It’s been nearly two years since the New Jersey quintet – Nielsen, new guitarist Heath Saraceno (formerly of Midtown), guitarist Garrett Zablocki, bassist Mike Glita and drummer Dan Trapp – released their full-length debut, Let It Enfold You (Vagrant), which sold more than 300,000 copies. Since then, the band has performed on national TV, sat for countless media interviews, toured the world and released their second full length studio album "Life is Not a Waiting Room" which is available now on Vagrant Records.
Altsounds: So 'Life is not a Waiting Room' has just been released, but how long did you spend working on it?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: We spent about 4 months altogether on it.
Altsounds: What were your main influences behind this album?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: The goal was to just go out and make the best record we could. I personally want to tell a story about the things I had been going through in my life and wanted it to feel brutally honest and a cohesive piece from beginning to end.
Altsounds: I hear 'Wolves at the Door' is on the soundtrack for the new Madden NFL '09 game, what does that feel like?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: I think it's a great opportunity for a large group of people who have never heard us to be introduced to Senses Fail.
Altsounds: How's the current tour of America going so far?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: It has been great and we are almost done. I thought it was going to go poorly because of how the economy is but it was really great and we are thankful to everyone that supports us as a band and what we do. I have had an amazing time this tour playing a lot of places we have never played before.
Altsounds: How do you feel your UK fan-base compares to your home
Senses Fail [Buddy]: I think we have a lot of support over in the UK and I only wish we could spend as much time there as we would like to. It is just very costly for us to make it over there right now. I love the passion fans in the UK have for the bands they like.
Altsounds: Any plans for a UK tour any time soon?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: Hopefully very soon. We should be over in the UK at some point in the new year.
Altsounds: What do you all get up to when you're not recording or touring?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: I play a ton of video games, I work and do Jujitsu. We pretty much do the same stuff everybody else does.
Altsounds: How would you describe your music?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: I would say it is honest above all things. I would also say that we have stuck to the things that we care about and the reasons we started Senses Fail in the first place.
Altsounds: Who are your favourite bands?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: Bad Religion, NOFX, Jimmy Eat World, Refused, Thursday, Saves The Day and Jawbreaker.
Altsounds: What's your opinion on the way the industry is changing, with things like downloads and Myspace?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: I think there are pros and cons to it. It allows bands to be more independent while also letting bands that might not have a place or purpose in the music industry get their foot in the door. I think it has also made music disposable by making music easier to obtain and to throw away. With the advent of the internet there isn't as much of an investment or searching needed in finding music that you like. Overall, I believe the industry is currently eating itself alive and only the bands that do this for the right reason will survive over the next few years.
Altsounds: Finally, what are the plans for Senses Fail in the future?
Senses Fail [Buddy]: Tour, tour, tour. Hopefully a lot of that will be overseas including the UK.
Thanks.
http://www.myspace.com/sensesfail
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Senses Fail Q&A Interview with Buddy Nielsen
