The Daily Aztec: Can you tell us about the formation of the band and how you guys settled on the name?
Joe Michelini: I started the band by myself solo-acoustic and picked the name from a song called “The Trouble With River Cities” by a band that used to be called Pela, but are now called We Are Augustines. But I was always so close to that music that I thought of it as an extension of my life. And honestly, I just met people at different shows. Some of us knew each other in high school but no one was really close, it happened a bunch of different ways but it eventually worked itself out.
DA: How dis your recording process go? Did you write the songs beforehand and then just get into the studio and hammer them all?
JM: By the time we had to make our first full-length, we had a bunch of songs that we had already written together. But we went into a real studio in a really local environment in the back of someone’s house. It was fun and really personal.
DA: Do you draw from personal experiences for songs? What is your inspiration for your music?
JM: I draw directly from my life. Whatever I see or feel or hear. This next record is going to be a bit different; I’m experimenting a lot. But as far as “The Unmistakable Man” goes, it was a straight translation of my life.
DA: There seems to be a lot of religious undercurrents in your music. Can you tell me about the influence religion has had on your music?
JM: I was raised in a super religious household, in the best way. But it’s something I struggle with; it was such a big part of my childhood, such a big part of my parents’ lives and my family’s lives who I love and trust more than anything. So I spend a lot of time trying to figure that out.
DA: You guys have a very eclectic sound on the album. Is it ever difficult balancing the influences of so many members?
JM: I’d say it’s a lot of me and the members just experimenting every day. Everyone is opening themselves up, everyone is learning a new instrument. They aspire to better themselves as creative individuals. And that is inspiring to me, and that tells me that we will be together for a long time, because there is a never-ending thing there that so many people are so talented. I’m so blessed to be playing with them and I can see some really cool stuff happening in the future.
DA: What’s your favorite song to play live and why?
JM: I would have to say “The Ballad Of Oregon” is my favorite song to play live. The reason for that is because when we start playing it, that song takes me. I am so far removed from reality and that’s a cool feeling. And other songs give me that feeling too, but that song gets me every single time.
DA: Can you tell us about the sound and direction you guys are aiming for in your next record?
JM: This upcoming record is not going to sound like “The Unmistakable Man.” The record after that record is not going to sound like the one before it. We are not aiming to gain any sort of following or demographic, we are simply creative, progressive individuals and we are going to continue to evolve and change over time. We hope that we can establish a fanbase that is willing to change with us, and if we don’t that’s OK too. If you find something in our catalog that you enjoy, just enjoy it, because we are going to keep changing. I think that’s something that anyone who listens to our band should know.
But as far as direction, I’ve been inspired by a bunch of different ideas that I still have to put together. I’m writing a lot more consciously and spending more time with each lyric. It’s a different approach that we are taking but we are now a band that has lived together. We have a lot more purpose. It’s a very large sound to it, a lot darker but very orchestral and sweeping. I’m really excited about it.
