it’s like all or just pieces of old songs that you just resurrect to put together to make the album. It’s the first thing that people hear from you and you want to make sure that it’s something you worked really hard on to bring together.
What is your writing process in general as far as songs go, who puts together the music and lyrics?
Alan – Dan, the other singer, and me we do the majority of the writing. We usually write the music first and then vocals after. We’re really picky about writing and it usually takes us a long time to finish a song but we try to do our best.
Were you guys planning on doing a follow up release anytime soon?
Alan – Yes, were writing for a new record right now. We’re having a little bit of trouble because of our schedule since were touring so often. It’s hard to sit down and really work when were in a different place every day, were touring in a van right now so we can’t just sit on the bus and start playing. We’re taking some time off soon to really write the record and were hoping to record this winter.
What are some things you can’t live without on tour?
Alan - I wouldn’t say I couldn’t live without my computer because I’m doing that now since my backpack got stolen the first day of this tour, and it had my brand new Macbook in it so I’m pretty bummed about that. I do have a blanket that I bring on every tour, it’s not really something that I’ve had since I was a kid, my sister made it for me for Christmas a couple years ago. I’ve brought it on tour ever since so it’s been on a lot of tours, it’s nice, it’s fleece and cozy, and it’s the perfect size for the van.
What’s your favorite thing about touring?
Alan – Definitely meeting new people, making friends, getting to know bands. There’s a lot of really cool people out there. It may be one of my least favorite things as well because then when I’m done tour I end up not seeing them for a while.
Who are the pranksters of the group, or is there a lot of pranking going on?
Alan – There’s not that much because everyone gets really mad at each other, every one has really short fuses. We try to pull pranks on each other and mess around with one another a good amount. Like Josh our keyboard player, if you pull a prank on him he gets furious but it’s funny. I’d say we probably prank him the most, because it’s the funniest when he gets mad.
What are some things you guys do to keep busy while on tour?
Alan – Go to Walmart, as much as possible. I went today and bought How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, and some tissues because I’m sick. Walmart is always good, because they have everything. They have food, movies, and other stuff.
Alan – I’d be able to control time. I could stop and rewind. Not even, I just want to be able to stop time and I wasn’t stopped. Like freeze time, kind of like Zach Morris in Saved By The Bell, you know when he could do his thing and everyone else was still frozen. Because right now I’m sick and with that I could stop time, drive the van home, sleep for a few days and get better, than come back and get right back into it. I also want to be able to unfreeze someone who’s with me so I could hang out with people. I’ve thought about this, if you couldn’t tell.
What are some of your favorite snacks while on the road?
Alan – Salt and Vinegar Pringles. That’s my favorite thing in the world right now. Not everyone has them, so when I do get them it’s amazing. Salt and Vinegar chips in general are good but Pringles are delicious.
Do you have any favorite places to visit or venues to play at?
Alan – One of my favorite venues is The Palladium in Worchester, MA. It’s our hometown. It’s just a great venue; the people that work there are great. Shows are always great. There are a lot of great places our there but I always have to stick with our hometown venue.
What do you think about the increase in digital music as far as ITunes and MP3 downloads goes versus physical cd’s and cd stores?
Alan – I’m kind of learning to make peace with it, because it’s inevitable. Downloading music illegally is rough for a musician because it just hurts everyone’s career, and everyone else who trying to make a living off of it. At the same time it’s almost a blessing, because when our record came out it leaked two months before release, and the blessing behind that was, we were playing songs from the record then and kids were going nuts and singing along. They liked the new stuff, they were coming to shows, and they were buying merch. It was like a blessing in disguise really. As far as iTunes goes, I still don’t really understand it so I don’t know if I can really answer that. I’ve never bought anything off of iTunes or anything. I know everyone else in my band has but I have just never done it. Like my dad does it and stuff, but I just never had any reason to.
As a musician, how do you think the tough economy is effecting the music industry?
Alan – The one thing that’s killing musicians is gas prices. I have a lot of friends in bands that are kind of just starting out. A huge thing to do when you’re just starting out is to get out on the road and expose yourself to new fans and places. I know you can do that with the Internet these days but it’s so easy to make a Myspace and all that you just get lost in all the crap. I just know so many bands that can’t go out on tour because they are only getting so much for a guarantee every night and the drive is 10 hours so they can’t afford the gas to get to that show. It’s definitely hard.
This or That’s
Miley Cyrus or Hannah Montana?
Alan – Aren’t they the same person? I don’t follow it at all but I will go with Hannah Montana, Because the name rhymes.
Pen or Pencil?
Alan – Pen, definitely pen.
Apple Pie or Cherry Pie?
Alan – Apple pie, not a huge fan of either but I’d prefer apple. Raspberry is my favorite fruit.
Unicorns or Leprechauns?
Alan – Unicorns.
What are you guys planning for the future once your current tour is up?
