Post by Heather on Aug 21, 2009 17:34:05 GMT -5
Huge thanks goes out to Kenny and Deryck, thanks guys!
-- You recently went to Toronto with Steve to hold rehearsals with Cone, how did the guys react to the new material?
GREAT! THEY HADN'T HEARD A LOT OF MY NEW STUFF. SO FAR ANYONE I PLAY IT FOR HAS BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED AND SAYS IT'S OUR BEST STUFF. I MEAN MUSIC ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO MATTER OF OPINION OBVIOUSLY, SO I GUESS YOU CAN TAKE THAT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.
-- During the Underclass Hero recording, you searched high and low for certain guitar sounds. Are you looking for new guitar tones or attitudes to use on this album?
YES! BUT EVEN MORE THIS TIME. I REALLY WANT TO TRY AND CREATE SOUNDS THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.
-- How many guitars do you own and which ones stand out to you the most?
THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH ONE. I DON'T REALLY KNOW. BUT I WOULD SAY I HAVE 50. THE ONES THAT STAND OUT, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE TOO BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES. I HAVE LES PAULS FOR EVERY YEAR STARTING FROM 1956-1963. AND THOSE ARE ALL GREAT. I HAVE A FEW 50'S GRETSCH GUITARS THAT ARE AMAZING. AND MY 52 TELE IS THE TELE I USE THE MOST.
-- What is a typical day like while writing in your home studio?
WELL FOR EVERY RECORD IS DIFFERENT. THIS TIME AROUND I HAVE A FULL ON FUNCTIONING STUDIO. AS GOOD AS ANY STUDIO IN LA. I JUST HANG AROUND AND DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, AND JUST PICK UP A GUITAR AND START PLAYING AROUND. USUALLY SOMETHING JUST COMES OUT. AND IF IT DOESN'T I DON'T FORCE IT. AND SO FAR EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT.
-- How has your writing style/process changed throughout the years?
IT'S CHANGED A LOT. I THINK THE LAST ALBUM EXPERIENCE REALLY HELPED ME GROW A LOT AS A WRITER AND POSSIBLY AS A PERSON. I DON'T THINK I COULD BE MAKING THE RECORD I'M MAKING NOW WITHOUT UNDERCLASS HERO EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T SOUND ANYTHING LIKE EACH OTHER.
-- How do you build yourself up creatively to bring a new sound to each album, yet still stay true to Sum41's style and energy?
I DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. I JUST WRITE WHAT I LIKE.
-- "Best of Me" and "With Me" expressed lyrics you hadn't touched on in the past. Were these difficult to write, since it was a new direction?
THEY WEREN'T DIFFICULT TO WRITE BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SHOW ANYBODY THE SONGS. I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE LYRICS BEFORE I PUT THE RECORD OUT BUT DECIDED TO BE BRAVE ABOUT.
-- What would you call Sum41's most meaningful song to date?
THAT'S A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE IT'S ALL RELATIVE. SONGS CAN MEAN A LOT TO ME, LIKE BEST OF ME, OR WITH ME, OR DEAR FATHER BUT NOT MATTER TO SOMEONE ELSE. I THINK DEAR FATHER WAS THE HARDEST TOPIC I'VE EVER HAD TO SING ABOUT.
--You produced eight tracks on your wife's 4th album, which showcase the piano and acoustic guitar. Were there any challenges to this since the majority of songs you work on are electric and drum driven?
THE RECORDING EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT. MOSTLY BECAUSE WE ACHIEVE WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO. MUSIC WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOME CHALLENGES BUT IT'S WHAT COMES OUT AT THE END THAT MATTERS. AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY HAPPY WITH ALL OF IT.
-- On your wife's 3rd album you produced two songs that she had co-written with Evan Taubenfeld. We also know you have worked with him on a few solo projects.Can you tell us a little bit about your experience in working with Evan?
WELL EVAN IS A GREAT GUY AND A GREAT FRIEND. AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE SUCCESS TOGETHER. WE LIKE KEEPING IT ALL IN THE FAMILY.
-- We heard you would like an Abbey Dawn for men, which design intrigued this interest?
I THINK THE OVERALL STYLE IS COOL. I LIKE THE MORE PUNKY STUFF.
-- When Cone decided to persue the Operation MD what were your thoughts?
I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT. THEY'RE A GOOD BAND AND IT FILLED THE TIME FOR HIM WHILE I WAS OFF WRITING FOR A YEAR.
-- What experience would you describe as the highlight of your life so far?
HA HA. WOW. LIVING IS THE HIGHLIGHT. EVERY DAY IS FUN. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HAD A BAD DAY. HONESTLY.
