Q, So, first thing is first, what's in store for D & D fans on the next album? What can we expect musically and would you guys consider yourselves to be pushing the creative edge with this album or are you guys going to take the path that so many of todays bands take and create some mash up electro techno pop scremeo to sell albums?
A, Well, as far as the new album goes I believe as artists we just strive to grow and get better at what we do. I think with each piece of music we create we grow a little bit more. To be brutally honest, and I speak for many other musicians out there when I say anything techno-related is garbage. It very easy to sit down before a computer and mash noises together with
excessive auto-tuned vocals and a cliche beat. (all views and opinions expressed by me are not those of Dead and Divine, but of solely myself most likely coming off as a dousche). It is so easy now-a-days to be a famous, or a successful "musician" or "band" based on literally nothing. Starting a band has become a trend. And its unfortunate that some people who spend years working their ass off to make it somewhere in this very tedious industry are completely ignored due to the outlandish amount of bands all climbing towards that throne. We're just striving to be the best WE can be. And hopefully people follow us on this excellent adventure.
Q, On the Fanciful I found your lyrics very poetic and insightful for someone your age. You seem to have wisdom reminiscent of someone with a much larger perspective of life. That being said what if anything has lyricly and musically charged you while writing your current work?
A, Well, I think a lot of vocalists when growing as an artist have stages of writing where the subject matter changes. I think most often (from what ive noticed) at first singers, writers, poets whatever it may be start writing about internal things. Struggles, love, family, relationships etc. Its completely normal, and every musician has written a song in regards to all if not most of those things. However I began to notice not only in myself, but in the pattern of things that from that stage comes less of an internal kind of writing, and more of an observational style; which is what I've been working on. Ive been more or less looking at the world around me and being really fucking pissed at certain things I see (which is pretty much everything) or things I love about how fucked up
the world is. I think every artist, writer, poet whathaveyou tackles that subject at least once in their career.
Q, I've noticed in Canada its a lot harder for bands to make there mark being that we do not have the number of largely populated cities that the U.S does and lack of large corporate sponsorship support to back up new artist. Would you say that you guys have felt the effects of that when touring along side some of your American comrades? Are there times when you wish you were on the southern end of the boarder or would you say it has made you stronger more appreciative of what you have being that you had to work almost twice as hard to get it?
A, Canada is definitely difficult, for sure. However, the US is also much much larger. There is a.) a lot more ground to cover b.) a lot more bands c.) everyone is harder to impress. Due to these factors its makes things rather hard going from our state of being and popularity in Canada to brand new territory. Its basically like developing your band all over again. Nothing against americans, but due to the amount of music surrounding them, the selection is endless so I find you really have to prove your worth to them. Where as Canada if maybe doesnt care at first about your band, they appreciate it. Especially if you continue to keep working at it. As far as our bands longevity has gone thus far, I know for a fact it has taught us to appreciate our success a great fucking deal.
Q, On the road I know you guys run into a lot of interesting people and shinanogins what person or moment stands out in your mind the most from this past year of touring?
A, We get ourselves into some pretty weird ass backwards situations haha. We've met tons of amazing people over the last year, some dudes who I am sure we will continue to be butt buddies with. I have to say though there is one moment. We were on tour with Emarosa, Take The Crown, Lower Definition & Jamies Elsewere on a full US tour. It was a fucking blast, but one night in general gave me shivers - but like, in a good way. We were opening the tour each night (being USA n00bs and all) and we started playing our set. There were a pretty good amount of kids at the show, but almost everyone on the entire tour (over like...40 dudes) ran into the crowd and started going nuts moshing and stage-diving. It was a blast, they were grabbing the mic from my hands and singing the words and I dont think a kid in the audience had ever seen us play before, but the kids started getting into it too.
During our last song, all the guys on the tour jumped up on stage and started moshing on stage, we had one of the boys from LowerD riding on Chris' back while hes trying to play guitar, it was just a fucking great night.
Its either that or that night in Chicago you and I got really messed up and explored each other's bodies...
Q,If you could choose one band to have headline over you this year who would it be and why?