Alan – Well we want to record a record this winter. Before that were going to the UK with New Found Glory, Set Your Goals, and Crime In Stereo. After we write and record, were going to get right back on the road. Maybe we’ll take some time off because we basically have been touring since our current record came out. Maybe take a month off or so and just keep touring and writing more records and touring.
Is there anything else you would like to add to your fans and the readers at ForTheSound.com?
Alan – I would like to tell everyone to just keep coming out to shows and supporting us and any other band you like. Go ahead and download the records if you need to cause I know you’re going to anyway but if you do that, come to shows and buy some merch. Help bands keep doing what they’re doing, because we can only keep doing it if you guys care.
HERE .
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Emery Print Email Date: November 3, 2008Band Members: Toby, Matt, Josh, Dave, DevinCan you start off by saying your name and what you do in the band? Where did you get the band name “Emery”? How does this album differ from your previous album?
What bands would you like to tour with in the future? Have any favorite bands that you’ve toured with? What are your favorite part of writing and song and your least favorite part? What’s your favorite song to play live? Least favorite? Favorite album of 2008 so far? Most disappointing? If you were to be reincarnated as anything in the world, what would you come back as? Favorite superhero? Do you have any regrets from high school? Did you guys play sports? Thanks so much for doing this interview! Do you have any last words for the readers at ForTheSound?
Thank you so much Jerry for setting up the interview and to Devin for taking the time to do the interview. Check out their myspace to see them on their current tour and don't forget to pick up their EP.
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All Time Low Print Email Date: November 3, 2008Band Members: Alex Gaskarth, Jack Barakat, Zack Merrick, Rian Dawson
Can you first start off by saying your name and what you do in All Time Low? My name is Alexander William Gaskarth and I sing and play guitar in All Time Low.
For this interview, I got a ton of questions from your fans over at the All Time Low Boards. I heard how dedicated they are and I didn't really realize it until my inbox was flooded within days. Cool!
Alex - In six feet under the stars, you refer to streets in fells point in Maryland. When saying 'six feet under the stars' are you referring to an actual place in Maryland or is it a figure of speech?
The song "Remembering Sunday" is one of the favorites among your fans, where'd you get the inspiration for it?
Looking back, do you have any regrets or anything you would have liked to change concerning the band?
What was the first song you ever wrote together?
So Alex, some fans have noticed that sometimes you don't wear shoes when you preform, is there a reason for this? Honestly I'm just not in the mood sometimes. Its not harder or easier to play with or without shoes, I just don't feel like it sometimes. If I get to the stage and I'm wearing sandals I'll just play barefoot, but if I have shoes for whatever reason I'll play in shoes.
What are the guys' favorite types/flavor of ice cream? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
If there were a punk goes Disney what song would you cover?
How many pairs of Nikes do you guys own?
If you guys could travel to any country in the world and play a show, where would you go and why?
Anyone in the band have any really bad habits? What are your worst habits?
Which one of you has the worst sleeping habits? Probably me. I'm usually up the latest and sleep in the latest. It's not so bad on tour, but when I get home and try to get on a normal schedule, I'm fucked!
What are your favorite activities/hobbies when you're not on tour? I play a lot of Xbox...we all do.
Whats your favorite childhood toy? My video games! haha
Favorite classic Nick show? Who's Afraid of the Dark
Alex and Jack, I heard you guys are fans of Will Ferrel's movie, Talledaga Nights, have you guys seen Anchorman? What did you think of it?
Do you remember where and what you were doing when you found/heard about 9/11/01?
Are you guys sports fans? What teams do you support?
How long does it typically take you to pack for tour? Not as long as it used to. We all have it figured out exactly what we need. Matt usually shows up at my house 5 minutes before we have to go, and I throw all of my stuff into a bag really quick.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Whats your most memorable high school experience?
Favorite thing about Maryland besides your home?
Favorite theme park? Knotts Scary Farm or Disney World! Matt and I run around and meet all the characters.
Do you every get bummed when you see things on the internet about fans not completely supporting you? All the time. I can honestly say we are the same 4 guys doing the same thing we've been doing for the past 2 years. Obviously, we started a band so people could hear our music, so it's really hurtful that people would stop supporting us because of the number of people that listen to our band, or the outlets in which our music is played. If you don't like us because we want people to hear what we have spent our lives creating then why did you ever support this band in the first place?
Jack- What did you think of The Glass Passenger?
Would you ever grease yourself up and slide down the white house hallway in a baby suit and asking if you could give a blowjob to the president otherwise you would cry and threaten to blow up the white house or jump off a 40 story building in a superman outfit trying to fly but you fall and you don't die but your paralyzed for 5 years and after that your just like new.
Thanks so much for doing the interview, do you have any last words for the readers at ForTheSound?
Thank you Matt Flyzik for setting this interview up and thank you to Alex Gaskarth for taking the time to do the interview. Check out All Time Low on their myspace and catch them on their current tour.
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Cait WolperJan 09 2009 19:24:20
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