-- You recently went to Toronto with Steve to hold rehearsals with Cone, how did the guys react to the new material?
GREAT! THEY HADN'T HEARD A LOT OF MY NEW STUFF. SO FAR ANYONE I PLAY IT FOR HAS BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED AND SAYS IT'S OUR BEST STUFF. I MEAN MUSIC ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO MATTER OF OPINION OBVIOUSLY, SO I GUESS YOU CAN TAKE THAT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.
-- During the Underclass Hero recording, you searched high and low for certain guitar sounds. Are you looking for new guitar tones or attitudes to use on this album?
YES! BUT EVEN MORE THIS TIME. I REALLY WANT TO TRY AND CREATE SOUNDS THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.
-- How many guitars do you own and which ones stand out to you the most?
THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH ONE. I DON'T REALLY KNOW. BUT I WOULD SAY I HAVE 50. THE ONES THAT STAND OUT, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE TOO BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES. I HAVE LES PAULS FOR EVERY YEAR STARTING FROM 1956-1963. AND THOSE ARE ALL GREAT. I HAVE A FEW 50'S GRETSCH GUITARS THAT ARE AMAZING. AND MY 52 TELE IS THE TELE I USE THE MOST.
-- What is a typical day like while writing in your home studio?
WELL FOR EVERY RECORD IS DIFFERENT. THIS TIME AROUND I HAVE A FULL ON FUNCTIONING STUDIO. AS GOOD AS ANY STUDIO IN LA. I JUST HANG AROUND AND DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, AND JUST PICK UP A GUITAR AND START PLAYING AROUND. USUALLY SOMETHING JUST COMES OUT. AND IF IT DOESN'T I DON'T FORCE IT. AND SO FAR EVERYTHING HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT.
-- How has your writing style/process changed throughout the years?
IT'S CHANGED A LOT. I THINK THE LAST ALBUM EXPERIENCE REALLY HELPED ME GROW A LOT AS A WRITER AND POSSIBLY AS A PERSON. I DON'T THINK I COULD BE MAKING THE RECORD I'M MAKING NOW WITHOUT UNDERCLASS HERO EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T SOUND ANYTHING LIKE EACH OTHER.
-- How do you build yourself up creatively to bring a new sound to each album, yet still stay true to Sum41's style and energy?
I DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. I JUST WRITE WHAT I LIKE.
-- "Best of Me" and "With Me" expressed lyrics you hadn't touched on in the past. Were these difficult to write, since it was a new direction?
THEY WEREN'T DIFFICULT TO WRITE BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SHOW ANYBODY THE SONGS. I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE LYRICS BEFORE I PUT THE RECORD OUT BUT DECIDED TO BE BRAVE ABOUT.
-- What would you call Sum41's most meaningful song to date?
THAT'S A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE IT'S ALL RELATIVE. SONGS CAN MEAN A LOT TO ME, LIKE BEST OF ME, OR WITH ME, OR DEAR FATHER BUT NOT MATTER TO SOMEONE ELSE. I THINK DEAR FATHER WAS THE HARDEST TOPIC I'VE EVER HAD TO SING ABOUT.
--You produced eight tracks on your wife's 4th album, which showcase the piano and acoustic guitar. Were there any challenges to this since the majority of songs you work on are electric and drum driven?
THE RECORDING EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT. MOSTLY BECAUSE WE ACHIEVE WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO. MUSIC WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOME CHALLENGES BUT IT'S WHAT COMES OUT AT THE END THAT MATTERS. AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY HAPPY WITH ALL OF IT.
-- On your wife's 3rd album you produced two songs that she had co-written with Evan Taubenfeld. We also know you have worked with him on a few solo projects.Can you tell us a little bit about your experience in working with Evan?
WELL EVAN IS A GREAT GUY AND A GREAT FRIEND. AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND HAVE SUCCESS TOGETHER. WE LIKE KEEPING IT ALL IN THE FAMILY.
-- We heard you would like an Abbey Dawn for men, which design intrigued this interest?
I THINK THE OVERALL STYLE IS COOL. I LIKE THE MORE PUNKY STUFF.
-- When Cone decided to persue the Operation MD what were your thoughts?
I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT. THEY'RE A GOOD BAND AND IT FILLED THE TIME FOR HIM WHILE I WAS OFF WRITING FOR A YEAR.
-- What experience would you describe as the highlight of your life so far?
HA HA. WOW. LIVING IS THE HIGHLIGHT. EVERY DAY IS FUN. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HAD A BAD DAY. HONESTLY.