Re: Ace Enders and A Million Different People
| | For those Ace Enders fans out there that still want to read more here is the full transcript of the interview so you can find out a little more about the man and the legend.
1.) Do you feel you achieved everything you set out to do with The Early November?
Yeah I feel like we achieved all we could, but I think there will always be things that we wish we could've done differently. I'm pretty happy where we ended up.
2.) Lots of people felt close to the band, did you find it humbling to see how people reacted to your music?
Yeah definitely. I never expected that we could make an impact on so many people's lives. It's probably my favorite thing about making music, being able to create a mood or make someone's day a little better. We've always been really close to our fans and it's really cool to have that kind of relationship with them and see them coming out to support what I have going on now after The Early November.
3.) What's the greatest thing you'll take away from being involved with the band?
It proved to me that anything is possible and you can do anything you dream of and focus enough to do because being in a band started as just a daydream when I was in school.
4.) The final Early November album you released had a grand feeling, almost like a final chapter, do you feel The Early November came to the end of its life span?
Yeah I think we went as far as we could together and it was just time for all of us to move on and let the band lead us to the next phase.
5.) If there were one thing you could take away from anything you've done in music and say it's changed you or made you a better person, what would it be?
With my latest project I went out to LA and worked with a producer and did things differently than I ever did. I tried to do what I thought everyone else wanted me to do and what supposedly would make the biggest record possible. I knew all along it wasn't really me and it kind of reinforced what I already knew, which is that it doesn't matter if you work with big names or spend a lot of money, it's about making something you love.
6.) Why did you decide to create 'Ace Enders and a Million Different People' rather than expand on 'I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business'?
It's really the same thing, just a different name. I wanted to change it to my name because it's easier to let the music change and evolve rather than a band name that has expectations attached to it.
7.) I Can Make A Mess... was always more of a side project, do you feel confident in taking A Million Different People forward as your main project now? Was it a hard decision?
Well since The Early November isn't together anymore it really isn't possible to have a side project. My new stuff is definitely my main project. It wasn't really a hard decision, it's pretty natural for me. I'm doing the same thing I've always done, writing songs, recording them, and going on tour.
8.) A Million Different People' is a new project and so far you've only posted demos, how are people reacting to the new material?
The reaction has been great. I think the best reaction is when we play live, because the songs have changed a lot since the demos and there are so many new ones. It's really cool to see a room full of people who have never heard any of our music and don't know who we are and they're getting into it and singing along by the end of the song.
9.) What are your biggest aspirations with this new project and where do you see it going in the next few years?
Hopefully I'll pick up where I left off with the old band and just keep going.
10.) Can we expect anything along the lines of 'The Path' from the last album? What inspired you to write that concept initially?
I don't think so, but who knows. I wanted to make something that showed that no matter how many ways you can blame your problems on something it always comes back around to you.
11.) Who or what is your greatest inspiration as an artist?
My smokin hot wife.
12.) How do you feel the direction of the music industry is going right now with digital downloads and MySpace? Do you find it better or worse?
Right now the music industry is going through a hard time adapting to the new ways. Downloading and myspace are good and bad at the same time. It's great that so many people have easier access to music and bands have easier access to fans, but the worst part of that for me is that people are getting lazy and they don't have the same respect for music that they used to.
13.) What's your proudest moment in music so far?
Probably the last shows I played with The Early November. We did two shows in Philly and the fans were awesome. It was a really great way to end that chapter. It also makes me really proud to be able to start from scratch now and have so much support from my old fans.
14.) What's been the most fun record you've ever worked on?
The one I'm making in my studio right now.
15.) Do you feel there is a less pressure constructing songs on your own and having the luxury to record them in your own studio?
I've always made the songs on my own so that's the same as it's always been for me. I do like recording in my own studio, but there's a different kind of pressure when you have to play every instrument and also be behind the board and the computer. It's definitely great to have all the time I need.
16.) How is the album coming along?
It's great. There have been some bumps along the way, but it's ok. I can't wait for everyone to hear it.
17.) Your label, Regular Music is a relatively new project, where do you see that going?
It's been hard to start up a label at a time when the industry is changing so much, so it's kind of on hold for right now. We're definitely going to focus on it in the future.
18.) Also, could you tell us a little more about The Sound of Evolution, and your plans for that organization?
I'm trying to put our ideas for that into practice with this next record, but it's been really hard. Ideally, I'd release my music for free and try to build the respect for music back, kind of like the Radiohead thing, but I thought of it before they did it! It's something we really have to work out and plan a little more, but when we get to the right place I want to be able to get it going and help other bands starting up to do the same.
19.) Finally, is there anything else you'd like to add that you feel I may have missed out on?
Thank you!
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Posted: May 23, 2008, 04:13 PM
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