After The Sirens Interview
HM Magazine is co-sponsoring a short little tour with Blue Duck Records artists After The Sirens and Palaris. So, we thought we'd do a little online interview to introduce each band to ya'll. First up is After The Sirens. Enjoy.
How do you perceive the role of artist in light of your faith in Christ?
Nick: Music is one of the greatest gifts God gave us, from Beethoven and Hendrix to your cousin’s fifth grade piano recital. Its potential to stimulate the mind and emotions of everyone involved—from composer to performer to listener—is amazing and reflects the intricate and all-encompassing nature of God’s creation. As artists, blessed with the gift of creating music and performing it, we are called to excellence by our faith in fulfilling our potential in that blessing so that gift can bless others.
What are 5 to 10 albums that everyone reading this should own? Why?
Ryan, Nick, Jon: These were the only five we could agree on:
mewithoutYou – “Catch for us the Foxes”: They combine two of the greatest artistic mediums—music and poetry—and Aaron Weiss is one of the best lyricists ever.
As Cities Burn – “Son, I Loved You at your Darkest”: Probably the most honest album ever written and the lyrics are set to the music perfectly.
Taking Back Sunday – “Where You Want to Be”: Taking Back Sunday doesn’t need a why, they’re just great.
Death Cab For Cutie – “Transatlanticism”: I (Ryan) would put their entire catalog up here on “must-own albums,” but this album in particular is one of my favorites. Ben Gibbard is up there with Aaron Weiss on the best lyricists list. The juxtaposition of musical simplicity and complex narrative themes makes it great music for almost any mood.
After The Sirens – “What I have to Give, Let it be Enough”: Shameless plug.
What are some of the most exciting / your favorite things about playing live? What are some funny stories of things you've seen while playing a gig?
Ryan: Funny stories? We played a show in New Jersey in which, among other things, Jon played the set entirely covered by a sleeping bag. During that same show, a bag of walnuts almost hit me in the head.
Jon: It’s pretty funny when we catch Nick texting people between songs.
Nick: My favorite part of a live show is the second before we hit the first note. It’s always exciting part because of the anticipation of the next 40 minutes of music that is to come.
If you were going to lose your sense of hearing in 24 hours, what would you try to hear during the last 24 hours? Why?
Ryan: Uh, I guess I’d want to be on the beach listening to the waves, talking to my wife, with the Eisley girls singing in the background.
Nick: I would try to hear Henryk Gorecki’s 3rd Symphony over and over again because it’s so poignant and brilliant and is more powerful than any other piece of music ever written.
How do you think the music you're creating now differs to that of the music you were making one year ago? Why/how the difference?
Jon: It’s a lot more intentional, and a lot easier to listen to. Same intensity, just toned down a little bit for your eardrums.
What is the very last thing you do before going on stage? Why?
Ryan: We double-knot our shoes so we don’t make fools of ourselves.
Nick: …so we can make fools of ourselves in other ways than tripping and falling on our faces.
What artists/bands or albums changed your life? Why? How?
Nick: mewithoutYou made me look at life differently, from the bottom up. Their understanding of simplicity and how Christ loved the “least of these” is like a mirror to how I try to live my own life.
Ryan: I used to listen to Sixpence None the Richer’s album “This Beautiful Mess” on repeat for days and days. Something about the music and the lyrics and Leigh’s voice really resonated with my spirit when I was younger. As I got older, it was this album that really shaped the way I look at songwriting.
If you had to boil the lyrics of your new album down to one single theme, what would it be?
Ryan: God loves us even when we have trouble loving him back. We should show that same love to others.
Anything else you'd like to add?
We’re going out on our first national tour at the end of August. We plan on meeting awesome people all along the way. Can we sleep at your house?
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Comments
After the Sirens is one of the most incredible bands i have ever listened to. They played a huge role for me in finding God in my life and their music is so empowering. It's the only music with the ability to make me feel as if i could just get lost in it and float off the ground. Not to mention all the guys are great. It is nice that i have become not only a fan to them but, a friend :) Everyone should go check them out on their tour if given the chance. You will not be dissappointed
