Dismissed - Overview
We recently caught up with Dismissed. Check it out:
1. Please give me a brief history of the band (also how you hooked up with Indie Vision Music).
Mike: We all came together about 3 1/2 years ago. Me, Danny, and Dave S. had been jamming around together for about a year and through high school we met Dave Arthur. About a year ago we met Brandon Jones and he put us on the I'm Your Biggest Fan Vol. 2. We kept in contact with Brandon and in January 2003 we went into Lovejuice Studios to record our full length. We really had no idea what to expect. We gave Brandon a copy of the cd about a week later and the next morning he wrote us an email telling us that he wanted to start a record label (Indie Vision Music), and he wanted to sign us. In late March our debut full length "Taking the Good With the Bad" was released, and that pretty much takes us to where we are now.
2. You are releasing an album at a time when there's a million bands and a million voices wanting to be heard. What do you feel makes you guys different than the rest?
Dave A.:We write what is in our hearts and whatever comes out ends up in song form. As far as being different, we try to keep our music fresh and exciting, and we put every ounce of our emotions into it. We love playing music and giving that music to other people to experience.
Dave S.:I feel we have a very unique style and we all add our own elements to the music. Without one, the others wouldn't fit. We have unity.
Mike: I think that people can distinguish our music because of the honesty in it. We're not trying to be something we're not, we're just trying to be honest and true to ourselves. Every word that is written in each song is personal, it's apart of us, and honesty is something that can't be fake.
3. What are the lessons God's taught you in the last year or two? How are these being conveyed or shared on Taking the Good With the Bad?
Dave S.: The lessons God has taught and showed me is who my real friends are and what really matters to me. We can all have our problems, but together we can overcome anything.
Danny: These last couple of years have definitely been a struggle for all of us, but we have really been blessed as a band. We are thankful that we have a way to express our thoughts and feelings and it shows in our music.
Mike: There has been so much I've learned in the last couple of years, and I know there's still more. But I've been taught that no matter how difficult the situation is, God's always there, and will never leave. There's been times when I've wanted to throw it all away, but in the end I could always look to God to guide me.
Dave A. The last few years have been difficult for all of us. We have experienced death, divorce, depression, and a whole lot of stress. Luckily we have our Lord and Savior to depend on. He has brought us so far and we are so thankful for the gifts he hasgiven us to use for Him and His glory. "Taking the Good With the Bad" is a mix of all of our feelings and emotions in the last few years. Though we have faced a lot of hardship, we are thankful for all the positive things that have happened.
4. Describe to me what your live shows are like. What are some examples of feedback you've got from people who have seen you live?
Danny: We love to play live and give our all at every show, no matter what. It's all about the live shows, almost any band could sound good in the studio. but it takes heart to put on a good live show.
Dave A.: We put everything into our live shows. We put lots of energy and preparation into every one and would like to think that people feel excited about our band when we are playing. Playing shows is the best thing about being in a band. We get to pour out all of our feelings on stage and it makes our music that much better.
Dave S.: I feel this last year we have all really come out of our shells and put on a good show. People tell us that we are playing with a lot more emotion, and we're all having the time of our life on stage.
Mike: I would say that our live shows are intense and passionate. All of the songs are personal to all of us, and when we play them I think it's obvious that these songs, and these words mean something to us. I'd say the best feedback is when people tell us how much fun they had watching us play. When the crowd is enjoying watching us and responding to us, it's just an awesome feeling.
5. When you hear a hook or melody in your head, what makes you want to incorporate it into a song? What makes you NOT want to incorporate a riff, hook or melody in on of your songs?
Dave A.: When I hear a melody in my head I always act on it. I will pick up my guitar and figure a quick part out, and even sometimes create a whole song. The little melody in my head is not always potential for a great song, but it's those few that count.
Dave S.: We like our songs to be original. If it sounds like anything but Dismissed, we can't play it and love it.
Mike: Riffs and hooks really have to stand out and grasp the listeners attention. We like to take our time and make sure that we didn't just write a song just for the sake of writing a song. It's easy just to settle and take the easy way out, but it's just so much more interesting when we know we took our time to create something special.
Danny: For the most part we all know from the first time we play something if we are going to keep it. If it's not something we really love we won't keep it. We never settle for average if we know the song can sound better. We give it time and work on it, we never rush it. If we do, it never comes out the way we want it to.
6. Anything else you'd like to share?
Dave A.: Music is not a competition, it's a personal expression that is shared with peers to bring hope. God Bless you all and remember to live life to your full potential and never compromise your beliefs. Music can be the biggest influence in your life. Thanks.
Dave S.: I'm having the time of my life. Stay strong, stay true.
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