The Audition
The Audition are set to head in a new direction with their new EP 'Chapter II' as they have broke away from their record label and taken creative control.
I caught up with Danny from the band to talk about the new EP, the new sound and what lies ahead for them for the rest of the year.
- You are about to release your new EP 'Chapter II' so what can fans of The Audition expect from the new tracks?
Almost all the feedback I've read or heard so far has been positive and that’s obviously a good thing when you're an artist!!
- There are a blend of sounds from pop to pop rock, Who Do You Think You Are, is a prefect example of this so how would you describe the sound of the EP?
I always give the same answer. "Rock and Roll with a little bit of Pop and Soul"!!!!
- How much is this EP the start of a new direction for the sound of the band?
We are definitely headed in a new direction but didn't want to just completely jump into it. I think that this is a good bridge between where we've been and where we are headed.
- And how have you grown as a band as musicians with this new record?
We took a new approach to the writing process with this EP. In the past, with our albums, we would only write 10 or 11 songs and those were the only ones we'd put on the album.
For the EP we wrote upwards of 20 songs and mixed and matched different parts of different songs to make the 6 songs we put on it, the best they could be.
- Chapter II is set to be a self-released album so why have you decided to go down this path and not sign with another label?
We decided to not sign with a label because we wanted complete control of our product without having to deal with a dictator.
- On the flip side of having that creative control what has been the challenge of releasing this album yourselves?
The financial backing is the toughest part. Being in a band is an expensive business and in this Economy, any type of business is tough.
But thanks to the help of our AMAZING fans we were able to start a kickstarter and raise the amount of money to self record and release the EP.
- Why did you decide to leave Victory Records back in 2010?
Creative control of everything is the most important reason
- So have you played these new tracks live to fans yet? And what has been their reaction?
We are currently playing 4 of the 6 new songs on the tour with Eve6. The crowd reaction has been outstanding, especially for the fans of the other bands that have never heard of us.
That’s always the best part about playing with a band that is a bit different than you, their fans don't know you and it’s your job to win them over. Always a challenge and always fun.
- The EP is six tracks long so are the plans to get back in the studio and work on an album this year? And if so what sort of direction do you see that album going in?
We would love to start writing over the summer but we don't plan on recording or releasing anything until next year.
- How does the song-writing process work within the band - is there one main writer or is it very much a collaborative process? Is writing together something that you really enjoy?
The song writing process is always different for every album. We put in a collaborative effort when writing and the writing process is one of my favourite parts of being in a band, but it’s also one of the most frustrating an challenging.
- You will be playing at the Slam Dunk Festival here in the UK so what can we expect from your live show?
Tons of energy and hopefully a few surprises ;)!
- And how excited are you about performing in the UK this May? What do you think of UK audiences how do they differ to those in the States?
The audience is certainly different from the UK to the US. The crowds in the UK are very lively and everyone is always there to have as much fun as they can! We are so excited to come back to the UK.
It’s been quite a while since we've been back and we are so excited to see all of our friends that we've missed to dearly.
- You have a huge fan base so do you have a message to any of your fans who may be reading this interview?
We love you. It's unbelievable how our fans and friends have supported us over the past 7 years we've been a band.
It's amazing how many people have been with us from the beginning. And for that, I thank you!
- Finally what's coming up for the band in the rest of 2012?
Slam Dunk, then we do a short US run with a band called Mariana's Trench from Canada then we are taking the summer off and going full out on the road in the fall!! Look out for us world wide next year!
The Audition - Chapter II EP is released 11th June
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw