Mark: How are things in The Urgency these days?
Tyler: Pretty exciting. We’ve been touring
all summer, and plan to keep touring well in to
winter.
M: I bet you are getting asked about your influences
a lot as your songs are so diverse. That said,
I'm going to ask anyway! How different are the
influences of each member from the other members?
Do you find much common ground musically?
Tyler: Each member comes from their own
unique musical background, and our tastes differ
greatly from one another. When the band first
formed we found common ground in artists such
as At the Drive-In, Glassjaw, Thursday... Stylistically
we've branched out from that over the past few
years, but those edgy, experimental rock groups
is what served as an initial template for us.
We're inspired by bands that express themselves
in as many ways as possible.
M: Having a former theater major for a vocalist
is interesting as well. What do you feel that
background brings to the table that helps separate
you from the other bands out there today?
Tyler: It really helped me with everything. it
gives you a spatial awareness, it really allows
you to own the stage... It's given me the tools
to keep my stamina up; we recorded a very challenging
record, and without my previous background I don't
know that A.) We would've recorded it, or B.)
We’d be able to pull it off live. It exposed
me to a lot of different aspects that are important
in any type of performance art.
M: I read that there were a lot of labels very
interested in signing you guys. What made Island
Records the right place for you? It seems like
many indie bands these days practically run from
major labels.
Tyler: Island really believed in the music and
treated us as artists. Different labels work for
different bands. Lots of indie bands making it
without labels have the means to do so. Our problem
was we never had enough money to tour. Island
made sure we had the support we needed to stay
out on the road and promote our album.
M: Since you recorded your major label debut with
David Bendeth, I'm curious as to how he was to
work with? Was the process frustrating or positive
overall?
Tyler: Dave's awesome. He's a very accomplished
musician and producer, really the best mentor
this band has had. He really pushed us, and it
could be very tense at times, but he knew the
band's potential, and I think we're all much better
musicians for the time we spent at his studio.
M: I'm fascinated by your sound. Very few bands
manage to successfully blend so many styles, styles
that literally span decades. How do you approach
the songwriting process, do you have one main
writer or do you prefer to write collaboratively?
Tyler: Thanks! Different songs came together
on the album in different ways. most of the time
we just start jamming off a chord progression
or riff one the guys has come up with, which ends
up inspiring the direction of my lyrics and melody.
In the end we're all pretty much responsible for
our own parts, but it usually starts with me writing
to something simple Ian, Kevin or Ryan has come
up with.
M: Would you say the styles come together naturally
or that it is something you have to consciously
put together, like a musical puzzle I guess?
Tyler: Usually the songs we end up keeping
are ones that came together really quickly. For
this album we paid special attention to our choruses,
really simplifying the music and focusing on the
perfect melody. The different styles you hear
coming together are really the last piece of the
puzzle - they come from each member's unique voice
that comes after nailing the perfectly simple
little song. A lot of our songs that have been
compared to all these prog rock epics just started
out as acoustic guitar and voice, just simple
little campfire songs.
M: Is there a certain song on the album that you
can say definitively captures the point The Urgency
is at right now? If so, which one and why?
Tyler: Revolution fits the Urgency so
well right now. It perfectly captures the many
facets of the band in one song. The melody, the
aggression, the tenderness, the depth. This song
is about making big changes and looking forward
and letting go of the past. Listening to Revolution
gets me excited for all the opportunities this
band is looking forward to seizing.
M: What are your plans after the album is released?
Will you be touring to support it? Any info you
can let slip?
Tyler: We'll be touring non-stop, indefinitely
for whoever will hear us play. All of our shows
are up on www.theurgency.com and we update them
constantly. Slippery info??? I'm pretty sure if
you buy the album on itunes you'll find a couple
tracks not for sale on the regular U.S. edition
of the album.
M: Who would you most prefer to open for, Guns
N' Roses or U2?
Tyler: Either would be pure badassery.
M: Thanks so much for your time. Do you have any
parting thoughts you'd like to leave our readers
with?
Tyler: Thanks Mark! Thank you readers! Hope to
see you at some shows!
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