Metro Station look set to be the band to watch out for in 2009, and with singer Trace Cyrus having one of the most successful fathers in music, is there any doubt?
Metro Station
I caught up with drummer Anthony Improgo to find out all about life in the spotlight, UK passport control problems, their dream festival headliners and how they cope with the stigma’s of being ‘Miley Cyrus’ Brothers band.’
What are you up to this weekend?
We have just landed and we have a show tomorrow and we’re doing the Paul O’ Grady show on Monday! We’re really busy although it’s a short trip, and then we go to Paris and Germany and then back to Los Angeles.
That’s amazing, I’ve just been watching The hills and your song was on! Anyway, you became an overnight success in the UK with your single, Shake It, how are you coping with life in the limelight?
Well it’s definitely a little surreal for us because the work we’ve put in in the States we feel like we’re doing it all again in the other countries but I do stuff away from it all and try to be humble because I sometimes can’t believe how much is happening! It’s a bit weird when we get recognised though!
Do you find it difficult to break away from the stigma’s associated with Trace’ sister being Miley Cyrus and Mason’s brother also being in Hannah Montana?
I think that’s a good question, Mason and Trace connected really well because they both had famous siblings and we could have tried to get famous of the back of Miley’s success, but Trace didn’t even tell his mom and dad about him starting the band and everything, and next thing we knew we were signing a record deal!
We didn’t use ‘connections’ to get to where we are, and I think that’s why we are successful really, I mean Miley will be on the radio and tv and she’ll talk about us and wear a Metro Station shirt and we also talk about her all the time too. When we started the band we all said we weren’t going to hide anything.
Yes, I think if I hadn’t have been told about Trace’s family then I would have had no idea, because sound-wise you’re quite stand alone and you wouldn’t guess there were these connections.
Thank you!
Although you’re only just finding fame in the UK, you have been around for a number of years now, do you feel like all the hard work has finally been worth it?
Yes definitely, basically our manager is just getting us out there with lots and lots of touring and he wants to give us a shot at making it internationally.
And can you sum up the band in just five words for me?
Stylish, Risqué, Sexual, Honest and Risky.
Love it! And what one song would you recommend that someone who hasn’t heard of you before should listen to in order to ensure they became a fan of yours?
Shake It is like the hit, but Control reflects who we are as a band really well?
Who are a couple of your musical influences as a band?
We’re very 80’s influenced so I would have to say Depeche Mode and New Order and The Postal Service. Trace loves Hip Hop like Lil Wayne too. We listen to everything.
Good, we like open minds, so if you could join any band for one day, what band would you join?
I’m a big New Wave fan so I would say Depeche Mode.
Good answer, and what three bands would you have to headline your dream festival?
Well the best tour we have been on was the Good Charlotte tour because as successful as they are, they are still down to earth. Benji and Joel are totally huge stars and they have their girlfriends, but they would still take us out to dinner and they were really good so I would have them.
Mason is weird music-wise, he listens to lots of different things such as Simon And Garfunkel, but now he’s listening to Tina Turner and he loves The White Lies so I think for him he would have… oh, no no no, he’ll have The Cure.
For Trace I’d have to say Lil Wayne! We had a hip hop artist on tour with us in the states and it was awesome, there’s such a meshing of music at the moment, it doesn’t seem to matter what genre of music it is, the kids just seem to love it all.
That sounds like a great line-up, I’d come! So tell me, what has been the most terrifying moment of your life so far?
The last time we were in the UK, I couldn’t get into the country, I had some visa problems and everything so I had to meet the guys in Paris. It sucked.
What has been the most stupid purchase you’ve ever made?
I bought Louis Vuitton sunglasses for like, $600 and they were a piece of shit, they broke the very next day.
Gutted! So we ask everyone we interview to come up with a question for the next person we interview and David Cook wants to know, if you could be in any movie, what would it be?
I’m going to say that I really liked The Notebook with Ryan Gosling, I know it made me a little bit teary-eyed but I loved it!
Aww, that’s so sweet, now can you come up with a question for the next person I interview please?
What are the top 5 songs they listen to most on their iPod?Aww thank you, now have a lovely time in the UK and best of luck with your domination of the UK.
Read our review of the album here
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison