Can you introduce yourself for ForTheSound.com?
My name is Dave and I sing in Every Avenue.
And how would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard you?
Um, it’s like, pop-rock…This is a great question haha I always hate
this question. I guess just pop-rock, we like catchy music we just
try to write music that we like.
How did you guys end up getting signed to Fearless Records?
They were the most interested during the time that we were talking to
a bunch of labels and stuff like that. We put out an EP by ourselves
called “This Is Why We Don’t Have Nice Things” and that got a lot of
buzz. So then we went to go put out another EP by ourselves that
Fearless ended up putting it out, called “Ahh”. And before we put it
out we signed a contract with them and then put the EP out with them.
What was your inspiration for your latest album?
Oh man. I’d say there was a lot of different inspirations, just taken
from everyday life and the things that we’ve dealt with. A lot of
relationship stuff. Um, a lot of different things that the other guys
wanted to get across in the band. And just life in general, pretty
much.
How long did it take for you to get that album together?
We had a lot of ideas and we took like two months off, beforehand,
before going into the studio and we just like got all those ideas
together and we wrote some new songs in that time. So I guess about
two months.
Do you think it was a big departure from the EP?
I definitely think so. Yeah. Definitely. We had a chance to write a
lot more songs and do a lot more. You know, and making an overall
sound for an album and stuff like that. It was a lot different of an
experience. It was really fun.
Who does the lyrical and music writing?
We all contribute actually to everything. Like me, Josh, and Jimmie do
a lot of the writing and we’re probably the main writers. They all
write. And Jimmie has his own side-project thing that he does. It’s
just him, he writes a lot. I write a lot. Josh writes a lot of stuff.
All of us write like folk stuff on the side. Those guys do
especially.
What’s life like for you on the road?
It’s been great! It’s pretty crazy that this year is almost over and
I’ve pretty much lived all of it in a van. I’ve been home a total of
about, maybe one…maybe two months. Combined, total. I’d say.
Who do you think is the biggest prankster?
In the band?! Oh man. Probably…I don’t know it depends. I’d say Matt
and Josh they like to joke around. When it becomes bands against the
bands, and they start it, it is bad news and it’s all down hill from
there. They would wished they wouldn’t have…If you draw first blood –
it’s bad news!
Do you guys get homesick when you are far from Michigan?
Sometimes there is a day here and there where, yeah, I wouldn’t mind
being home. But then again, you know, my worst day here compared to
my worst day at my old jobs and stuff, is awesome haha.
Okay we are going to do some ‘This or That’:
Okay!
Pepsi or coke?
Pepsi.
Boxers or briefs?
Boxer briefs – but, boxers if I had to choose between the two.
Chocolate or vanilla?
Ahhh. Man. That’s a toughy. Chocolate – Yeah, Chocolate.
Miley Cyrus or Hannah Montana?
…wait. Wait a second haha. Is that like a trick question?
Alright haha Miley Cyrus is the normal one and Hannah Montana is the
whole big pop star.
I’ll take Miley….The normal one.
Do you have any advice for up and coming bands looking to get signed?
Write a bunch of songs. Always try to stay writing – that is the most
important things, the songs. Start slow, don’t try to go big, you
know? Do what you can, keep at it. Don’t give up. We’re a shitty band
from Michigan that got signed so, you know, there’s hope! Haha But
also, it definitely isn’t all about getting signed. There are a lot
of bands that can do a lot on their own. So, try to do as much as you
can on your own. And, I think we’re lucky to be on Fearless because
they are the kind of label that works just as much as we do.
If you weren’t in a band or in music what do you think you’d be doing?
Oh man, I don’t know. I’d definitely – wait if I wasn’t in a band or
anything with music?! So I can’t even answer this with anything to do
with music…
Nothing doing with music.
Haha I do not know. I’d farm. And ride a tractor. [Laughing] And do
nothing. Chew tobacco and…no I don’t know what I’d do. I actually
have no idea. I guess I never really thought about that. I’d go to
school? Something like that I guess. Most likely.
What are some bands or artists you are currently listening to?
Oh man. Bands I’m currently listening to…So many. I’m trying to get
my hands on the new All-American Rejects, their new single is really
good. I like that. I like them. And um, hmm let me think. The
bands we’re on tour with pretty much! I’m listening to them every
night. As far as new artists, so many… Um, I’m always listening to
like, for whatever reason, I can’t stop listening to Copeland. I like
this band called Bedlight For Blue Eyes, they always make a rotation
in there. My friends band called The Life of The Party.
If we looked at your iPod what are some embarrassing artists we’d find?
Embarrassing artists you’d find?
Ones we wouldn’t expect to find.
There’s Backstreet Boys. N’Sync, um, I like The Rascall Flats. Er,
Rascall Flats. A lot. I love country music. I think that guy has a
great voice. Man. What else? I’m trying to think what else I have on
there. I can’t remember that name. She’s that country singer right
now. Whatever haha I don’t know.
Who is our celebrity crush?
OH MAN. Megan Fox. Who else? That girl from heroes who is apparently
getting married. Hayden or something.
She’s getting married?!
I KNOW right?! I know.
What is your favorite food? On and off the road.
Favorite food. I LOVE sushi! When I’m home and actually have money, I
blow it on sushi. Um, what else do I like? I like, like home cooked
meals. Mashed potatoes, barbecue chicken, green beans, asparagus,
stuff like that. Green been casserole is one of my favorites. And
Chocolate chip cookies!
As a musician, how do you think the tough economy is affecting you and other bands?
I think it makes it harder for bands to get going, like bands that
want to start touring and stuff because gas is really expensive.
Cause, I remember like back in the day when I first started trying to
go to shows and we had to use the money out of our pockets and stuff
and pay for gas so that makes it harder. I know less people have
money so they download more and less people buy CDs – but more people
have been going to shows and stuff like that, so I do think it helps
out with people that actually go and see the band and spend money
there and stuff. I don’t really think – I hope, the economy will
never effect music to the point that it is really BAD, I think people
need music, and want music so, they are going to find a way to listen
to it and hear it and go see it.
Do you have anything you’d like to say to your fans and the readers at
ForTheSound?
We did just shoot a music video for “Think of You Later” and that is
going to be out soon annnnd I don’t know, come to a show, hang out
with us we love meeting fans. Say hi!
Interview by: Kaila Rovine
Interview date: November 29, 2008
Thank you to Fearless Records for helping set up this interview and thank you to Dave for taking the time to do this interview! Catch Every Avenue on the Take Action Tour with Cute Is What We Aim for, Meg & Dia, Breathe Carolina, and Anarbor. For more information on tour dates please visit Every Avenue’s Official MySpace HERE.
