Interview: Band Of The Week - Throwback Suburbia - Page 2

There's Eight. There's actually a hidden track after the last song. It's an okay song. We wanted to just put it on there just to put it out and that's why it's a hidden track. I don't think it's our proudest moment but it's still a decent song.

Your music has a lot of energy, a lot of personality. Do you think personality is important in music?

As far as personality coming out, to me that's the goal otherwise it's too trite. You know, you're just trying to try to write a radio song. Our songs come out working for the radio great but it was never on purpose. We're not trying to write radio hits. I hate people that write that kind of contrived following rules on how to write songs. There are bands out there like that but they don't last.

So what type of music do you try to write?

It's stuff that I can relate to. Whether it's myself or witnessing it in other people or witnessing it in Society. Even a song like "Watching You Fade" [track four on Eight Tracks] and "Circles" [unreleased but available to listen to on their website] are both very poppy and very ultra-melodic but there is an underlying message to it about taking responsibility for your action. And also getting out of bad situations and making better choices. There's been that underlying message in a few of our songs.

Sometimes I'm talking about me sometimes I'm not. I may be sayin', "Oh I'm watching you fade from my eyes" but actually, in reality it's me that's not living to the best of my abilities. I think the lyrics are always… you know… I won't say always deep but there's always something serious to be said and even though the melody may be bubble-gummy. You know.

Do you think your melodies are bubble-gummy?

Umm… No, maybe that's not the best term. I just say that I mean as opposed to some of the stuff that's out there nowadays is a little more dark; or the Emo stuff or the post-grunge crap that came out a few years ago. I would just say it's melodic. I am a big fan, and have been since I was a kid, of melody.

Article Author: A.L. Harper

I'm a writer and music journalist originally from Salt Lake City, but now living in Scotland. I was a Punk/Goth in the '80s and these artistic influences have stayed with me; although a love of Chopin, chamber music, and Spanish guitar would seem to belie this. …

Visit A.L. Harper's author page — A.L. Harper's Blog