INTERVIEW: I Am Ghost
- Posted on October 7, 2008 2:02 PM
- 0 comments
I Am Ghost
Those We Leave Behind
Vocalist Steve interviewed by Zarina Raja
Those We Leave Behind is out today. In your opinion, which track should fans listen to first?
This is an album where I can honestly say I’m proud of each and every song; it’s really hard to choose just one song and say, "Listen to this first..." but, if you had a gun to my head I would choose the second song, "Don't Wake Up", which is a song that really hits home with me. There was some very dark times in this band a year ago and this song kinda just tells the story of how I felt back then. I'm proud to say we bounced back and are better than ever.
Tell me about the background to Those We Leave Behind. What was the main point of inspiration behind this album?
We were a band on the rise, selling out all our shows at the start, and were signed after only our fourth show ever. I guess you can say it was a little too fast of a rise for us. A lot of the members at the time got this huge head thinking this was how it was going to be forever... we had never toured and paid our dues or gone through any hard times. To finally tour and play 3,000 miles away to about twenty/thirty kids each night was kinda like a "Oh shit... this is harder than I thought..." I had been in bands before and already experienced shows like this so I was ready. They weren't. Members left because it got hard. This album which is titled, "Those We Leave Behind" is all the bullshit and ego trips and drama that had plagued us for the past two years.
Complete the following sentence:
The best time to listen to Those We Leave Behind is…
...in your car. Turn that s*** up and just let yourself go.
What did you want this second album to represent?
That we were not done. When we signed with Epitaph they just re-released our demo we did ourselves which is the "We Are Always Searching" EP, then we recorded our first real album when we were barely a year old called, "Lovers' Requiem". After this album came out and the drama started, I just wanted to f****** tour, and just grow musically. Everyone wanted the money and fame right away, like right f****** now. I knew we were not the greatest live band yet... but we were damn good that was for sure. I just wanted to get better, get to know the members better and have a good time. This second album is just a testament to where we are now and we’re just a happier group of guys.
What is it that you want your fans to take away from your music?
That we are honest. There is no bullshit with us. What you see and hear is what you get. We do this because we love it.
Which song seems to be going down best live?
We have been testing the waters and playing just a few songs live, but it seems that ‘Bone Garden’ off the new album is getting kids crazy in the pit. They were already singing along to it live which is a good and bad thing I guess. I don't know how they already knew the song since it's not even out yet..
Your music is pretty dark, although highly accessible. Does a live show completely drain you emotionally?
I can honestly say I walk off stage a good three pounds lighter, sweat dripping from every inch of my body. All of us do. The band gives everything they have on stage, I mean everything. I honestly believe we throw one of the best lives shows out there.
What do you like to do after a ferocious gig? Do you hit the bar and carry on into the night or do you relax in the tour van?
There are a few of us that tend to go drinking afterwards, but for me, I just want to get out of my stage clothes, and relax. When we were touring in our own tour bus it was awesome, I would just get in some running shorts and go to sleep in my own bunk. I just give so much off live that after the show I feel like I've run five miles. I also know now I have to take care of myself a little more being the singer, so I don’t drink anymore really, don't smoke anymore...I drink some water and call it a night.
You’ve toured with some big names including Biffy Clyro, The Audition and The Bronx. What would your ultimate tour line-up be?
We would love to do some epic huge Metal/Punk/Rock show with bands like AFI and Avenged Sevenfold.... how awesome of a show would that be?
What is your favourite city to play in the UK?
So far, I think London was by far one of the best shows we did in the UK. The people out there are so smart about music, and they don't have a stick up their asses like some states here in the United States. Our style and look sometimes scares people off here in the United States... if we play some state in the midwest we get stared at like we are monsters or something. In the UK they embrace it.
When you look back over your career, what will be your ultimate tour memory?
The Epitaph tour when we shared a bus with Escape The Fate. They were just newly signed, we were just newly signed. We were two bands out to prove a point and it was by far the best tour we ever did. The kids didn't know who the fuck I Am Ghost were most of the time, but I think that made us stronger and more hungry as a band.... some of the past members lost that fire and hunger, and I am glad they are gone. It was bringing me down.
Is there anything else in life that you wish to pursue alongside your music career?
I'd like to get back into animation one day, possibly do my own comic book or write a screen play for a movie. I love the music industry but I LOVE the movie industry even more.... I worked in the movie industry for ten years of my life... you can't just forget something like that.
Is there any contemporary music at the moment that has grabbed you and inspired your own creative stream?
I tried to not listen to any music that was even similiar to I Am Ghost during the writing of the new album. I didn’t want to fall into the trap and sound like MCR, or sound like AFI, or some other band that kinda looks like us. I really wanted to just write a fucking good album... that's all.
What is the most memorable gig that you have been to as a fan member?
It was Warped Tour 2004. I Am Ghost wasn't even formed yet, and I remember going there, waiting in line and being so damn excited to get in. I had my list of bands I needed to see that day. I can just remember the electricity in the air. When I got in, I was like a fan boy rushing to the stage and seeing all these bands that I looked up to like gods. I just remembered how it was being a kid and now that we are doing Warped Tour and other shows I will always remember how it felt to be in the audience lookin up at the stage... I can never forget that's what made me.
Related Links
Buy I Am Ghost Tickets
I Am Ghost on MySpace.
I Am Ghost released Sophomore Album, Those We Leave Behind, On October 6th
Tour Dates (co-headline with Blessed By A Broken Heart):
Dec-03 Milton Keys The Pitz
Dec-04 Cardiff Barfly
Dec-05 London Uni of London
Dec-06 Plymouth White Rabbit
Dec-07 Wrexham Central Station
Dec-08 Liverpool Barfly
Dec-09 Glasgow Cathouse
Dec-10 Birmingham Barfly
Dec-11 Nottingham Rock City
Dec-12 York Fibbers Barfly
Dec-13 Brighton Concorde2
Dec-14 Poole Mr. C's
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