A, Poison The Well. 100%. We got the opportunity to play Cutting Edge Music Festival this year, right under PTW. That band was my breach out of nu-metal in the 8th grade and into the real world haha. They have been one of our main influences since day 1. Me and some of the guys in the band got the chance to hang out with PTW backstage during Alexisonfires performance and pound back a few beers and hack a couple boons. They were stand up guys, totally polite and I could see touring below those guys as being something great.
Q, And what up and coming band would you guys love to bring out on the road with you or have open for you on the upcoming CD release tour? And why?
A, I dont know about "up and coming" however our boys in Oh, Sleeper definitely set an impression in on us. We love those guys. I think more than any band we've toured with. We still keep in touch with them and constantly beat around the bush about touring again and us taking them up here. So I would love to give those guys a taste of Canada. Maybe convert them out of white supremacy and homophobia, show them what real freedom is and possibly poutine.
Q, Side note, would you rather party with the Historical figures from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, or the Freaks from the Movie Freaked? ( Booth Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Freaked being the only two movies to have both Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter in them, AKA bill and ted.)
A, Bill & Ted for sure. My mom rambles on about how when I was like 4 or 5, all I would do is sit glued to the TV watching Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. According to her trusty mother memory I had the whole movie's dialogue memorized word for word. I still to this day - do. I hang out with deformed smelly freaks 365 days a year in a van. Thats nothing new. Being able to chill with Billy the Kid and So-crates seems much more intriguing.
Q, Not only are you the front man of a busy band but you also do design work on you spare time under the name Mechanical Monstur, so far you have worked with the likes of Straight Reads the Line, Arise and Ruin, Emarosa, Jamies Elsewhere, Oceana, Circuits for the the Black Out and many more. Tell us a little bit about how you got started. And do you find it hard to make time for designing?
A, I got started by being on tour and bands seeing Dead and Divine's merch and complimenting it, I would then obviously stand up like an arrogant prick and make point of them knowing it was me who designed it. So I started getting asked on tour by other bands to design merch and Id charge them a beer or whatever they wanted to pay just so I could feed myself haha. I decided I DID NOT want to get a job each time I was home for tour. 9-5 is not for me, thus why I am in a band postponing real life for however long I can. So I figured Id throw a name on a site and put my work up. And thats that!
Its not too time consuming, I make sure to only take on projects when I have time. I cant multi-task worth shit. Watching a movie and eating at the same time is a mindfuck for me.
Q, I noticed the recent Jump from Canadian Label Verona to Distort entertainment, home of such bands as Alexisonfire, City and Colour, Cancer Bats, Johnny Truant. How did this come about? And do you think this will have a large impact on the success on the follow up release to The Fanciful?
A, We have been so blessed to be a part of the Distort family. We had been on Verona for some time, and although the trip was great it was time to move on to bigger and better things. I guess we just caught Distorts eye at the right time, and we're really appreciative of that. It means a great deal to us, it was a big step we took on our career. I know that Distort will do all that
is in their power to treat us well and make our next record our best to date. I believe the success of the record in comparison to the last one really depends on us though. The label will obviously push the hell out of it and support it, but it comes down to the quality of music we ourselves produce.
Q, There seems to be a seriously solid community of good bands in the GTA area and everyone I have met from there has the bro mentality, always helping one another out and seem to be friends in one way or another from band to band. Would you say that has something to do with why there are so many bands getting signed in your area right now and doing well?
A, Many of the bands in the GTA have been at it for a while, whether thats one single band or a slew of many consisting of members from other bands. I think the main reason of success with a lot of the bands in this area is mainly because a lot of them work really hard to make it. We're friends with quite a few of the bands around here and we've all watched each other grow. Obviously its a game of patience and work ethic, those who strive to get places will, and I think a lot of bands around here have that mentality.
Q, And if you could ask yourself one question that you would like to know the answer to that only time will tell what would that be?
A, When are you and I going to get our second set of matching tattoos, Adam?
Q, Any last words of wisdom, shout outs or subjects you care to elaborate on?
A, I believe it was Freddy Krueger who said: "Welcome to Prime Time, bitch". I feel that basically sums up anything anyone would ever need to say regarding anything, ever.
Here is some in studio updates of whats to come from the boys hope you guys enjoyed.
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