INTERVIEW: Melee
- Posted on August 6, 2008 3:16 PM
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Melee
Interview By Zarina Raja
Melee are bursting with sing-a-long power ballads and spluttering Pop melodies. Using their troublesome 20s as inspiration for their new album, Devils and Angels, Melee have created a mixed bag of tracks delving deep into the ups and downs of the adult world. Oh, we know them well.
Ryan, Melee’s guitarist and vocalist, took us through the new album, their flirtation with Swing music and what The Orange County is really like - hopefully there is not a Marissa in sight.
Your second album, Devils and Angels, is on its way, with the release date in the UK of July 28th. Tell me a bit about the creation process?
The creation process started about a year ago after our first record. Usually a song starts out with Chris and Rick coming up with an idea and then it goes back and forth between the two of them. Once they are satisfied, it comes down to Mike and me to jam until it turns into something that we all like.
How long did it take from start to finish? Are you fast workers or do you tend to take your time?
If you count the songs that were around before we started, then I guess about two years. There was a long adjustment period when we were fine-tuning the songs at Warner. That took quite a long time.
Now that this album is completed, have you already started thinking about your third album?
Right now, we are still pretty focused on this album. Every time we have a bit of down time - Chris is very creative - we get on the computer. It’s difficult to say what the songs will be like but we definitely have some new ideas.
In what way does it differ from your debut?
I think on the debut we were obviously a little younger and more based on the bands that we were touring with. In my point of view, this one is more mature. We really appreciate good Pop melodies and good Pop songs now. We really wanted to focus on good melodies, more so than the last record. There is also a lot of guitar on the first record; to focus on the piano was a definite change.
What is your favourite track on Devils and Angels?
My personal favourite is Stand Up. It is the most fun to play because we kind of jam out at the end. It’s got a good beat to it.
Where do you find inspiration when you are creating your songs? Do you need to be in familiar surroundings or somewhere new?
I find that is definitely helps to be at home and to have the quiet space. I have been reading a lot about Jimi Hendrix. As soon as he finished a song, he would go in to the studio and record it. I really wish that we had the ability to do that. We should definitely try to get into that mind set, even if we are on the road or stuck in a hotel. You never know if you are even going to have the opportunity to get them down sometimes.
It has been said that the album is about being in modern America in your 20s – can you explain this for me?
The theme of the album is summed up in the song For a Lifetime. It is based on the idea that you obviously have to grow up, go to College, and sort out what it is that you want to do for the rest of your life. We were doing that with the band. We took time off from school while the rest of our friends were trying to work, but they were finding it really hard to get the job that they wanted. It’s about that; feeling a little cheated about what you thought your future was going to be like and what it actually is.
Do you prefer being at home or on tour?
I guess I would have to say on tour. You get to go to so many different countries and see a lot of stuff that you wouldn’t see otherwise. I am actually kind of itching to get back into the studio though. We really haven’t spent that much time in the studio unfortunately.
What is it really like living in the Orange County? We only see it as it appeared in The O.C.
The show is set on Newport Beach. Although I don’t live there, I imagine that it is not very far off. It’s just beautiful, it’s right on the water. I think that there are parts of Orange County that are like that. There are some very rich people but there are also those that live in poverty. Overall though, it would be a really nice place to live.
You guys have been playing music for a long time together. What were you like when you first started out?
In the late 90s, there was a revival of Swing music which we kind of got caught up in. Ah man, when we see pictures of that…it is just kind of embarrassing.
Have you got any old recordings?
I don’t know! There might be an old tape somewhere.
Elton John, Chris Martin and John Legend are said to be great influences in your music. Who, at the moment, are you guys listening to or inspired by?
Well, last night, Chris, Mike and I went to see Michael Buble. It was a lot of fun. He has an excellent voice. Between the songs, he is also very funny.
What is the most memorable gig that you have ever played?
I think the most memorable, although a bit of a blur, is a festival that we did in Holland called Queens Day. It was a big radio music festival. There were about 150,000 people there – more people than any of us had ever seen in our lives. It was actually pretty frightening. We only had time to do three songs so it went by in just a second. It was memorable but at the same time, I don’t remember any of it.
You have performed with various artists including The Donnas, Sugar Cult, Bowling for Soup…if you could choose anyone to tour with, past or present, who would it be?
I would have to say the Foo Fighters. They seem like pretty fun guys. We could definitely learn a lot from them. I would just absolutely die.
Have you seen them live?
I have yes; I didn’t see them this year though. I saw them on the One by One tour.
What is the most memorable gig that you have been to as a fan?
My favourite band is Radiohead, and I have seen them live, but my favourite gig that I have been to is the Doves. I saw them in Texas at the SXSW Festival. It was just amazing.
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